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Killing Them Softly

Play trailer Poster for Killing Them Softly R 2012 1h 37m Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 226 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.
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Killing Them Softly

Killing Them Softly

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Critics Consensus

Killing Them Softly is a darkly comic, visceral thriller that doubles as a cautionary tale on capitalism, whose message is delivered with sledgehammer force.

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Critics Reviews

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Cary Darling Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Dec 3, 2012
3/5
The anvils of obviousness rain down so hard and fast in New Zealand-born/Australian-based director Andrew Dominik's meditation on low-rent crime and American decline, that it might as well be a Coyote-Road Runner cartoon Go to Full Review
Christopher Orr The Atlantic Nov 30, 2012
Like its source material, the movie is stylish, profane, intelligent, and eminently diverting. But as much as it is a delight that Dominik has disinterred Higgins's work, it is a mild disappointment that the result is not more substantial. Go to Full Review
Caryn James James on screenS Nov 30, 2012
A disappointing, derivative noir that gets its spark from Pitt and Gandolfini's performances. Slight and pulpy, but it's aiming for arty and trenchant. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sep 20, 2022
4/4
Although it’s bound to be divisive for its unconventional structure, ruthless tone, and the cynical nature of its message, Killing Them Softly is a rare, exceedingly enjoyable, bleakly comic noir story. Go to Full Review
Cory Woodroof 615 Film Jul 6, 2022
A dirty, furious little gangster flick with as much to say about capitalism as it does how futile a life it is to live in this world. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jan 21, 2022
4/5
...ahead of the curve in terms of portraying the inherent nihilism of today's society... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Marc E @marcedwards1975 Sep 27, 2026 Highly under rated movie that didn't get the attention it deserved. Well written and acted. See more
Mario B @RT57500419 Sep 10, 2026 The visuals were hard on the eyes and honestly it felt like the actors were just trying to get a quick paycheck. I believe that this movie was made as a tax write off but for whatever reason they decided it needed to be released in theaters See more
Cole D @RT78180295 Aug 25, 2026 Cool slow motion shots with tons of violence and gore underrated movie See more
Bruce F @MoralMaster Aug 21, 2026 Brad Pitt did amazing James did well but the movie felt lacking some flare instead of a political message in the back round brad was really the only real treat in the movie but it was still decent See more
Oleksii K @RT50708344 Jul 16, 2026 In aftermath it more feels like a generational scorsese-esque film. Dialogues, camera angles, character lines. Even actor selection - ray liotta plays old ray liotta, james gandolfini plays old worn out gangster that still posses all well-known attributes of old-school gangster but incapable of doing what he's meant to. Overall is more of a personal heart-warming "thank you" from Plan B aka Brad Pitt to inspirational authors than a independent art expression but it's a beauty of it if you can see. See more
Gypsy G @GypsyGua86 May 24, 2026 Only gets 2 stars because the actors are all great, and good cinematography. Otherwise, prepare yourself to watch 2 hours of hitmen monologuing during every scene, while waiting for them to wrap up a very basic plot. A huge drag. See more
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Killing Them Softly

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jackie Cogan

Scoot McNairy

Frankie

Ben Mendelsohn

Russell

Richard Jenkins

Driver

James Gandolfini

Mickey

Movie Clips

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Killing Them Softly

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Killing Them Softly

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Movie Info

Synopsis When rival crook Johnny Amato (Vincent Curatola) hatches a plan to rob a card game run by mob lackey Markie (Ray Liotta), he picks a low-rent thug named Frankie (Scoot McNairy) to do the job. Frankie picks a less-than-ideal partner (Ben Mendelsohn) to help him, but despite their combined incompetence, they manage to make off with the mob's money. In retaliation, Markie's bosses hire Jackie Cogan (Brad Pitt), a mob enforcer, to eradicate those responsible.
Director
Andrew Dominik
Producer
Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Steve Schwartz, Paula Mae Schwartz, Anthony Katagas
Screenwriter
Andrew Dominik
Distributor
Weinstein Co.
Production Co
Plan B Entertainment, Chockstone Pictures
Rating
R (Some Drug References|Pervasive Language|Some Drug Use|Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 30, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 30, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.9M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS
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