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Layer Cake

Play trailer Poster for Layer Cake R Released May 13, 2005 1h 45m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
81% Tomatometer 141 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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Layer Cake

Layer Cake

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Critics Consensus

A stylized, electric British crime thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Will Self London Evening Standard 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. Dec 27, 2017 Full Review Leslie Felperin Variety 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. Jul 29, 2008 Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper I like Layer Cake a lot. Jun 20, 2005 Full Review Johnny Loftus Decider Daniel Craig is cool and compelling. May 14, 2021 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ As well as a marvellous scenario that boasts more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, Vaughn has also assembled a terrific cast. Rated: 4.5/5 Jan 5, 2021 Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media Violence, language, drugs in British noir crime movie. Rated: 3/5 Feb 8, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/20/25 Full Review emma b Doesn't age well, so many similar films made in that era, just boring Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Kafe R Stylish in a good way. Can see why the Broccolis went for Daniel Craig after this. He was very watchable. Worth watching Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Faiz D Layer Cake was great, and Daniel Craig is just fantastic. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Rolando R Movie was ok, kinda of a trip, only good part was the ending. Maybe if I was British I would have enjoyed it more Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/08/25 Full Review JEFF B One of the best crime films ever made. Matthew Vaughn, as a first-time director, uses some excellent shot making and editing techniques to keep it lively and interesting. If you liked the Godfather, you will love Layer Cake. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Layer Cake

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Cast & Crew

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Matthew Vaughn

Director

Daniel Craig

XXXX

Colm Meaney

Gene

Kenneth Cranham

Jimmy Price

George Harris

Morty

Jamie Foreman

The Duke

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Layer Cake

A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. View more photos

Movie Info

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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