Eastern Promises

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Eastern Promises

R

2007

1h 40m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

200 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is both ruthless and mysterious, has ties to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. He crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife who has come across potentially damaging evidence against the family, which forces him to set in motion a plan of deceit, death and retribution.

Critics Consensus

David Cronenberg triumphs again, showcasing the Viggo Mortensen's onscreen prowess in a daring performance. Bearing the trademarks of psychological drama and gritty violence, Eastern Promises is a very compelling crime story.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

04/25/2022

The extras are all but perfunctory, but Kinos exquisite 4K transfer is easily the best that Eastern Promises has looked on home video to date.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

Such are the actual subtleties of Mortensen's performance - the odd sardonic smile; the slight tightening of a look - you're aware, from the off, that what he is on the outside might not have anything to do with what he is on the inside.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

3/5

Eastern Promises has a lot going for it, which makes it all the more disappointing when the story takes a fatal turn towards the end.

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Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

Nov 24

10/10

Each key moment in the story translates into an incision, a wound, a mark that encapsulates decisions and destinies. [Full review in Spanish]

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Joe Lipsett

Anatomy of a Scream Podcast Network

01/02/2025

3.5/5

Viggo's second collaboration with Cronenberg doesn't have the same juice as A History of Violence and the story would have benefitted from exploring the Krill character more, but the naked bath fight is a keeper!

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Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

09/19/2022

4/5

Represented one of Cronenberg’s stronger periods, one with more mainstream success than the director has typically enjoyed. (15th anniversary)

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Marlyn

Apr 8

Grizzly, plot ,protagonist okay Viggo the enforcer naked in a bloody blade fight almost dies Naomi Watts’s poor acting performance I don’t get the C- critic reviews

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Abd K

@RT64344135 Apr 11

"Eastern promises" is, arguably, the best Cronenberg film ever! By keeping us at the edge of our seats all the time, and revealing secrets one by one, "Eastern promises" unfolds smartly and confidently. Cronenberg delivered a sharp, solid, and breath-taking picture that will rank among all-time great crime movies. Worth watching, can't be skipped!

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Tom C

@TomCarsonLikesMovies Jan 4

An easy watch with a really good actor. Thought it was enjoyable but no real twists that weren't obvious and the story line is a little week, but overall fun watch

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Dec 30

I still have yet to see "A History of Violence", but I thought this one was really good. Loved Mortensen's performance. I kind of wish it was a little longer, but then again, I like short movies. I'm not too keen on director Cronenberg movies as a whole, but I liked this one from him.

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rex w

@RT11010153 Dec 2

Gritty, violent, bloody, nasty, depressing, backstabbing, and uncompromising. Just the type of movie that I was in the mood for.

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Sergio A

@Sergio83 Nov 9

A screenplay full of subtlety, which is what makes it truly great. The Cronenberg–Mortensen duo does it again after A History of Violence.

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David Cronenberg

Director

Viggo Mortensen

Nikolai

Naomi Watts

Anna

Vincent Cassel

Kirill

Armin Mueller-Stahl

Semyon

Sinead Cusack

Helen

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Synopsis

Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is both ruthless and mysterious, has ties to one of the most dangerous crime families in London. He crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), a midwife who has come across potentially damaging evidence against the family, which forces him to set in motion a plan of deceit, death and retribution.

Director: David Cronenberg
Producer: Paul Webster, Robert Lantos
Screenwriter: Steven Knight
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Serendipity Point Films
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Graphic Sexuality|Strong Bloody Violence|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 14, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.1M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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