Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

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Before the Devil Knows You're Dead

R

2007

1h 56m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

180 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a debt-ridden broker, needs some quick cash. He ropes his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), into a scheme to commit the perfect crime: to rob their parents' (Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris) jewelry store. The scheme goes horribly awry, and the family patriarch takes justice into his own hands, unaware that the criminals he is hunting are his own sons.

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Critics Consensus

A tense and effective thriller, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead marks a triumphant return to form for director Sidney Lumet.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/12/2017

A-

I enjoyed it all the way through the last second.

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Jordan Hoffman

UGO

08/14/2009

A-

Suspense and action would be enough to seal this film, but the feeling of dread, that under different circumstances this could be us, makes this a heist picture for the ages.

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Christopher Orr

The New Republic

09/18/2008

The movie's title comes from the Irish toast, 'May you be in Heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you're dead.' Unfortunately, everyone in the film is running about 35 minutes late.

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Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

07/12/2025

4/5

A hectic unraveling of two men whose very different lives bring them to the same violent head.

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Ray Pride

Newcity

08/29/2024

10/10

Told with force and assurance, hewing to primal archetypes of family and fate; economy of means; elegance of composition; a sense of time and place that is immediately coherent and memorable; a bracing sense of humor.

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

03/17/2024

3.4/4

Fortunately, [Sidney] Lumet's hard work has paid off this time around--the title comes from the Irish toast, "May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead"--and he's currently at work on his 45th feature in 50 years.

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Adam J

@adamjue Jun 23

Middle was a little slow and the jumps backwards and forwards in time I think could've been a little smoother or less often. Overall good story and it was interesting to see the different rate of speeds at which individual characters change for the worst throughout the film.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder Mar 6

Great cast. This is one of those movies where it’s just one bad decision after another with some really dysfunctional people, and disastrous outcomes. No real redeeming characters. It did Keep my attention. The ending fell a little flat since we don’t find out what happens to Hank, Ethan Hawke’s character.

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 Feb 21

Two brothers make a choice that destroy their lives and many others. The film builds up and up to a devastating conclusion. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke have fantastic chemistry. Definitely recommend it.

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Troy R

@Grim16 Feb 17

Decent acting, decent story, but nothing too special. Some interesting twists and unclear motives, but ultimately just a kind of middle of the road crime/mystery movie. Also not a fan of the jumping around. Didn't really feel like it added a ton to the movie and extended the run time a little. Ending was good but a little underwhelming.

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Rick D

@RT94139684 Feb 10

This movie was terrific as the key characters kept being dragged into a deeper and deeper hole by the events that unfold. I kept thinking it can't get worse, and then it does. Great cast and acting.

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Paul S

@PManRager Dec 25

It might've been a little slow, but other than that, I can't find a single thing wrong with this movie. It had a great story, amazing acting, and was really fun to watch. I definitely recommend it for crime and drama fans!

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Andy Hanson

Ethan Hawke

Hank

Marisa Tomei

Gina

Albert Finney

Charles

Rosemary Harris

Nanette

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Synopsis

Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a debt-ridden broker, needs some quick cash. He ropes his younger brother, Hank (Ethan Hawke), into a scheme to commit the perfect crime: to rob their parents' (Albert Finney, Rosemary Harris) jewelry store. The scheme goes horribly awry, and the family patriarch takes justice into his own hands, unaware that the criminals he is hunting are his own sons.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Michael Cerenzie, Brian Linse, Paul Parmar, William S. Gilmore
Screenwriter: Kelly Masterson
Distributor: ThinkFilm
Production Co: Capitol Films, Funky Buddha Productions, Unity Productions
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Nudity|Strong Graphic Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.1M
Runtime: 1h 56m