Poster for Black Mass

Black Mass

2015, Biography/Crime, 2h 2m

291 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Black Mass spins a gripping yarn out of its fact-based story -- and leaves audiences with one of Johnny Depp's most compelling performances in years. Read critic reviews

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Black Mass Photos

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Movie Info

While his brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) remains a powerful leader in the Massachusetts Senate, Irish hoodlum James "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) continues to pursue a life of crime in 1970s Boston. Approached by FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), the lawman convinces Whitey to help the agency fight the Italian mob. As their unholy alliance spirals out of control, Bulger increases his power and evades capture to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in U.S. history.
  • Rating:
    R (Brutal Violence|Brief Drug Use|Language Throughout|Some Sexual References)
  • Genre:
    Biography, Crime, Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Scott Cooper
  • Producer:
    John Lesher, Brian Oliver, Scott Cooper, Patrick McCormick, Tyler Thompson
  • Writer:
    Mark Mallouk, Jez Butterworth
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $62.6M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Warner Bros.
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp
James "Whitey" Bulger
Joel Edgerton
Joel Edgerton
John Connolly
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch
Bill Bulger
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson
Lindsey Cyr
Kevin Bacon
Kevin Bacon
FBI Agent Charles McGuire
Peter Sarsgaard
Peter Sarsgaard
Brian Halloran
Jesse Plemons
Jesse Plemons
Kevin Weeks
Rory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane
Stephen Flemmi
David Harbour
David Harbour
John Morris
Adam Scott
Adam Scott
FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick
Corey Stoll
Corey Stoll
Fred Wyshak
Julianne Nicholson
Julianne Nicholson
Marianne Connolly
W. Earl Brown
W. Earl Brown
Johnny Martorano
Bill Camp
Bill Camp
John Callahan
Juno Temple
Juno Temple
Deborah Hussey
Mark Mahoney
Mark Mahoney
Mickey Mahoney
Brad Carter
Brad Carter
John McIntyre
Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson
Tommy King
Lonnie Farmer
Lonnie Farmer
DEA Agent Eric Olsen
Mary Klug
Mary Klug
Mom Bulger
Scott Cooper
Scott Cooper
Director
Mark Mallouk
Mark Mallouk
Screenwriter
Jez Butterworth
Jez Butterworth
Screenwriter
John Lesher
John Lesher
Producer
Brian Oliver
Brian Oliver
Producer
Scott Cooper
Scott Cooper
Producer
Patrick McCormick
Patrick McCormick
Producer
Tyler Thompson
Tyler Thompson
Producer
Brett Ratner
Brett Ratner
Executive Producer
James Packer
James Packer
Executive Producer
Steven Mnuchin
Steven Mnuchin
Executive Producer
Peter Mallouk
Peter Mallouk
Executive Producer
Ray Mallouk
Ray Mallouk
Executive Producer
Christopher Woodrow
Christopher Woodrow
Executive Producer
Brett Granstaff
Brett Granstaff
Executive Producer
Gary Granstaff
Gary Granstaff
Executive Producer
Phil Hunt
Phil Hunt
Executive Producer
Compton Ross
Compton Ross
Executive Producer
Masanobu Takayanagi
Masanobu Takayanagi
Cinematographer
David Rosenbloom
David Rosenbloom
Film Editing
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News & Interviews for Black Mass

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Winners List for the Critics’ Choice Awards 2016
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Critic Reviews for Black Mass

All Critics (291) | Top Critics (71) | Fresh (212) | Rotten (79)
Full Review… Angie Han Slashfilm Full Review… Kristen Yoonsoo Kim Complex Full Review… Max Weiss Baltimore Magazine Full Review… Jason Bailey Flavorwire Full Review… Kate Muir Times (UK) Full Review… Mark Kermode Observer (UK) Full Review… Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Full Review… Olly Richards NME Full Review… Richard Crouse Richard Crouse Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Full Review… Allen Almachar The MacGuffin
View All Critic Reviews (291)

Audience Reviews for Black Mass

  • Jul 12, 2017
    Johnny Depp turns in one of his more nuanced and compelling performances in a while in Black Mass, however, the rest of the film seesaws between tedium and mildly gripping. It never reaches the heights of similarly themed films of late, and its story presentation is plagued with heaps of plot points never fully fleshed out. I will admit, this isn't necessarily my kind of film, but if you are in the mood for such a thing, the jolting violence and mobster plot should captivate well enough. Rating: 54
    Bradley J Super Reviewer
  • Sep 02, 2016
    Johnny Depp's chilling and transforming performances is the highlight of this gritty, true-to-life adaptation of an American crime story. Black Mass' star-heavy cast (including Edgerton, Cumberbatch) and its calculating direction helps emphasize the brutality and impact of this notorious gangster. 4/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • Aug 02, 2016
    http://cinephilecrocodile.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/black-mass-dir-scott-cooper-2015.html
    Anthony L Super Reviewer
  • Jul 15, 2016
    Depp has never been more menacing as real life gangster Whitey Bulger, he plays it with the right amount of menace and coldness. Edgerton and Cumberbatch are also very good. But, for a crime drama, it does move very slow at times and I did get bored. Director Scott Cooper gets the best from his actors and overall I was satisfied. 07-11-2016
    Christopher O Super Reviewer
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