A History of Violence

88%

Tomatometer

218 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When a pair of petty criminals attempt to rob his small-town diner, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) quickly and easily kills them both. In the flush of news coverage of Tom's seemingly heroic actions, a threatening stranger named Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) comes to town, fingering the unassuming family man as long-missing Philadelphia mobster Joey Cusack. To the horror of his wife, Edie (Maria Bello), and teenage son, Jack (Ashton Holmes), Tom finds he must confront his violent past. Read More Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Where to Watch

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent A History of Violence on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

A History of Violence

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A History of Violence raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (218) Critics Reviews

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (1)

Christy Lemire

Associated Press

The less you know about this movie before seeing it -- and you really should see it -- the better.

Apr 15, 2013

Full Review

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (2)

David Denby

New Yorker

Cronenberg's direction, mirroring the split in Tom, is alternately measured and frighteningly explosive, and, as always, he gives the movie a nasty underlay of sexual perversity.

Apr 15, 2013

Full Review

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (3)

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

This peculiarly predictable picture has been calculated, or miscalculated, to set up certain expectations, fulfill them, and then do the same thing again, thereby giving us a chance to see what's coming and, at least in theory, be shocked.

Apr 15, 2013

Full Review

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (4)

Diane Carson

KDHX (St. Louis)

Cronenberg brilliantly elicits a continuum of emotions, elicits our involvement as well as our reflection. This is an astonishing feat made all the more effective by a complex and subtle performance by Vigo Mortensen...

May 21, 2024

Full Review

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (5)

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

In much the same manner that David Lynch deconstructed the myth of the squeaky-clean small Southern town in Blue Velvet, so too does David Cronenberg take a hatchet to the facade of bland Midwestern homeliness in A History of Violence.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 26, 2023

Full Review

A History of Violence | Rotten Tomatoes (6)

Graeme Tuckett

Stuff.co.nz

A History of Violence is one of the key films of the first decade of the 21st century.

Jun 7, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Michael V Tom Stall had the perfect life...until he became a hero.A History of Violence is a 2005 action thriller film directed by David Cronenberg 🔫Not bad, but not my favourite either 😉It’s ok, but I feel mixed about this one 😉I’d recommend it if you like this genre, but if not then probably give it a miss 👍🏼👎🏼An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/20/24 Full Review Donal M So many aspects of this movie failed. Over acted, poorly directed and poor screenplay. Rated 1/5 Stars • Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/17/24 Full Review Jessy J How did this get such a high rating ? I spent 90 minutes waiting for it to get going… it didn’t. Poor dialogue and character development. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/24 Full Review Mia P I have honestly never felt the need to write a movie review until tonight. Top score and recommendation on Netflix made me put it on and I kept waiting for it to get better.But that’s 96 mts of my life I am never getting back. Dialogue seems like was written by people on Prozac and for as much as I admire the actors in this movie I was cringing watching the whole thing. Honestly do not know how it got such a high rating. Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Tess B Had potential but sadly did not live up to expectations. 90 minutes you wont get back. Poor script, poor dialogue. Dramatic music did not follow the script or characters at all. Terrible movie Rated 0.5/5 Stars • Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Kevin M One of the best original films Iv seen. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Read all reviews

A History of Violence

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

David Cronenberg Director Viggo Mortensen Tom Stall Maria Bello Edie Stall William Hurt Richie Cusack Ashton Holmes Jack Stall Stephen McHattie Leland Jones

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

Brick 80% 86% Brick The Constant Gardener 83% 82% The Constant Gardener Cold Creek Manor 12% 23% Cold Creek Manor Scenes of the Crime 50% 12% Scenes of the Crime Spider 85% 68% Spider Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News

25 Best Action Movies: The Highest-Rated of Each Year Since 1998 Gremlins, Tropic Thunder, Boogie Nights, and More Certified Fresh Films and TV on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week Comic Book Movies You Can Watch Online

Videos

View All videos

A History of Violence

A History of Violence: Trailer 1

2:31

View more videos

Photos

View All A History of Violence photos

A History of Violence

View more photos

Synopsis When a pair of petty criminals attempt to rob his small-town diner, Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) quickly and easily kills them both. In the flush of news coverage of Tom's seemingly heroic actions, a threatening stranger named Carl Fogarty (Ed Harris) comes to town, fingering the unassuming family man as long-missing Philadelphia mobster Joey Cusack. To the horror of his wife, Edie (Maria Bello), and teenage son, Jack (Ashton Holmes), Tom finds he must confront his violent past.

Director: David Cronenberg
Producer: J.C. Spink, Chris Bender
Screenwriter: Josh Olson
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Benderspink
Rating: R (Language|Graphic Sexuality|Nudity|Some Drug Use|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 30, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 29, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $31.5M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)