Shame

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Shame

NC-17

2011

1h 39m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

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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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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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

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Noah Berlatsky

The Atlantic

Shame is, indeed, a perfect distillation of the suffering-guy archetype.

Aug 28, 2019

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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

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Throughout the movie, the camera and point-of-view rarely leaves Fassbender and we are privy to watching this clash of emotions and habits.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2025

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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

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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

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rsderek81

Hard to watch at times, but a powerful mirror to all of us who have dealt with trauma and addiction

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

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Alain E

This is an unequal enterprise. Visually, as we should expect from a director with a career in fashion, it is superb, especially the low light scenes. Very good music as well. The actors interpret well the material given to them. The script has flaws. A similar movie to reference is American Psycho which is very solidly built. Here the main character is obsessed about sex in a way that doesn’t always make sense. He has as outlet online porn, actual prostitutes and frequent masturbation. When he offers hospitality to his sister she catches him masturbating in the bathroom. Of course when only two people share a small apartment and one is clearly in the apartment but not visible you have to assume that he is in the bathroom and knock before you enter. Anyway the intrusion makes him to attempt a relationship with an attractive coworker, but when with performance anxiety he cannot have intercourse he withdraws with shame and the woman who until that point appeared caring dresses and leaves. There is a mysterious alluring married woman in the subway, who somehow happens to be in the same car many days who maybe the next goal. As I said, enjoy the surface but don’t try to analyze the character.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/22/25

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David R

It was a very sad movie and hard to watch. Good acting, and good directing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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Ricardo S

A devastating film that shows us the fragility and complexity of people and their addictions.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

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Gareth v

Shame is a haunting, emotionally raw character study that explores addiction, isolation, and the pursuit of pleasure.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated NC-17 for Some Explicit Sexual Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $4,000,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/24/25

Full Review

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Steve McQueen

Director

Michael Fassbender

Brandon

Carey Mulligan

Sissy

James Badge Dale

David

Nicole Beharie

Marianne

Alex Manette

Steven

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83%

81%

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22%

28%

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60%

68%

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69%

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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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