Demolition

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2:20

Demolition

R

2016

1h 41m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

207 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Grieving investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) returns to work after losing his beloved wife in a tragic car accident. After writing a letter to complain about a vending machine, Mitchell receives a phone call from Karen (Naomi Watts), a customer service rep from the company. Karen becomes moved by his complete honesty, while Davis finds someone to lend a sympathetic ear. As his new friendship with Karen and her son grows, Mitchell finds the strength he needs to rebuild his life.

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Critics Consensus

Demolition benefits from a stellar cast, even if their solid work isn't always enough to prop up a confused story that aims for profundity but too often settles for clichés.

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

11/08/2016

Who knows where his displaced emotions will take him? Who cares?

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

08/11/2016

3/4

Demolition is a cinematic deconstruction of expectation and cliché, all of which results in a moving marvel of self-actualization I think I just might be in love with.

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

05/01/2016

2/5

The story of a bereaved man who starts to dismantle household appliances and, later, buildings, the whole movie is a laboured metaphor: we get it, he's falling apart.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 11

2.5/4

Gyllenhaal is never less than terrific, even in those moments when the movie surrounding him threatens to completely collapse.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

10/15/2024

5/10

It benefits from a credible performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, but the drama often remains situated in a demolition zone that slowly destroys, with each iteration, the potential of its premise about grief and redemption. [Full review in Spanish]

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JD Duran

InSession Film

08/01/2024

B-

A frustrating experience. There is a lot to appreciate about this film and it had massive potential, but like Dallas Buyer Club, Vallée wasn’t exactly sure where to take the film and it shows.

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Renaldo D

@RT30888824 Jul 17

An incredible movie, one of Jake Gyllenhaal's best.

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Maryann D

@RT17686170 Jul 11

It doesn't give you what your want and I think that's the beauty in it. It exactly what you need, like a warm bowl of soup.

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Juan C

@RT56343886 Jul 7

Jake Gyllenhaal is great in this like he is in every film he is in. The pacing is great, I do not like how there was never any relationship with him and the love interest. Aside from the wife dying it’s a very relatable film and really captures the loneliness that not only was left after his wife died but one that was always there he just didn’t notice.

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Zafar I

@RT96135707 May 11

Its a great experience watching this hidden masterpiece Jake gylnhall perfomance will engage you Story is ammazing Just watch it guyzzz

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Wendel L

@BRZRKR May 8

Direção: Ok Atuação: Bom Roteiro: Bom Caracterização: Ok Soundtrack: Ok

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Owen K.

@NCR23 Mar 3

An absolutely beautiful movie about honesty to your own emotions. Throughout the entire movie you can see it linked together, each scene showing us what is inside his mind. It feels like a movie where you could just close your eyes and listen to the whole thing and still feel every scene just as impactful. Jake Gyllenhaal did an amazing job on this movie, it is truly an underrated gem.

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Jean-Marc Vallée

Director

Jake Gyllenhaal

Davis Mitchell

Naomi Watts

Karen Moreno

Chris Cooper

Phil

Judah Lewis

Chris Moreno

C.J. Wilson

Carl

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Demolition: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

Grieving investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) returns to work after losing his beloved wife in a tragic car accident. After writing a letter to complain about a vending machine, Mitchell receives a phone call from Karen (Naomi Watts), a customer service rep from the company. Karen becomes moved by his complete honesty, while Davis finds someone to lend a sympathetic ear. As his new friendship with Karen and her son grows, Mitchell finds the strength he needs to rebuild his life.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Producer: Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Sidney Kimmel, Jean-Marc Vallée
Screenwriter: Bryan Sipe
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Mr. Mudd, Black Label Media, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Rating: R (Drug Use|Disturbing Behavior|Language|Some Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital