Lawless

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Lawless

R

Released Aug 29, 2012

1h 55m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

219 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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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

Chad D

I just want to say thank you to the actors in this movie. Definitely one of my top 10 movies of all time. I dont believe you get a finished product like this without the actors being commited to making a great movie. 5 stars.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/23/25

Full Review

HMF B

Interesting true story, villain you want to kill yourself, loved the acting, great selection of actors. Beautiful photography. I enjoyed it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

Full Review

Isa B

The cast is outstanding in this picture. Tom Hardy, Jason Clarke, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pierce, Jessica Chastain, Dane Dehaan, Gary Oldman and Bill Camp deliver the goods. It is a very good film and one I recommend. 87/100

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/28/24

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

Lawless: Official Clip - I Gotta Watch You Die Again

2:47

Lawless: Official Clip - Moonshine Raid

2:58

Lawless: Official Clip - Church Hymn

2:34

Lawless: Official Clip - Did You Put Gas In The Truck?

1:59

Lawless: Official Clip - White Lightning

2:35

Lawless: Official Clip - Special Deputy Rakes

2:58

Lawless: Official Clip - Going for a Ride

2:58

Lawless: Official Clip - Bridge Shootout

2:51

Lawless: Official Clip - Maggie Beauford

1:29

Lawless: Official Clip - Floyd Banner

2:01

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Critics Consensus: Lawless Is Violent and Atmospheric

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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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