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Shame

Play trailer Poster for Shame NC-17 Released Dec 2, 2011 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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79% Tomatometer 224 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Successful and handsome New Yorker Brandon (Michael Fassbender) seems to live an ordinary life, but he hides a terrible secret behind his mask of normalcy: Brandon is a sex addict. His constant need for gratification numbs him to just about everything else. But, when Sissy (Carey Mulligan), Brandon's needy sister, unexpectedly blows into town, crashes at his apartment and invades his privacy, Brandon is finally forced to confront his addiction head-on.
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Shame

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Critics Consensus

Boasting stellar performances by Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, Shame is a powerful plunge into the mania of addiction affliction.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Follows an arc familiar from numerous other films that deal with the theme of addiction — an accelerated freefall towards rock bottom followed by self-awareness and a hint of redemption. Oct 28, 2022 Full Review Noah Berlatsky The Atlantic Shame is, indeed, a perfect distillation of the suffering-guy archetype. Aug 28, 2019 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Cleverly written and beautifully portrayed, Shame is a sensitive look at sex and addiction we've rarely seen before in film. Rated: A+ Sep 8, 2017 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ There's no doubting that it's artfully shot, but its lack of dialogue and challengingly languorous pacing will be patience-testing for many. Rated: 3.5/5 Apr 18, 2023 Full Review Wael Khairy The Cinephile Fix Steve McQueen’s painful cinematic display of loneliness in the city features acting of the highest caliber. Mar 31, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Steve McQueen’s Shame takes a nonjudgmental and uncompromising view on sex addiction. Rated: 4/4 Mar 1, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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THE NASHVILLE I An objectively pensive, great film that’s mentally intriguing. Full disclosure: men will appreciate it a good deal, women not so much. That said, it’s one of the more important and relevant film for menthe last 30 years. Overall: it’s a challenging watch at times, but Fassbender’s such a compelling force you’re dying to see what he does next. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/28/25 Full Review Sleepless S I watched this just out of curiosity coz people have been saying it should have won an Oscar for Michael Fassbender. Well, I don't think this is a film that will take home an award. First of all there are too many boring scenes esp when this Sissy was singing New York New York with her version that was dragginggg. I can doze to sleep and wake up to find she is still singing. Sucks! The story is too shallow. It was just nudity and sex scenes but it didn't go to the root what was the reason why the siblings are sex-starved. What was their childhood? The way they were brought up. What happened to them to be like that. The last scene on the train on which he didn't follow the girl anymore does not justify that he indeed has given up on his addiction. There should be more instances where it will show that he really has transformed and on the way to recovery. Steve M is a great director but the pace was too slow. This film was just over rated because of the sex scenes but I didn't find any extra ordinary. Plus the scene where Sissy cut herself and bleeding. My goodness! Brandon was holding her wrists too tight when he should be looking for a cloth to tie it up to stop it from bleeding. The blood was all over like she was stabbed a hundred times. It was so unrealistic! To end this review, the film I realized was not even 2 hours but I felt I was watching it for 3 hours. No this is not the best film of Fassbender. You might be kidding if you said that. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/06/25 Full Review Aleksander S Nuanced and moving story about a sex-addict. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Orin D Not everyone's cup of tea, this film explores sexual addiction, w/which I am quite familiar having coined the term "cuntaholic" to describe myself. I highly recommend seeing if this film speaks to your own foibles. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/12/25 Full Review Minoo M This movie was really bad in every way. I have no idea how such a good actress like Carrey and actor like Michael Fassbender would play a movie like this! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/24/24 Full Review BJ M Depressing. Lacks any real redeeming quality. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Successful and handsome New Yorker Brandon (Michael Fassbender) seems to live an ordinary life, but he hides a terrible secret behind his mask of normalcy: Brandon is a sex addict. His constant need for gratification numbs him to just about everything else. But, when Sissy (Carey Mulligan), Brandon's needy sister, unexpectedly blows into town, crashes at his apartment and invades his privacy, Brandon is finally forced to confront his addiction head-on.
Director
Steve McQueen
Producer
Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
Screenwriter
Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Production Co
Searchlight Pictures, UK Film Council, Film4, See-Saw Films
Rating
NC-17 (Some Explicit Sexual Content)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.0M
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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