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Owning Mahowny

Play trailer Poster for Owning Mahowny R 2003 1h 44m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 96 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Toronto bank employee Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) seems like an honest man to his coworkers and loving girlfriend, Belinda (Minnie Driver). None of them realize that he is actually a compulsive gambler who steals from the bank's accounts to pay off his bookie, Frank (Maury Chaykin), and fund regular trips to casinos. Sleazy casino boss Victor (John Hurt) encourages Dan to amass more and more debt, until the missing money becomes hard to hide, and Dan's life spirals out of control.
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Owning Mahowny

Owning Mahowny

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Critics Consensus

This story of addiction may lack the typical flash and glamour, but Hoffman makes Owning Mahowny compelling.

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Critics Reviews

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Jay Boyar Orlando Sentinel Sep 12, 2003
Whether or not you think of gambling as a vice, you can bet on Owning Mahowny. Go to Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer Jul 22, 2003
3/4
Owning Mahowny is an unflashy but fascinating meditation on addiction and greed. Go to Full Review Adam Nayman eye WEEKLY Jul 8, 2003
3.5/5
A clammy, compulsively watchable almost-comedy. Go to Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) Jan 20, 2022
Through it all, Hoffman plays Mahowny with no glamor or glitz, but with a type of studied vacuousness that's chilling. Go to Full Review Jonah Koslofsky The Spool Mar 29, 2021
There's not much to root for one way or another, not much tension across the film's admirably tight runtime. Go to Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine Oct 11, 2019
The drama is a narrow, one-way street. And Hoffman is no Russell Crowe or Leonardo DiCaprio. He's just a brilliant American actor playing a repressed Canadian with a weakness for numbers. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Schrodinger's D @powerslide46 Jul 30, 2026 Hoffman displays his incredible talent once again in this movie about and over the top addiction he hides as well as he can. Personally I think I would have figured out his addiction had I known him however Hoffman plays the compelling addicted gambler perfectly. I give this five stars as I do almost every Hoffman movie See more Jeffrey P @vanillavoodoo1 Jun 15, 2026 A solid true story about compulsive gambling that not everyone has heard of. See more Penelope Y @RT31899006 Sep 14, 2025 One of my all-time favourite films, showcasing Philip Seymour Hoffman’s outstanding acting. The first time I watched it in the early 2000s, his masterful portrayal of the antagonist left a lasting impression- making you truly feel his character’s pain and addiction. I’ve followed his work ever since. Rewatching it recently, it’s every bit as powerful as I remembered. Highly recommended if you haven’t seen it! See more Alain E @AlainE Jan 26, 2025 A great movie about addiction with hardly a wrong step. The characters and situations are based on real events. To emphasize the grip gambling had on him, Hoffman is shown as having one major motivation in placing bets and no need for smoking, alcohol, sex and often forgetting to eat. Hoffman who gives a spectacular performance, unfortunately could not draw an analogy with his own dependence on narcotics which ended up costing his life at age 46. See more Isa B @RT32418990 Dec 4, 2024 The subtle greatness of this film is a sight to behold. Philip Seymour Hoffman is his usual outstanding self in Owning Mahowny. The film creates suspense and strong feelings of anxiety as it progresses. I most definitely recommend it. 92/100 See more Alec B @Alec97 Feb 27, 2024 A fascinating character study of a man who would be totally unremarkable if not for his vast financial crimes. Hoffman is perfect (obviously) and Hurt excels in the kind of role he rarely gets to play. See more Read all reviews
Owning Mahowny

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Kwietniowski

Director

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Dan Mahowny

Minnie Driver

Belinda

Maury Chaykin

Frank Perlin

John Hurt

Victor Foss

Sonja Smits

Dana Selkirk

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Owning Mahowny

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Movie Info

Synopsis Toronto bank employee Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) seems like an honest man to his coworkers and loving girlfriend, Belinda (Minnie Driver). None of them realize that he is actually a compulsive gambler who steals from the bank's accounts to pay off his bookie, Frank (Maury Chaykin), and fund regular trips to casinos. Sleazy casino boss Victor (John Hurt) encourages Dan to amass more and more debt, until the missing money becomes hard to hide, and Dan's life spirals out of control.
Director
Richard Kwietniowski
Producer
Andras Hamori, Seaton McLean, Alessandro Camon
Screenwriter
Maurice Chauvet, Gary Ross
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Alliance Atlantis Communications
Rating
R (Some Sexuality|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 2, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.0M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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