Road to Perdition

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2:43

Road to Perdition

R

Released Jul 12, 2002

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

214 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Mike Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is an enforcer for powerful Depression-era Midwestern mobster John Rooney (Paul Newman). Rooney's son, Connor (Daniel Craig), is jealous of the close bond they share, and when Mike's eldest son, Michael (Tyler Hoechlin), witnesses a hit, Connor uses the incident as an excuse to murder Sullivan's wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and youngest son. Forced to flee, Sullivan and Michael set out on a journey of revenge and self-discovery.

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Critics Consensus

Somber, stately, and beautifully mounted, Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition is a well-crafted mob movie that explores the ties between fathers and sons.

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Namrata Joshi

Outlook

A beautiful elegy to a decaying world whose sadness lingers on.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 3, 2019

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

So is Perdition still a must-see? No question. But it's tough to fuss about it much when a picture is this fussy.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 14, 2013

Full Review

David Denby

The New Yorker

Visually, the picture is all of a piece, but it's a self-conscious piece of work -- all dark-toned academic classicism.

Apr 14, 2013

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Based on a graphic novel – of the non-superhero kind – and directed artistically by Mendes, this is an unusual genre foray, yet a tremendously satisfying tale of vengeance and redemption.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 23, 2025

Full Review

Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

A fantastic exploration of violence, envy, loyalty, and relationships between fathers and sons, done through a superb old-school, throwback gangster film. Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Daniel Craig are phenomenal. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Jun 5, 2024

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Eventually the movie folds up into complete pictorialism.

Rated: C

Sep 17, 2022

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Michael W

I found it very slow and tedious. No way can it be compared to The Godfather or Goodfellows.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/02/25

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grain j

Although I think the ending is a little bit underwhelming, this movie has a unique plot with great performances and a great cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

Hughe J

The Road to Perdition was released in theatres in 2002 and is a criminally underrated movie with some excellent performances by it's star studded cast. It stars Tom Hanks as Michael Sullivan, Paul Newman as John Rooney, Jude Law as Maguire, Stanley Tucci as Frank Nitti, Daniel Craig as Connor Rooney and many more. The film is set during the great depression in the United States where Sullivan is John Rooney's enforcer. Sullivan's son witnesses a murder and Rooney order's the family's death but Sullivan escapes with his oldest son to take revenge. That's a very simplistic summary that doesn't do the movie justice. Hanks is just excellent here dealing with his son after the loss of his family. Newman also shines in his role and was nominated for best supporting actor. The score by Thomas Newman was phenomenal and one of the best I've heard in any movie complimenting every scene. Then there's the fact that this is a period piece movie that feels like the 30's. I loved everything about this film including the ending and it's such an easy movie to recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e alguns ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, o filme tem um drama muito bom e ajudou muito no filme

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/25

Full Review

Sergio N.

I always love the mafia movies especially old school ones

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

Full Review

Jake S.

The most underrated gangster film of all-time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

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Sam Mendes

Director

Tom Hanks

Michael Sullivan

Paul Newman

John Rooney

Jude Law

Maguire

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Sullivan

Stanley Tucci

Frank Nitti

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Road to Perdition: Trailer 1

2:43

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Synopsis

Mike Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is an enforcer for powerful Depression-era Midwestern mobster John Rooney (Paul Newman). Rooney's son, Connor (Daniel Craig), is jealous of the close bond they share, and when Mike's eldest son, Michael (Tyler Hoechlin), witnesses a hit, Connor uses the incident as an excuse to murder Sullivan's wife (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and youngest son. Forced to flee, Sullivan and Michael set out on a journey of revenge and self-discovery.

Director: Sam Mendes
Producer: Sam Mendes, Richard D. Zanuck, Dean Zanuck
Screenwriter: David Self
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Production Co: Zanuck Company
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $104.1M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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