Layer Cake

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Layer Cake

R

2005

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

An unnamed mid-level cocaine dealer (Daniel Craig) in London makes plans to step away from the criminal life. Before he can cut ties, the dealer's supplier Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) draws him into a complicated pair of jobs involving kidnapping the teenage daughter of a rival gangster (Michael Gambon) and brokering the purchase of a large shipment of ecstasy pills from a dealer known as the Duke (Jamie Foreman), leading to a series of elaborate double-crosses from all corners.

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Critics Consensus

A stylized, electric British crime thriller.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

12/27/2017

Layer Cake features all the doublecrosses, grasses and reversals of fortune that come as standard to the genre, but it is lifted by the uniformly excellent cast, the snide intelligence of the script, and the effortless pace of Vaughn's direction.

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Leslie Felperin

Variety

07/29/2008

There's a proper lived-in believability about Layer Cake's depiction of how the worlds of the rich, the criminal and the criminally rich intersect.

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Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

06/20/2005

I like Layer Cake a lot.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Apr 28

6/10

It carries on for a bit too long, testing the limits of patience for this sort of stylized crime drama.

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Johnny Loftus

Decider

05/14/2021

Daniel Craig is cool and compelling.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

01/05/2021

4.5/5

As well as a marvellous scenario that boasts more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, Vaughn has also assembled a terrific cast.

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S. O

@Col._Angus Aug 10

Entertaining flick, but I could've used a few subtitles. The last third is filled with energy and plot twists, with a gutsy ending to put it all to rest

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bob C

@RT46426964 Jun 21

Great London crime movie with comedic elements. Better than Guy Ritchie stuff but not Good Friday.

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Ben W

@Username618 May 30

There's a list of films that were made, but never got released on wikipedia and you sort of wish this were one! Adds completely nothing. But. Actors directors need to keep working, sure. But personally I don't like Daniel, sorry. May that not cloud anything here. He doesn't say aught so you write your own story, but like... That is also called not knowing an answer, excuse me.

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Jed I

@RT01296269 Apr 11

7.3/10 — "Pretty Good/Engaging" -(Seen on 4/11/26)

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Marco L

@decatur555 Jan 28

Layer Cake is driven by rhythm above all else. It moves with confidence, avoiding unnecessary explanations and trusting the audience to keep up. The storytelling feels sharp and controlled, with each scene naturally pushing the next forward. The British tone is unmistakable, blending dry humor, sharp dialogue, and a stylish but restrained approach to the criminal underworld. While it echoes the influence of filmmakers like Guy Ritchie, it avoids excess and keeps its focus firmly on narrative flow rather than flashy technique. What stands out most is its perspective. The film adopts a cool, almost cynical viewpoint, grounded in decisions and consequences rather than grand statements. Humor is used sparingly, never undercutting the tension, but adding character and texture. Layer Cake doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it executes it with precision and confidence. It’s engaging from start to finish and leaves a lasting impression through its balance of style, control, and momentum.

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O g

@RT76089177 Jan 6

Paint-by-numbers, a bit clichéd but well-acted by Craig and quite fun

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Matthew Vaughn

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Daniel Craig

XXXX

Colm Meaney

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Kenneth Cranham

Jimmy Price

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Synopsis

An unnamed mid-level cocaine dealer (Daniel Craig) in London makes plans to step away from the criminal life. Before he can cut ties, the dealer's supplier Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) draws him into a complicated pair of jobs involving kidnapping the teenage daughter of a rival gangster (Michael Gambon) and brokering the purchase of a large shipment of ecstasy pills from a dealer known as the Duke (Jamie Foreman), leading to a series of elaborate double-crosses from all corners.

Director: Matthew Vaughn
Producer: Adam Bohling, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn
Screenwriter: J.J Connolly
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Sony Pictures Classics, Falcon Films
Rating: R (Nudity|Drug Use|Pervasive Language|Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): May 13, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.3M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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