Lawless

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Lawless

R

2012

1h 55m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

217 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.

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Critics Consensus

Grim, bloody, and utterly flawed, Lawless doesn't quite achieve the epic status it strains for, but it's too beautifully filmed and powerfully acted to dismiss.

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J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

Lawless wants to be something larger than life, but it's too joyless to be a tall tale and too self-satisfied for tragedy.

Feb 22, 2019

Full Review

Nicolas Rapold

Film Comment Magazine

Hillcoat makes a foray into Virginia's Prohibition-era moonshine country. But the adaptation (by Hillcoat compadre Nick Cave) is a hokey piece of pop history that wearyingly insists upon its own mythos like a comic-book blockbuster.

Jul 1, 2013

Full Review

David Thomson

The New Republic

It's slight and casual to the point of laziness, but it's straight fun, done with knowledge and a laconic pleasure. You could do far worse.

Jun 14, 2013

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

"Lawless" has its easily definable good guys, bad guys, and, most crucial of all, the morality play that plugs in emotion to a foreign and past barbaric time.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 20, 2025

Full Review

Iván Kazi

EscribiendoCine

The percentage of elevated violence impregnates and propels almost every facet of the protagonists' life. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 8/10

Apr 12, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

There isn't much dimension to these proceedings and not an inkling of greater meaning beyond the story at hand, but it’s such a well-made picture that one can hardly protest.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 3, 2022

Full Review

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Leaburn O

It’s actually a good addition to the gangster genre after I thought we’d previously done this theme to death. Syrupy ending aside, I really enjoyed. Watched on DVD.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

Full Review

Oaklee D

An entertaining crime film, which is bold and at times brutal, worth watching at least once.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

Full Review

Daniel N

Cool story, very entertaining, nice mix of drama, action and romance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

Full Review

scott M.

loved it………………………………

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Paul C

The only movie I’ve seen in recent times worse than this Pyle of crap is the Irishman. It’s like watching paint dry.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Some Sexuality/Nudity, Language and Strong Bloody Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $37,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

Full Review

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John Hillcoat

Director

Shia LaBeouf

Jack Bondurant

Tom Hardy

Forrest Bondurant

Jason Clarke

Howard Bondurant

Guy Pearce

Charley Rakes

Jessica Chastain

Maggie Beauford

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Synopsis

In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.

Director: John Hillcoat
Producer: Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Megan Ellison, Michael Benaroya
Screenwriter: Nick Cave
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Annapurna Pictures, Blumhansonallen Films, Douglas Wick/Lucy Fisher
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.3M
Runtime: 1h 55m

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