Emily the Criminal

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2:13

Emily the Criminal

R

Released Aug 12, 2022

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

94%

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206 Reviews

79%

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100+ Verified Ratings

Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a "dummy shopper," buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.

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Critics Consensus

A taut thriller that contains a wealth of social commentary, Emily the Criminal is stolen by Aubrey Plaza's terrific work in the title role.

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Audience Says

Emily the Criminal gets pretty dark and the characters can be unlikable, but Aubrey Plaza is fantastic in the title role.

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Stephanie Zacharek

TIME Magazine

Director John Patton Ford gives us a modern thriller that also works as an excoriation of the economic injustices that separate the haves from the have-nots in America.

Aug 1, 2024

Full Review

Craig Mathieson

The Age (Australia)

As an arts graduate on the wrong side of inequality, Plaza is riveting as a young woman finding her foot in the Los Angeles underworld.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 16, 2023

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Catherine Bray

Empire Magazine

As neatly set-up as the world of the film is, it wouldn’t work half as well without Aubrey Plaza’s brilliantly specific lead performance, portraying Emily as an emotionally shut-down woman on the edge.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 25, 2023

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

‘…what makes this so striking is that crime staples of couch-potato experience, suddenly seem so real, dangerous and anxiety-inducing; if our workplace practices are criminal, we can hardly expect our increasingly exploited workforce to feel any different

Rated: 4/5

Jul 29, 2024

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

Writer-director Ford, who introduces intriguing social facts into his work, seems unclear himself about the driving forces in the drama.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 3, 2024

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Sarah Vincent

Cambridge Day

Plaza projects her character’s apprehension and channels it into moral outrage directed at her attackers as well as her physical and societal limitations.

Aug 16, 2023

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J Anton

Aubrey Plaza is baddazz!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/17/22

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Michele W

Love Aubrey Plaza, the movie was just sort of mellow. Nothing crazy. good or bad. Just a way to kill a couple hours.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/22

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Sean

Plaza is outstanding. Her supporting cast was good but the difference between this being a good rather than great flick.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/06/22

Full Review

Angela

Fckn brilliant. Another swish for Evil Hag we were on the edge our seats, curling our fingers and toes, scrunching our faces and opening our eyes! Engaging, intriguing!! !! The drive home took like 15 seconds relatively because we couldnt stop talking about it!!! Treat yourself!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/04/22

Full Review

joe r

Intriguing shes great

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/03/22

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Kory S

Good plot driven film. Motivations were good and believable. good acting. really enjoyed it

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/03/22

Full Review

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John Patton Ford

Director

Aubrey Plaza

Emily

Theo Rossi

Youcef

Megalyn Echikunwoke

Liz

Jonathan Avigdori

Khalil

Kim Yarbrough

Secretary

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Emily the Criminal: Exclusive Movie Clip - The Interview

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Emily the Criminal: Movie Clip - Something Illegal

1:32

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Emily the Criminal: Trailer 1

2:13

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Synopsis

Emily (Aubrey Plaza) is saddled with student debt and locked out of the job market due to a minor criminal record. Desperate for income, she takes a shady gig as a "dummy shopper," buying goods with stolen credit cards supplied by a handsome and charismatic middleman named Youcef (Theo Rossi). Faced with a series of dead-end job interviews, Emily soon finds herself seduced by the quick cash and illicit thrills of black-market capitalism, and increasingly interested in her mentor Youcef. Together, they hatch a plan to bring their business to the next level in Los Angeles.

Director: John Patton Ford
Producer: Tyler Davidson, Aubrey Plaza, Drew Sykes
Screenwriter: John Patton Ford
Distributor: Roadside Attractions, Vertical Entertainment
Production Co: Low Spark Films
Rating: R (Language|Brief Drug Use|Some Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2022, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 28, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.2M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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