Destroyer

R

Released Dec 25, 2018

2 hr. 3 min.

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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List

74%

266 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

As a young cop, Erin Bell went under cover to infiltrate a gang in the California desert -- with tragic results. Bell continues to work as a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department, but feelings of anger and remorse leave her worn-down and consumed by guilt. When the leader of that gang suddenly re-emerges, Erin embarks on an obsessive quest to find his former associates, bring him to justice and make peace with her tortured past.

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Premiered Jul 05

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Critics Consensus

Destroyer's grueling narrative is as uncompromising as Nicole Kidman's central performance, which adds extra layers to a challenging film that leaves a lingering impact.

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Honest D

Best thing Kidman has ever done. She is unrecognizable. I have never seen her do anything remotely like this. I think that this movie should have won her an Oscar (not that i care much about Oscars. they are often given to films that i think are mainstream soulless over produced poop feasts). This movie is f***ing nuts. Action, anxiety inducing suspense, Kidman as a nihilistic lunatic who doesnt give a single ____ about anything. These people rating this movie just don't get it. They are wrong. I don't have much faith in humans these days so it doesn't surprise me that there are people that don't get this movie, But I am surprised at just how many.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

muel t

Whatever is going on with Nicole Kidman's face is distracting. There's absolutely nothing of substance here.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/24

Full Review

Jasper W

Criminally underrated quasi-sequel to Training Day.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Luis D

This is the worst movie I've ever seen in my entire life! The ratings are not a reflection of the quality of the movie! My rating is 20! Don't wait your time watching this piece of garbage 🗑️

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

Alec B

Kidman is remarkably understated (even with that make-up) and I like how Kusama plays with memory in the flashback sequences.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/08/24

Full Review

Adrian A

This film effectively makes the most of a plot, which although sparse, is original enough to hold interest in the story that continues to unfold. In a lesser directors hands this film could have easily flailed at the end but I think the audience is successfully carried through, owing in part to Kidman's performance which is on point. This film definitely deserves more than the average 50% audience score given.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/06/23

Full Review

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Karyn Kusama

Director

Nicole Kidman

Erin Bell

Toby Kebbell

Silas

Tatiana Maslany

Petra

Sebastian Stan

Chris

Scoot McNairy

Ethan

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Destroyer: Final Trailer

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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It sounds like a rote rote cop [movie], but the way that Karyn Kusama puts a spin on it: [Destroyer] is really about a woman who cannot deal with her own mistakes... I thought that this film had a real heaviness to it.

Sep 13, 2019

Full Review

Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

A masterful performance by Kidman, who has proven over the last few years that she has deep reserves of talent.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 21, 2019

Full Review

Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

[Kidman's] collaboration with Karyn Kusama, who directed this film, is another example of her willingness to back a filmmaker still to peak.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 29, 2019

Full Review

David Reddish

Queerty

The twists and turns in this mystery-thriller would be enough for us to recommend it. Splendid performances by Kidman and Stan seal the deal.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 20, 2022

Full Review

Zofia Wijaszka

In Their Own League

Its not only an amazingly crafted story-line. Its the way Kusama shows Erin Bells transformation. Destroyer is undoubtedly one of the best pictures that talk about morality and its lack, revenge, and mental state of ones mind.

Rated: A-

Feb 13, 2022

Full Review

Taylor Baker

Drink in the Movies

Episode 28: Piercing / Monsters and Men / Thunder Road / Destroyer

Rated: 82/100

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

As a young cop, Erin Bell went under cover to infiltrate a gang in the California desert -- with tragic results. Bell continues to work as a detective for the Los Angeles Police Department, but feelings of anger and remorse leave her worn-down and consumed by guilt. When the leader of that gang suddenly re-emerges, Erin embarks on an obsessive quest to find his former associates, bring him to justice and make peace with her tortured past.

Director: Karyn Kusama
Executive Producer: Micah Green, Daniel Steinman, Dan Friedkin, Nathan Kelly, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, Thorsten Schumacher, Nik Bower
Screenwriter: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
Distributor: Annapurna Pictures
Production Co: Automatik Entertainment, 30West
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Brief Drug Use|Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 9, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.5M
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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