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First Reformed

Play trailer 2:20 Poster for First Reformed R 2018 1h 53m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 255 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
The pastor of a small church in upstate New York spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.
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First Reformed

First Reformed

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Critics Consensus

Brought to life by delicate work from writer-director Paul Schrader and elevated by a standout performance by Ethan Hawke, First Reformed takes a sensitive and suspenseful look at weighty themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Nashawaty Entertainment Weekly 12/26/2018
B
First Reformed is a bleak, punishing movie and the furthest thing imaginable from an easy crowdpleaser. But Hawke juices it with an austere sense of grace. Go to Full Review David Stratton The Australian 11/09/2018
4/5
The film is a cry of rage against the polluters and corrupters who, Schrader contends, are destroying the planet, as well as against the commercialisation of the churches and the growth of terrorism. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review 08/28/2018
They are weird moments of almost hypnotic transcendence, but at the center of it is that tortured God's lonely man character perfectly embodied by Ethan Hawke. Go to Full Review JD Duran InSession Film 08/07/2024
Amplified by a career performance in Ethan Hawke, it’s a fascinating film about a man who struggles to maintain his faith as he sees the world around him crumble to pieces. Go to Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film 07/30/2024
5/5
Deep, thought-provoking and resolute, First Reformed grapples interestingly with the questions of faith and morality, and, by the end, becomes both a subdued and quiet meditation on life and internal despair, and an explosively powerful statement on hope. Go to Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine 06/24/2024
10/10
First Reformed is the distillation of the scream inside us all—or at least those of us paying attention. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gracie M. @Graciemorris00 Feb 4 Not really sure how I feel about this movie, it was very eerie and creeped me out (I am aware that the point of this movie is to make you uncomfortable, but I didn’t realize this before watching). I watched this movie alone, in my house, in the dark, which I definitely should not have done. However, Ethan’s acting was incredible! See more Rich L. @Richard810 Jan 28 Didn’t understand the movie but Ethan was amazing! See more Alana S @Aloha.alani Jan 1 This movie was not what I expected at all. First Reformed is extremely dark, with a heavy focus on suicide and despair that no one seems to properly warn viewers about. It felt relentlessly depressing with little payoff or relief. Instead of being thought-provoking, it was just miserable to sit through. I would not recommend it. See more Suzana Q @Suzana8 Dec 25 There is one glaring contradiction in this movie that made the plot utterly meaningless. Some may categorize this as "part of the human condition", but at this point it’s just colossal self-ignorance. A lack of self-awareness and self-regard is the root of the main character’s problems and humanity’s collective issues. In this story, we have a man who has devoted himself to the cause of "protecting God’s creations"- specifically the Earth- while he abuses himself through self-hatred, self-flagellation, and a diet of whiskey and Pepto Bismol. He does not actually care about the earth’s creations because he does not care about himself-one of God’s creations. The obviousness of this is rudimentary. He’s a microcosmic explanation of why humanity is in its current situation-but, instead of this truth being explored or even considered, we see a pointless ending make out scene. Well-acted, but the message is blind and shallow. See more Henrik E @versior Dec 4 It's climate propaganda. No, thanks. See more Katie M @Katiemazz Nov 8 Such a waste of time. Don’t bother watching seriously made no sense. See more Read all reviews
First Reformed

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Schrader

Director

Ethan Hawke

Reverend Ernst Toller

Amanda Seyfried

Mary

Philip Ettinger

Michael

Cedric the Entertainer

Reverend Joel Jeffers

Michael Gaston

Edward Balq

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First Reformed

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First Reformed

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Movie Info

Synopsis The pastor of a small church in upstate New York spirals out of control after a soul-shaking encounter with an unstable environmental activist and his pregnant wife.
Director
Paul Schrader
Producer
Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, Frank Murray, Jack Binder, Greg Clark, Victoria Hill, Gary Hamilton, Deepak Sikka
Screenwriter
Paul Schrader
Distributor
A24
Production Co
Killer Films, Fibonacci Films, Omeira Studio Partners
Rating
R (Some Disturbing Violent Images)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 18, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 31, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.4M
Runtime
1h 53m
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