Child 44

Play trailer

2:17

Child 44

R

2015

2h 17m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

History

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

84 Reviews

42%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In the 1950s Soviet Russia, secret police agent Leo Demidov loses everything when he refuses to denounce his wife, Raisa as a traitor. Finding themselves exiled to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with Gen. Mikhail Nesterov to capture a serial killer who preys on young boys. They soon find that their investigation threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Vasili, Leo's psychopathic rival.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

There's a gripping story at the heart of Child 44 and a solid performance from Tom Hardy in the lead, but it all still adds up to a would-be thriller that lacks sufficient thrills.

Read Critics Reviews

Alissa Wilkinson

Christianity Today

Apr 23, 2015

2/4

In the end, the film lacks an imagination, and that unfortunately winds up dragging it through the mud.

Go to Full Review

Jonathan Romney

Observer (UK)

Apr 19, 2015

1/5

Hardy is very odd, as usual.

Go to Full Review

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Apr 18, 2015

2/5

The story is a confusing bore that leads achingly slowly to a solution as perfunctory as it is implausible.

Go to Full Review

Brigit Grant

Daily Express (UK)

Nov 21, 2024

3/5

Demidov knows better. His transformation from committed Communist to compassionate citizen is Hardy’s gift to a film that rambles on but works well as a thriller while conveying the bleakness of life behind the Iron Curtain.

Go to Full Review

Jordan Brooks

Vague Visages

Aug 3, 2023

A Kafka-esque condemnation of Stalin’s government ham-handedly plopped into a John le Carré spy thriller, Child 44 is ambiguous cinematic fluff.

Go to Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 19, 2022

4/5

A unique and compelling procedural that I found satisfying even in its messiness.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Oaklee D

@ODie63 Jul 31, 2026

I wanted this to be more murder mystery than it ended up being.

See more

Victoria K

@BellTG Apr 4, 2026

I simply love this movie Amazing, just amazing Great story, Tom Hardy is great as usual, the wagon scene I love it Highly recommending it, great love story, real life events and yet greatly supported by human imagination.

See more

James W

@RT87579900 Mar 21, 2026

A delectable cross between Dr. Zhivago and Gorky Park. The passion and calling out of Russian life of Zhivago, and the intrigue and calling out of Russian life. 👍👍👍👍

See more

Argyle T

@Argyle Jan 16, 2026

If you've read the book this film doesn't do it justice at all, the film is ok on its own merits but you miss the deep meaning of the book entirely and are left wanting more

See more

Ian R

@RT23899272 Jan 15, 2026

Fans of Tom Hardy who haven't yet had enough of him might like this film. I'm a bit fed up with him. In addition the film is too slow and let down by the ending to be enjoyable.

See more

HotRod D

@HotRodD Dec 30, 2025

I had high hopes for this movie! A star filled cast and a good story! What could go wrong? I wasn’t invested in the characters and the pacing of the film was unusually slow. I couldn’t get into it. If you’re the type of person that falls asleep during a movie. Then this one will knock you out 20 minutes in. I’d bet a different editor could recut this into a better movie but that’ll never happen

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Daniel Espinosa

Director

Tom Hardy

Leo Demidov

Gary Oldman

Gen. Mikhail Nesterov

Noomi Rapace

Raisa

Joel Kinnaman

Vasili

Paddy Considine

Vladimir Malevich

Child 44: A Fight for Survival

2:39

Now Playing

Child 44: Making An Example

2:40

Now Playing

Child 44: No Murder in Paradise

2:54

Now Playing

Child 44: Are You A Spy?

2:26

Now Playing

Child 44: Where Are They Taking Us?

2:40

Now Playing

Child 44: Another Victim is Found

2:43

Now Playing

Child 44: Blood On Our Hands

2:30

Now Playing

Child 44: Train Car Attack

2:01

Now Playing

Child 44: We're Both Killers

1:57

Now Playing

Child 44: The Battle of Berlin

2:43

Now Playing

View more videos

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

84%

65%

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

The Company You Keep

55%

45%

The Company You Keep

Watchlist

Mojave

31%

30%

Mojave

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Mojave

Cop Car

82%

53%

Cop Car

Watchlist

Detour

63%

42%

Detour

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Detour

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Insurgent, Far from the Madding Crowd, and More Available on DVD This Week

Critics Consensus: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Is Criminally Unfunny

Child 44: Trailer 1

2:17

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In the 1950s Soviet Russia, secret police agent Leo Demidov loses everything when he refuses to denounce his wife, Raisa as a traitor. Finding themselves exiled to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with Gen. Mikhail Nesterov to capture a serial killer who preys on young boys. They soon find that their investigation threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Vasili, Leo's psychopathic rival.

Director: Daniel Espinosa
Producer: Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Greg Shapiro
Screenwriter: Richard Price
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Scott Free Productions
Rating: R (Language|A Scene of Sexuality|Some Disturbing Images|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 17, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 26, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.2M
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings