What to know

critics consensus

As a gangster biopic, Legend is deeply flawed, but as a showcase for Tom Hardy -- in a dual role, no less -- it just about lives up to its title. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Legend Videos

View All Videos (11)

Legend Photos

View All Photos (42)

Movie Info

Suave, charming and volatile, Reggie Kray (Tom Hardy) and his unstable twin brother Ronnie start to leave their mark on the London underworld in the 1960s. Using violence to get what they want, the siblings orchestrate robberies and murders while running nightclubs and protection rackets. With police Detective Leonard "Nipper" Read hot on their heels, the brothers continue their rapid rise to power and achieve tabloid notoriety.
  • Rating:
    R (Some Sexual and Drug Material|Language Throughout|Strong Violence)
  • Genre:
    crime, drama, biography
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Brian Helgeland
  • Producer:
    Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Chris Clark, Quentin Curtis, Brian Oliver
  • Writer:
    Brian Helgeland
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $1.9M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Working Title Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Atmos

Cast & Crew

Tom Hardy
Ronald Kray, Reginald Kray
Emily Browning
Frances Shea
David Thewlis
Leslie Payne
Taron Egerton
Teddy Smith
Christopher Eccleston
Nipper Read
Chazz Palminteri
Angelo Bruno
Tara Fitzgerald
Elsie Shea
Paul Bettany
Charlie Richardson
Colin Morgan
Frankie Shea
Paul Anderson
Albert Donoghue
Brian Helgeland
Director
Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter
Tim Bevan
Producer
Eric Fellner
Producer
Chris Clark
Producer
Quentin Curtis
Producer
Brian Oliver
Producer
Dick Pope
Cinematographer
Peter McNulty
Film Editor
Carter Burwell
Original Music
Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Legend

Now Streaming: Blade Runner, Scarface, The Exorcist, and More
On DVD This Week: Oscar Winners Room and The Danish Girl, Plus Creed and More
Las Vegas Film Critics: Spotlight and Mad Max Sweep the LVFCS Awards
View All

Critic Reviews for Legend

All Critics (170) | Top Critics (52) | Fresh (104) | Rotten (66)

  • Legend really does waste the majority of its potential, Helgeland never tapping into the story of the Kray brothers in a way that is essential or lasting.

    August 18, 2016 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Sara Michelle Fetters

    MovieFreak.com

  • Helgeland uses long-take shots through boisterous clubs, unreliable narration and splashes of violence to create a drama of little surprise and even less impact.

    December 4, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Barry Hertz

    Globe and Mail

  • Legend seems like a movie Scorsese might have made if he wasn't paying attention - the elements are present but they are clumsily assembled and the outcome underwhelms.

    December 3, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews

  • It's not short of thrills, the biggest of which is Hardy's double performance.

    December 3, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Liz Braun

    Toronto Sun

  • Watching Tom Hardy nearly upstage himself in the gangster biopic Legend makes for mesmerizing viewing. It's also an object lesson in how great acting can transcend a film's limitations.

    December 3, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star

  • The movie's a testament to the Krays' ability to get away with everything - for a while, anyway. But it's better evidence of Tom Hardy's ability to do just about anything.

    November 25, 2015 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Ty Burr

    Boston Globe
View All Critic Reviews (170)

Audience Reviews for Legend

  • Jul 19, 2017
    The story of the infamous Kray twin gangsters relies entirely on its leading man Hardy in a double and he truly does deliver. The plot is always entertaining although it follows the mob standards, but things never get too exciting either. I guess true events sometimes do that. Still, Hardy's performance makes it all worth while.
    Jens S Super Reviewer
  • May 03, 2016
    There are two things that save this movie from being a real bore, Tom Hardy as Ron Kray and Tom Hardy as Reggie Kray. The performance alone from Hardy should give you enough juice to watch 'Legend', however disjointed the movie may be as a gangster flick. Or is it really a gangster flick so much as a romance? I really could not tell which direction Brian Helgeland wanted to take this film, which ultimately lends 'Legend' to terrible pacing problems. The story seems ripe for the plucking, and though the story essentially starts with the brothers already in a high state of power, our relationship as a viewer remains on a strained outside-looking-in lackey rather than one of the family. Decent acting from a supporting cast that looks just as confused when Hardy isn't on screen with them, coupled with Hardy's performance (especially during the true gangster scenes) should give you just enough interest to tune in, otherwise, 'Legend' won't rise to the occasion.
    Lane Z Super Reviewer
  • May 01, 2016
    It's overly-polished which does work against it, but Hardy's performance carries the film beautifully
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Apr 09, 2016
    Hardy does give two excellent and very distinct performances, but he can't rescue a movie that's essentially a middling and kind of boring riff on Scorsese.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Legend Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides