Lawless

Play trailer

Lawless

R

2012

1h 55m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

216 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Grim, bloody, and utterly flawed, Lawless doesn't quite achieve the epic status it strains for, but it's too beautifully filmed and powerfully acted to dismiss.

Read Critics Reviews

J. Hoberman

ARTINFO.com

02/22/2019

Lawless wants to be something larger than life, but it's too joyless to be a tall tale and too self-satisfied for tragedy.

Go to Full Review

Nicolas Rapold

Film Comment Magazine

07/01/2013

Hillcoat makes a foray into Virginia's Prohibition-era moonshine country. But the adaptation (by Hillcoat compadre Nick Cave) is a hokey piece of pop history that wearyingly insists upon its own mythos like a comic-book blockbuster.

Go to Full Review

David Thomson

The New Republic

06/14/2013

It's slight and casual to the point of laziness, but it's straight fun, done with knowledge and a laconic pleasure. You could do far worse.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 20

3/5

"Lawless" has its easily definable good guys, bad guys, and, most crucial of all, the morality play that plugs in emotion to a foreign and past barbaric time.

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

10/03/2022

3/4

There isn't much dimension to these proceedings and not an inkling of greater meaning beyond the story at hand, but it’s such a well-made picture that one can hardly protest.

Go to Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/23/2022

4/5

“Lawless” is a tough, bloody, and violent action picture that’s very honest in what it’s trying to be. The story is simple and nothing will catch you by surprise. But it’s also compelling and the characters are easy to invest in.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Haley S.

@haleyserafine May 30

Hands down my favorite movie! Never gets old. 💙

See more

Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Nov 3

It’s actually a good addition to the gangster genre after I thought we’d previously done this theme to death. Syrupy ending aside, I really enjoyed. Watched on DVD.

See more

Oaklee D

@ODie63 Nov 3

An entertaining crime film, which is bold and at times brutal, worth watching at least once.

See more

Daniel N

@Hotchopeppa Sep 1

Cool story, very entertaining, nice mix of drama, action and romance.

See more

scott M.

@smiller_6 Aug 10

loved it………………………………

See more

Paul C

@RT68421373 Aug 2

The only movie I’ve seen in recent times worse than this Pyle of crap is the Irishman. It’s like watching paint dry.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

John Hillcoat

Director

Shia LaBeouf

Jack Bondurant

Tom Hardy

Forrest Bondurant

Jason Clarke

Howard Bondurant

Guy Pearce

Charley Rakes

Jessica Chastain

Maggie Beauford

Lawless: Official Clip - I Gotta Watch You Die Again

2:47

Lawless: Official Clip - Moonshine Raid

2:57

Lawless: Official Clip - Church Hymn

2:34

Lawless: Official Clip - Did You Put Gas In The Truck?

1:59

Lawless: Official Clip - White Lightning

2:35

Lawless: Official Clip - Special Deputy Rakes

2:58

Lawless: Official Clip - Going for a Ride

2:58

Lawless: Official Clip - Bridge Shootout

2:51

Lawless: Official Clip - Maggie Beauford

1:29

Lawless: Official Clip - Floyd Banner

2:01

View more videos

Detroit

82%

79%

Detroit

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Detroit

Foxcatcher

88%

66%

Foxcatcher

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Foxcatcher

American Hustle

92%

74%

American Hustle

Watchlist

Killing Them Softly

74%

45%

Killing Them Softly

Watchlist

The Drop

88%

76%

The Drop

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In 1931, the Bondurant brothers of Franklin County, Va., run a multipurpose backwoods establishment that hides their true business, bootlegging. Middle brother Forrest (Tom Hardy) is the brain of the operation; older Howard (Jason Clarke) is the brawn, and younger Jack (Shia LaBeouf), the lookout. Though the local police have taken bribes and left the brothers alone, a violent war erupts when a sadistic lawman (Guy Pearce) from Chicago arrives and tries to shut down the Bondurants operation.

Director: John Hillcoat
Producer: Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Megan Ellison, Michael Benaroya
Screenwriter: Nick Cave
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: Annapurna Pictures, Blumhansonallen Films, Douglas Wick/Lucy Fisher
Rating: R (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Language|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 29, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.3M
Runtime: 1h 55m