Destroyer

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Destroyer

R

2018

2h 3m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

265 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

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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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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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (LAist)

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

Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

A quietly intense, and grippingly atmospheric piece that displays extraordinary character depth and a natural talent for action and crime dramas on Kusama’s part.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 14, 2024

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

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Randy M

Caught this years ago and forgot all about it till I saw Nichol Kidman in Lioness so it reminded me of this movie. I was in love with her character from the beginning. With her makeup it shows her desire to deliver a quality movie and show her depth and commitment. IMHO , it's her best work ever. 5 stars all the way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10/25

Full Review

blue c

Karyn Kusama delivers a knockout movie full of twists and turns: Dark, violent, crazy, and, ultimately, sad. Nicole Kidman turns in a stellar performance as a drunken, burned out cop with an unfolding backstory. Unglamorous and unlikable, she is fully committed. Her flashback scenes with Sebastian Stan are electric. Everyone in this movie is memorable. I was riveted from the get go.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

Full Review

Alain E

Totally artificial and not in a good way. The whole enterprise is trying too hard to be a modern hard boiled, but it fails spectacularly. Kidman impersonates a schizophrenic character on one side frail, tortured, ready to collapse but simultaneously able to inflict violence. I like genre movies. Nothing wrong with Philip Marlowe. This is an unsuccessful experiment.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/01/25

Full Review

D H

This movie punches above its weight. Kidman's character is broken, tortured by human frailty and a moral misstep in her past. The one difficulty I have is that this frailty extends to her physicality, making her appear "wasted," less robust, and less believably capable of achieving the redemption she desperately seeks. Solid performances all around in this better-than-expected slow churn thriller / drama, although the denouement managed to leave a few loose ends.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/17/25

Full Review

Will L

Nicole Kidman plays a cringey cop in this movie.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

Full Review

PA H

A complex, slow-paced (like real life), magisterial telling of a tragedy with only minor tones of triumph and redemption. Not spectacular, action-packed, good-feeling-from-revenge-killing, mainstream entertainment. Not for the weak of heart and mind.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/09/24

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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Destroyer: Trailer 1

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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
Producer: Fred Berger, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi
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
Runtime: 2h 3m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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