First Reformed

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2:20

First Reformed

R

Released May 18, 2018

1h 53m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

255 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

The pastor of a small church in upstate New York spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.

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Critics Consensus

Brought to life by delicate work from writer-director Paul Schrader and elevated by a standout performance by Ethan Hawke, First Reformed takes a sensitive and suspenseful look at weighty themes.

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Chris Nashawaty

Entertainment Weekly

First Reformed is a bleak, punishing movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser. But Hawke juices it with an austere sense of grace.

Rated: B

Dec 26, 2018

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David Stratton

The Australian

The film is a cry of rage against the polluters and corrupters who, Schrader contends, are destroying the planet, as well as against the commercialisation of the churches and the growth of terrorism.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2018

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Mark Kermode

Kermode & Mayo's Film Review

They are weird moments of almost hypnotic transcendence, but at the center of it is that tortured God's lonely man character perfectly embodied by Ethan Hawke.

Aug 28, 2018

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Amplified by a career performance in Ethan Hawke, it’s a fascinating film about a man who struggles to maintain his faith as he sees the world around him crumble to pieces.

Aug 7, 2024

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

Deep, thought-provoking and resolute, First Reformed grapples interestingly with the questions of faith and morality, and, by the end, becomes both a subdued and quiet meditation on life and internal despair, and an explosively powerful statement on hope.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 30, 2024

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

First Reformed is the distillation of the scream inside us all—or at least those of us paying attention.

Rated: 10/10

Jun 24, 2024

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Audience Member

One of the most overrated movies I’ve ever seen

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/13/25

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B B

Apart from making the rational look irrational, I have no complaints. Our complacency to what is happening to and our part in destroying our planet is irrational. Yet if you speak the truth, quote the studies and point out that all the things that have already happened and are happening right now were predicted by scientists, you'd sound insane. So let's all collaboratively and collectively bury our heads in the sand.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

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Audience Member

One of Schrader's better works that goes off the cliff in the third act.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

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Dan R

2017's 'First Reformed' is a powerful film that isn't all you believe it to be right up until its conclusion. SYNOPSIS: 'A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns and a tormented past.' This film feels like an unappreciated work of art. Most people, like myself, will never have heard of this, yet it's so emotionally charged it's difficult to shake off it's messages after watching it. Ethan Hawke is outstanding in his role of a reverend battling his own inner demons, his own questions about faith and how they fight against the world of big business. His performance is raw, ragged and taut. His exasperation leads to hopelessness which in turn nearly leads to a desperate end. A portrait of spiritual agony that I've never seen on screen before. As much as this film is a slow burn, maybe tedious at times, it's a film which is so impactful it'll pose so many questions for the viewer. A masterful piece of cinema. 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

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Alec C

What do we have left to believe in when we don't have our faith?! A reverend starts to spiral as he begins to doubt his church and its supposed morals, causing him to resort to some extremities. An insightful look into the churches many have put their faith in and the many moral hypocrisy that has questioned the path of God!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/06/24

Full Review

Chuck Houck C

I thought this was better-than-average the first time I saw it. After seeing it 2-3 more times over the years, my opinion has become that this is one of Ethan Hake's best performances.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

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Paul Schrader

Director

Ethan Hawke

Reverend Ernst Toller

Amanda Seyfried

Mary

Philip Ettinger

Michael

Cedric the Entertainer

Reverend Joel Jeffers

Michael Gaston

Edward Balq

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First Reformed: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The pastor of a small church in upstate New York spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, Frank Murray, Jack Binder, Greg Clark, Victoria Hill, Gary Hamilton, Deepak Sikka
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Killer Films, Fibonacci Films, Omeira Studio Partners
Rating: R (Some Disturbing Violent Images)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 18, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 31, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.4M
Runtime: 1h 53m

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