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A Most Violent Year

2014·Movie
2h 5min·R

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

A Most Violent Year fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and violent

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Violence7
  • Adrenaline6

Heart

Melancholic

Much of it is about family.

  • Melancholy7
  • Family Dynamics7
  • Pathos6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Dark Humor4
  • Satire & Parody3

World

Crime, class and money, and everyday modern life

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography9
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You want fast pacing

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

The result is never in question. Just the path you take to get there.

A thriller set in New York City during the winter of 1981, statistically one of the most violent years in the city's history, and centered on the lives of an immigrant and his family trying to expand their business and capitalize on opportunities as the rampant violence, decay, and corruption of the day drag them in and threaten to destroy all they have built.
Crime ThrillerMoral Ambiguity1980s New YorkImmigrant ExperienceClass StrugglePsychological DramaSlow BurnCharacter StudyCinematography

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

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Questions about A Most Violent Year

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream A Most Violent Year legally?

A Most Violent Year is included with a subscription to HBO Max in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Fandango at Home Free, Plex, and Xumo Play. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is A Most Violent Year worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76/100 (IMDb 6.9, Rotten Tomatoes 89%, and Metacritic 79). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is A Most Violent Year rated?

RViolenceStrong language

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence and strong language.

How long is A Most Violent Year?

2 h 5 min

A Most Violent Year runs 2 h 5 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on A Most Violent Year?

Critics84
Audiences69

Not quite. Critics rate A Most Violent Year higher (84) than audiences (69). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was A Most Violent Year a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$12 million

No. It cost about $20 million to make and earned $12 million worldwide, 60% of its budget.

What language is A Most Violent Year in?

EnglishSpanish

It was made in English, with some Spanish. Produced in United Arab Emirates, United States.

In how many countries can I watch A Most Violent Year?

42AEATAUBEBYCACHCZDEDKEGESFIFJ+28

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for A Most Violent Year in 42 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does A Most Violent Year use?

Break the CutieAmbiguously JewishDeterminatorWhat Happened to the Mouse?Shoot the DogIf You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!Pink MistMafia PrincessPunch-Clock VillainBrutal HonestyMorally Bankrupt BankerThe Lopsided Arm of the Lawand 32 more

TV Tropes lists 44 storytelling tropes for A Most Violent Year, including Break the Cutie, Ambiguously Jewish, Determinator.