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Patriots Day

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Patriots Day R 2017 2h 10m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 237 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Tragedy strikes on April 15, 2013, when two bombs explode during the Boston Marathon. In the aftermath of the attack, police Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg), FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon) and Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman) join courageous survivors, first responders and other investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the suspects and bring them to justice.
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Patriots Day

Patriots Day

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Critics Consensus

Patriots Day offers a stirring, solidly crafted tribute to the heroes of a real-life American tragedy without straying into exploitative action thriller territory.

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Critics Reviews

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Udita Jhunjhunwala Livemint Patriots Day is a surprisingly steady retelling of a tragic event. Jul 30, 2019 Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) A taut, multi-stranded account of the Boston marathon bombing. Rated: 4/5 Feb 26, 2017 Full Review David Sexton London Evening Standard It's not suspenseful so much as commemorative and even, in paying tribute to the resilient spirit of Boston and all of those caught up in this attack, celebratory. It's a kind of civic tribute. Rated: 3/5 Feb 24, 2017 Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson The makings for a stocked and stacked ensemble drama are dismantled by the misplaced hero worship that becomes little more than a vanity project. Rated: 2/5 Jul 23, 2025 Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times Many Boston-area residents (and critics) felt the movie was made too soon after the event, and the fact that Tommy was a fictional composite character. I understand these complaints, as they hit close to home, but I don’t agree with them. Rated: 4/5 Jun 23, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Patriots Day may tap into the emotional impetus of the intricate and complex investigation but, despite Berg's good intentions, his highly-detailed production recreates a national tragedy perhaps too soon and without enough perspective. Rated: 2/4 Apr 5, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Kyle C Peter Berg’s Patriots Day is a taut, respectful recounting of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. Mark Wahlberg stars as Sgt. Tommy Saunders, one of the few characters who doesn’t directly represent a real person. Instead, he’s more of a composite character, capturing the stories of a few different people involved while giving us a grounded thread to latch onto. Alongside him, Kevin Bacon, John Goodman, and J.K. Simmons deliver strong performances, giving the film a lot of authenticity. The film's pacing is relentless, effectively building tension with some really graphic scenes without resorting to excessive gore. The decision to include real-life footage in the closing moments adds a layer of emotional weight, emphasizing the human cost of the tragedy. While the narrative occasionally flirts with clichés ("one day from retirement" and a heavy dose of the-main-character-does-everything), it remains grounded in the collective spirit of Boston's response. However, the film isn't without its flaws. The portrayal of the terrorists, especially the contrasting accents and westernization of the characters, may raise questions about cultural representation. Additionally, some subplots, like the infertility backstory, feel unnecessary and detract from the central narrative. Despite these minor issues, Patriots Day succeeds in honoring the victims and heroes of the event. It's a compelling watch that balances action with heartfelt moments, providing a powerful reminder of the strength found in unity. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/20/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 2 1/6 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language Throughout, Graphic Injury Images, Some Drug Use and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $31,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Calvin T Damn that was good and caught me by surprise ✌🏾 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/20/25 Full Review Bob D The insane amount of accuracy in this movie cannot be underestimated. This movie has many little parts that are accurate to the actual event. Surprisingly, people say that the movie doesn’t show crazy action like some $300M Marvel fight scene. There are many people talking out of their ass here. The movie is accurate to the initial bombing and even uses real footage of the second bomb. The Laurel Street shootout was very accurate with the bombs being thrown and the flank that killed one of the brothers. It is just a masterful piece of cinema. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Alex S Patriot’s Day is a cinematic reflection on the courage displayed by the City of Boston in its collective recovery from a tragic event and its pursuit of the perpetrators. The film serves as a symbolic representation of the significance of the holiday’s establishment. Felt a bit of an action blockbuster at times but of course didn’t detract from its overall quality. The film is still brought to life by an A-list cast and since I’m a sucker for true story films with decent direction, and this one certainly fits that bill. It’s a memorable film that I always enjoy revisiting. Grading: B+ Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/25 Full Review Jonathan K I have to admit I really liked it. Mark Wahlberg is surprisingly good in this dramatic role and the movie is pretty gripping overall. The whole "Boston Strong" sentiment and patriotism vibes can get a little heavy-handed at times, but I’m sure if I were from Boston, I’d probably feel differently. Still, the stories of the people it affected are genuinely powerful and touching. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Patriots Day

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tragedy strikes on April 15, 2013, when two bombs explode during the Boston Marathon. In the aftermath of the attack, police Sgt. Tommy Saunders (Mark Wahlberg), FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers (Kevin Bacon) and Commissioner Ed Davis (John Goodman) join courageous survivors, first responders and other investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the suspects and bring them to justice.
Director
Peter Berg
Producer
Scott Stuber, Dylan Clark, Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Hutch Parker, Dorothy Aufiero, Michael Radutzky
Screenwriter
Peter Berg, Matthew Cook, Joshua Zetumer
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, CBS Films
Production Co
Hutch Parker Entertainment, Closest to the Hole, Leverage Entertainment, Bluegrass Films
Rating
R (Language Throughout|Graphic Injury Images|Some Drug Use|Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 13, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 22, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.8M
Runtime
2h 10m
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