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

213 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

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

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... it’s a modern throwback to the classic gangster movie, set in the depths of the Depression in 1930s America, and Mendes pays great attention to the imagery of the screen adaptation.

Jun 25, 2022

Full Review

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Jake S.

The most underrated gangster film of all-time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

Full Review

Gary G

No other crime movie, with the exception of maybe The Godfather, evokes an atmosphere like this one. It envelopes you in Depression-era and the birth of organized crime that occurred thanks to Prohibition. It unapologetically revels in revenge, and sucks you in even as you recognize the evil that underlies it all. There isn't a weak performance anywhere. The cinematography is breathtaking, the acting is superb, and the directing moves the story along beautifully. I was astounded to learn this movie was adapted from a graphic novel, but who cares? It's a completely absorbing masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

Tyler S

Really good movie. A compelling story that stays strong the whole time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

Ken B

Great acting, silly plot. Jude Law is hiding in the plain sight of a small family wake. Happens to be on the staircase above the phone exactly when Hanks calls so he can trance the location of the number. He arrives at the dinner just after Hanks who has been driving all day, impossible. Then Hanks after injuring Law in the accountants room has him debilitated on the floor and runs away leaving him alive so Law can kill him in the end. Just what a Hitman would do. Ludacris.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/25

Full Review

Benjamin H

Gripping, intelligent and great composite storytelling that is rich on themes and emotions, Road to Perdition did a couple of choices that felt a bit illogical, but this is a superbly crafted crime drama that is blessed by Sam Mendes's fluent directon, David Self's top-notch script and masterful performances from its great cast (Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Tyler Hoechlin in particular). The score and cinematography were also terrific.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Lynn K

Superb film. Great cast and direction. Compelling watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/13/24

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

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - Give Me the Gun

2:13

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - None of Us Will See Heaven

2:09

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - I'm Glad It's You

2:13

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - A Share of the Money

1:10

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - You Would Like to Apologize?

2:03

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - Kill Sullivan and All Debts are Paid

2:06

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - You Saw Everything

2:12

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - Sons Are Put on this Earth

1:37

Road to Perdition: Official Clip - Hotel Shootout

2:08

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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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