Demolition | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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Where to Watch Demolition What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Related Movie News Videos Demolition Photos Demolition

54%

Tomatometer

211 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Grieving investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) returns to work after losing his beloved wife in a tragic car accident. After writing a letter to complain about a vending machine, Mitchell receives a phone call from Karen (Naomi Watts), a customer service rep from the company. Karen becomes moved by his complete honesty, while Davis finds someone to lend a sympathetic ear. As his new friendship with Karen and her son grows, Mitchell finds the strength he needs to rebuild his life.

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Demolition

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Critics Consensus

Demolition benefits from a stellar cast, even if their solid work isn't always enough to prop up a confused story that aims for profundity but too often settles for clichés.

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Critics Reviews

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

Who knows where his displaced emotions will take him? Who cares?

Nov 8, 2016

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Demolition is a cinematic deconstruction of expectation and cliché, all of which results in a moving marvel of self-actualization I think I just might be in love with.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 11, 2016

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

The story of a bereaved man who starts to dismantle household appliances and, later, buildings, the whole movie is a laboured metaphor: we get it, he's falling apart.

Rated: 2/5

May 1, 2016

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It benefits from a credible performance by Jake Gyllenhaal, but the drama often remains situated in a demolition zone that slowly destroys, with each iteration, the potential of its premise about grief and redemption. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Oct 15, 2024

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

A frustrating experience. There is a lot to appreciate about this film and it had massive potential, but like Dallas Buyer Club, Vallée wasn’t exactly sure where to take the film and it shows.

Rated: B-

Aug 1, 2024

Full Review

Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

Neatly tied resolutions and dime-a-dozen aphorisms feel as fleeting and immaterial as a television drama, while any lasting impression must be hard-fought and pried from between the lines of the script.

Aug 1, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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Jordan Y It's fun to watch him work through his pain by letting go and destroying everything. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review Cody H This movie is confusing and uninspiring. Supposed to be a comedy, which it is not. Maybe the frustration feeling when the story isn’t moving forward, is the idea of the movies writers. There are some good scenes, but the plot is falling apart and the ending doesn’t tell a thing. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review KB B It was a pretty entertaining film that had an odd demolition scene. Jake Gyllenhaal was excellent as usual. It's definitely worth the watch. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review Y.Anush R It's a great movie with a great plot. But it's not for everyone. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/18/24 Full Review lois b Synopsis : un homme d'affaires à succès perd sa femme lors d'un accident de voiture. Face au choc, son monde se détruit et il doit faire face au deuil.Date : 2015Durée : 1h41Note : 15/20. Le deuil est évoqué d'une façon très pertinente et intéressante qui change des célèbres 5 étapes du deuil. Dans ce film, il est plus question de la sidération liée au choc de perdre un être cher. L'écriture du personnage principal est vraiment au petit oignon et le jeu d'acteur de Jake Gyllenhal est phénoménal pour le mettre en valeur. Cependant, je dois noter que les personnages secondaires ne sont que peu ou voir pas du tout développé alors que certains auraient pu être très intéressants. C'est donc un film très centré sur le personnage principal, mais au moins le personnage est bien Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/29/24 Full Review Zardai71 not a happy movie, but about honest feelings and losses, with good acting. it's not for everyone, but those who are open to it will love it Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Jean-Marc Vallée Director Jake Gyllenhaal Davis Mitchell Naomi Watts Karen Moreno Chris Cooper Phil Judah Lewis Chris Moreno C.J. Wilson Carl

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Synopsis Grieving investment banker Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) returns to work after losing his beloved wife in a tragic car accident. After writing a letter to complain about a vending machine, Mitchell receives a phone call from Karen (Naomi Watts), a customer service rep from the company. Karen becomes moved by his complete honesty, while Davis finds someone to lend a sympathetic ear. As his new friendship with Karen and her son grows, Mitchell finds the strength he needs to rebuild his life.

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Producer: Lianne Halfon, Russell Smith, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Sidney Kimmel, Jean-Marc Vallée
Screenwriter: Bryan Sipe
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: Mr. Mudd, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, Black Label Media
Rating: R (Drug Use|Disturbing Behavior|Language|Some Sexual References)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital