Carnage

R

Released Dec 16, 2011

1 hr. 19 min.

Comedy

Drama

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for Carnage: Trailer 2

List

70%

200 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When some roughhousing between two 11-year-old boys named Zachary and Ethan erupts into real violence, Ethan loses two teeth. Zachary's parents, Alan and Nancy Cowen (Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz), meet with Ethan's parents, Penelope and Michael Longstreet (Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly), to try to smooth things over. However, what starts as a polite meeting among adults descends into finger-pointing, tantrums and insults. Based on the play "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza.

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Critics Consensus

It isn't as compelling on the screen as it was on the stage, but Carnage makes up for its flaws with Polanski's smooth direction and assured performances from Winslet and Foster.

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Jeff M

The pedigree of this film couldn't be any finer - the director and stars have six Oscars and countless nominations between them. But this is a stagy, unpleasant film adaptation of Yasmina Reza's GOD OF CARNAGE, a play that I'm sure works well on the stage but feels really artificial through the camera lens. These are wonderful actors, but none of them are at peak form here - Foster in particular comes across very shrill and like she's trying way too hard. I've seen many brilliant stage to screen transfers but, sadly, this isn't one of them.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Lorenz L

I am a sucker for a great screenplay, and this adaptation of Yasmina Reza's play "God of Carnage" is simultaneously hilarious, engaging, and controversial. Some people will undoubtedly be put-off by the main body of the film taking place in a single room, but with this incredibly talented cast and the riveting screenplay, the claustrophobic space only intensifies a meeting between two couples from polite conversation to the ensuing carnage.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

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Michelle S

Me encanta cuando puedes sentirte en la habitación

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Watching these couples devolve into drunken jerks is wonderful to behold. The acting was perfect. And I loved the ending as the credits rolled.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

John A

A fun exercise from Roman Polanski. Is 'Carnage' a drama or a comedy? Hard to tell but it is certainly hard to turn away from.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/08/23

Full Review

Devils A

What a great psychological thriller/comedy this is, but ends up with the two kids back playing with each other - showing that kids are so innocent that they can get along with each other but the parents cannot!!!!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/22

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Roman Polanski

Director

Jodie Foster

Penelope Longstreet

Kate Winslet

Nancy Cowen

Christoph Waltz

Alan Cowen

John C. Reilly

Michael Longstreet

Elvis Polanski

Zachary Cowan

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88%

82%

Submarine

84%

51%

While We're Young

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for While We're Young

23%

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Serious Moonlight

22%

28%

Spread

70%

48%

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Critics Consensus: Sherlock Holmes Plays a Good Game

Carnage: Trailer 2

2:02

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Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

Roman Polanski's major coup is not just in telling us such a universally resonant tale, but in gathering such a brilliant group of actors in a one space, and letting them loose at each other.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 27, 2019

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

I'm not convinced it's particularly deep or insightful, but there is some enjoyment to be had from watching four actors at the top of their game get to where they do get to.

Aug 31, 2018

Full Review

David Elliott

San Diego Reader

The acting marathon is adroitly blocked and paced by Polanski and impeccably shot by Pawel Edelman.

Rated: 3/4

Feb 4, 2015

Full Review

Giuseppe Sedia

Kino Mania

Unlike Sam Peckinpah, Roman Polański does not linger on the cruelty of children [in Carnage]. The quartet of actors delivers top-notch performances with Waltz confirming his creative flair using a grotesque repertoire made up of sudden chuckles and grunts

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Polanski’s film is fast-paced, deceptively simple, carefully arranged, and often hilarious in its observations about social decorum and the hypocrisies therein.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 23, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s a sharply written, often times laugh out loud funny, and occasionally repetitive performance-driven drama.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

When some roughhousing between two 11-year-old boys named Zachary and Ethan erupts into real violence, Ethan loses two teeth. Zachary's parents, Alan and Nancy Cowen (Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz), meet with Ethan's parents, Penelope and Michael Longstreet (Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly), to try to smooth things over. However, what starts as a polite meeting among adults descends into finger-pointing, tantrums and insults. Based on the play "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza.

Director: Roman Polanski
Screenwriter: Roman Polanski, Yasmina Reza
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Constantin Film, Canal+, SBS Productions, Wild Bunch
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.5M

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