Manchester by the Sea

Play trailer

2:29

Manchester by the Sea

R

Released Dec 16, 2016

2h 17m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

357 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked that Joe has made him sole guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick. Taking leave of his job as a janitor in Boston, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations. There, he is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife, Randi (Michelle Williams), and the community where he was born and raised.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Manchester by the Sea delivers affecting drama populated by full-bodied characters, marking another strong step forward for writer-director Kenneth Lonergan.

Read Critics Reviews

K. Austin Collins

The Ringer

In Manchester by the Sea, Kenneth Lonergan again explores the depth of grief.

Aug 10, 2017

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan's MANCHESTER BY THE SEA made me leave the theater feeling empty... it could easily be filed away as just another white male angst narrative.

Rated: C+

Mar 22, 2017

Full Review

Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

Manchester by the Sea may be a potent examination of grief, family and self-imposed solitude, but it's also oddly life-affirming and uplifting.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 31, 2017

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Manchester By the Sea may be a somber and dour experience, but it’s one full of hope that people can survive grief.

Rated: A

Aug 8, 2024

Full Review

Demitra Kampakis

Vague Visages

Lonergan interrogates the realities of grief with sober restraint.

Dec 12, 2023

Full Review

Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

Manchester overflows with ripe dialogue, developed characters, and a toughmindedness that resists the all-American bromide that with a little emotional elbow grease, anyone can transcend their past and get on with it.

Jan 18, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Steven M.

My favorite movie of that year! Simply splendid. The acting and directing and writing are beautiful. My pick for Best Picture over Moonlight.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/08/21

Full Review

Katie D

Perfect movie for a gray day! This film feels a little long and the editing/cinematography could use some work, but the acting is award-worthy! It is definitely Casey Affleck's best work and also a wonderful performance by Lucas Hedges!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/15/21

Full Review

Dan P

Such a beautiful film, but so sad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/25

Full Review

David S

Critic reviews are worthless. What’s there to like about this movie? The acting was good, but the movie was very slow and didn’t address the main issue. If Lee isn’t going to deal with tragedy that happened, then why doesn't he just kill himself? His ex-wife tries, along with a few other people, and the movie ends leaving everything pretty open ended. Honestly, it probably would have been a better movie if he offed himself at the end and they wrapped everything up.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/01/25

Full Review

Pip S

Very good writing, very good direction, very good acting. Intense and heavy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

ryan s

Such a fantastic movie. Horribly depressing. Great cast. Beautiful cinematography, it makes me want to grab a beer, cigarette and sit by the dock. Growing up in MA. This one hits home, a familiar sadness.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Kenneth Lonergan

Director

Casey Affleck

Lee Chandler

Michelle Williams

Randi Chandler

Kyle Chandler

Joe Chandler

Lucas Hedges

Patrick Chandler

C.J. Wilson

George

I, Daniel Blake

92%

85%

I, Daniel Blake

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I, Daniel Blake

American Pastoral

24%

31%

American Pastoral

Watchlist

TRAILER

for American Pastoral

The Headhunter's Calling

17%

57%

The Headhunter's Calling

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Headhunter's Calling

Fruitvale Station

94%

87%

Fruitvale Station

Watchlist

Wakefield

74%

52%

Wakefield

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Wakefield

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Biggest and Best Movies of the Last 25 Years

National Society of Film Critics Award Winners Announced: Lady Bird Wins Best Picture

Rank Michelle Williams’ 10 Best Movies

Manchester by the Sea: Trailer 1

2:29

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

After the death of his older brother Joe, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is shocked that Joe has made him sole guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick. Taking leave of his job as a janitor in Boston, Lee reluctantly returns to Manchester-by-the-Sea, the fishing village where his working-class family has lived for generations. There, he is forced to deal with a past that separated him from his wife, Randi (Michelle Williams), and the community where he was born and raised.

Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Producer: Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, Lauren Beck, Kevin J. Walsh
Screenwriter: Kenneth Lonergan
Distributor: Roadside Attractions, Amazon Studios
Production Co: Roadside Attractions, Big Indie Pictures
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 16, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 7, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.7M
Runtime: 2h 17m

Most Popular at Home Now