Bound

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Bound

R

Released Oct 4, 1996

1h 48m

Mystery & Thriller

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

72 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob's money -- but the important part is to make it out alive.

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Critics Consensus

Bound's more titillating elements attracted attention, but it's the stylish direction, solid performances, and entertaining neo-noir caper plot that make it worth a watch.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

This is an erotic thriller where eroticism is the agent of redemption, not damnation.

Jun 14, 2024

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Bruce Walker

Washington Post

Like so many other rob-the-mob movies, the plan seems pretty far-fetched, and the ending isn’t much of a surprise. But if you like your films sprinkled liberally with sex, violence and humor, then you’re bound to like "Bound."

Jul 21, 2023

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

The Wachowskis make a better debut than their screenplay for ''Assassins'' or their credit on ''Hellraiser'' comics might promise.

Jul 21, 2023

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Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

The Wachowski sisters gleefully make the queer subtext of noir into more-than-text.

Aug 31, 2025

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Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

One of the most assured first films you’ll ever see, Bound rearranges and pressurizes ‘50s noir tropes into a sexy, cathartic queer thriller.

Jan 22, 2025

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Joshua Ryan

FandomWire

The bare-bones approach and minimal budget add a layer of rawness and authenticity.

Rated: 9/10

Oct 1, 2024

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Fernando D

Wachowski always hit a home run. No character disappoints in this movie. Pantoliano the best. Excellent erotic thriller must watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

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thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Tyler G

How is a debut film this good? A minimalist, small, heist/mob movie. The intimacy pops off the screen between Violet and Corky. A simple plan goes off the rails and is told through a handful of extremely memorable visual scenes. Loved it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my comfort movies. Bound is a gripping, stylish thriller that blends crime, suspense, and a passionate romance at its core. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly deliver strong performances as two women who plot to steal money from a mobster, all while navigating their evolving relationship. The film’s sharp direction, slick visuals, and intense atmosphere keep the tension high, making it a compelling watch. Though it’s a bit predictable in parts, its bold characters and memorable chemistry between the leads elevate it into a cult classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

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Sarah G

Tilly and Gershon are great together. Great twist on film noir.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

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Mason M

Though this film isn't lacking flaws, I still immensely enjoyed this tense bottle thriller. Bound starts out pretty rough but becomes incredibly engaging in the 2nd and 3rd act, and this film could've been ruined by its lackluster performances from the two female leads, but Joe Pantoliano largely saves this film with his always great performance which probably stands as my favorite role of his. Though I'm not quite sure who the "protagonist" is supposed to be in this film and how I should feel about the ending, this creative neo-noir from the Wachowskis is tense, surprising, and greatly enjoyable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

Full Review

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Lilly Wachowski

Director

Lana Wachowski

Director

Jennifer Tilly

Violet

Gina Gershon

Corky

Joe Pantoliano

Caesar

Barry Kivel

Shelly

Diabolique

23%

39%

Diabolique

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Synopsis

Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob's money -- but the important part is to make it out alive.

Director: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Producer: Andrew Lazar, Stuart Boros
Screenwriter: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures
Production Co: Dino De Laurentiis Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.8M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround

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