Manchester by the Sea

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Manchester by the Sea

R

Released Dec 16, 2016

2h 17m

Drama

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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.

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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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Demitra Kampakis

Vague Visages

Lonergan interrogates the realities of grief with sober restraint.

Dec 12, 2023

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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

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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

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naomi b

the best film i've ever seen. a work of art

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

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Travis J

beautiful human experience

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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O A

An absurd performance by Casey Affleck and the atmosphere of this film makes you feel every moment of the film. In addition, you sympathize with the characters in the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

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TI H

It took me several tries to get into this film, most likely because I'm used to fast-forwarding through high-concept drivel. My insistence on sitting down and watching Manchester By The Sea paid off greatly. It's an excellent drama, with acting that just keeps getting better as the story progresses (especially Michelle Williams's). ////// Like all fine stories, the plot is simple; the characters, complex. Casey Affleck plays Lee, a man who lost his brother and gained a nephew. Neither Lee nor his nephew, Patrick, are thrilled with the arrangement, for Lee wants to move Patrick away, disrupting the kid's life. Patrick tries to get Lee to stay and "play Dad" here, which goes against Lee's plans for spending the rest of his life mourning his deceased children, who died in a fire. You would think that the childless Lee and the fatherless Patrick would be perfect for each other, but that's too neat an outcome for this dysfunctional duo. The final solution to their familial problem makes sense, and at the same time it's sad because of its "realness." This isn't a happily-ever-after ending. It's an ending that doesn't feel cheap.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/27/25

Full Review

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Kenneth Lonergan

Director

Casey Affleck

Lee Chandler

Michelle Williams

Randi Chandler

Kyle Chandler

Joe Chandler

Lucas Hedges

Patrick Chandler

C.J. Wilson

George

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92%

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Manchester by the Sea: Trailer 1

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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: Amazon Studios, Roadside Attractions
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

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