Killing Them Softly

Play trailer

Killing Them Softly

R

Released Nov 30, 2012

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

230 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Killing Them Softly is a darkly comic, visceral thriller that doubles as a cautionary tale on capitalism, whose message is delivered with sledgehammer force.

Read Critics Reviews

Cary Darling

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

The anvils of obviousness rain down so hard and fast in New Zealand-born/Australian-based director Andrew Dominik's meditation on low-rent crime and American decline, that it might as well be a Coyote-Road Runner cartoon

Rated: 3/5

Dec 3, 2012

Full Review

Christopher Orr

The Atlantic

Like its source material, the movie is stylish, profane, intelligent, and eminently diverting. But as much as it is a delight that Dominik has disinterred Higgins's work, it is a mild disappointment that the result is not more substantial.

Nov 30, 2012

Full Review

Caryn James

James on screenS

A disappointing, derivative noir that gets its spark from Pitt and Gandolfini's performances. Slight and pulpy, but it's aiming for arty and trenchant.

Nov 30, 2012

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Although it’s bound to be divisive for its unconventional structure, ruthless tone, and the cynical nature of its message, Killing Them Softly is a rare, exceedingly enjoyable, bleakly comic noir story.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 20, 2022

Full Review

Cory Woodroof

615 Film

A dirty, furious little gangster flick with as much to say about capitalism as it does how futile a life it is to live in this world.

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

...ahead of the curve in terms of portraying the inherent nihilism of today's society...

Rated: 4/5

Jan 21, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Not great and but not terrible either.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/03/24

Full Review

Craig B

Pretty disappointing. reminds me of Seinfeld, a movie about nothing really. you keep waiting for a payoff and it drags along not doing much, let's throw in Tony Soprano for no reason, ok. Skip it

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/13/24

Full Review

ad3686

If you didn't watch it, you have missed nothing. Same story you've seen before done in a style where nothing is likeable.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Linda T

It is just weird. Still can't figure it out.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

chitown2bayarea

The film had its moments but was extremely dull at times.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

Full Review

Philip R

Boring. Just lots of nonsensical talking. I guess the writer and director thought they were being witty or something. But lots of exposition that isn't exposition. And then it ends.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jackie Cogan

Scoot McNairy

Frankie

Ben Mendelsohn

Russell

Richard Jenkins

Driver

James Gandolfini

Mickey

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Mickey

2:05

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Killing Johnny Amato

2:11

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Mickey Can't Do It

2:21

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - The Man Comes Around

2:27

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Poker Heist

3:42

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Frankie & Russell

1:33

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Kill Them Softly

2:11

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Heroin

2:07

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - Dillon Interrogates Markie

2:22

Killing Them Softly: Official Clip - American Dream

2:25

View more videos

American Hustle

92%

74%

American Hustle

Watchlist

Lawless

67%

74%

Lawless

Watchlist

Staten Island

25%

28%

Staten Island

Watchlist

The Paperboy

46%

33%

The Paperboy

Watchlist

Rampart

73%

35%

Rampart

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Brad Pitt’s 10 Best Movies

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Lincoln and Killing Them Softly

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Twilight Threepeats at No. 1

View more photos

Synopsis

When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Producer: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz, Anthony Katagas
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Plan B Entertainment, Chockstone Pictures
Rating: R (Some Drug References|Pervasive Language|Some Drug Use|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 30, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now