Alpha Dog

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Alpha Dog

R

2007

1h 58m

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

138 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Teenage dealer Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and his friends kidnap the impressionable younger brother (Anton Yelchin) of a junkie (Ben Foster) who refuses to pay his drug debt. Things change unexpectedly when Frankie (Justin Timberlake), one of Johnny's pals, befriends the youth.

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Critics Consensus

A glossy yet unflinching portrait of violent, hedonistic teenagers. Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone chew the scenery, while Justin Timberlake gives a noteworthy performance.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Apr 20, 2007

3/5

Its originality lies in the fact that it depicts white middle-class kids on the loose, calling their women bitches and listening endlessly to violent, misogynist and homophobic black rap.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Apr 20, 2007

3/5

Nick Cassavetes' film combines an aimless ramble through juvenile depravity in the affluent suburbs of LA and a quite disturbing evocation of the true-life murder of an adolescent boy in 1999.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Apr 20, 2007

You know you're in trouble the second you take a look at Bruce Willis's fake liver spots.

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Jeff Meyers

Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

Nov 6, 2010

C-

This inspired-by-reality tale is essentially an emotional snuff film. It's the kind of misguided effort a middle-aged director indulges in when he wants to reinvent himself as edgy.

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Brian Marder

Hollywood.com

Nov 20, 2008

3/5

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Aug 7, 2008

3/5

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Keisha M.

@RT51425514 Jun 27, 2026

Loved it!!! Very sad...based on a true story.

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andrea c

@Charst Feb 23, 2026

Film estremamente sottovalutato, forse a causa del montaggio e della regia che lo avvicinano ad un teen drama, ma che in realtà, ad uno sguardo attento, riescono a costruire perfettamente il contesto in cui si svolgono i fatti. Un dramma vero sfociato da una serie paradossale di avvenimenti che portano ad un epilogo terribile e crudo, dopo aver ottimamente costruito tutti i personaggi utili al racconto, dandogli vita e spessore anche grazie all'immenso cast a disposizione. Sono davvero pochi i difetti presenti in questo film, forse qualche momento di eccessiva confusione, che però, riporta sempre alla costruzione del contesto che in realtà viene in maniera pressoché perfetta. Resta solo il dubbio sulla fine di uno dei protagonisti, ossia il fratello interpretato da Ben Forster, colpevolmente lasciato in sospeso.

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Ryan R.

@RBRShortFilms13 Feb 8, 2026

One of greatest and most underrated films of the 21st century. This is one of those rare films that have stayed with me for almost 2 decades. The film is intense, suspenseful, and tragic. It’s a true story, not fiction. Some of the best cinematography, film editing, acting, and directing I’ve seen for a film. 10/10

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kevenquinlan T

@RT75276071 Sep 3, 2025

1st time viewing in 2025. An easy add to your collection. Foster's character was SO over the top, it was a bit comical- but otherwise a really great movie and well acted. Oh, I've been around rich kids and this is really on the mark- they have the innocence of normal kids but that affluence tends to give them delusions of grandeur and here, to ill effect. Glad all the evil ones got what they deserved.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Jan 29, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, os atores podem ser bons, mas as cenas e a história deixam o filme bem fraco.

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Ant O

@RT19973323 Nov 13, 2024

A ramshackle confused spoilt group of kids with delusions of gangster turn into them before your eyes but remain resolutely kids. The film nicely treats guns as a big deal not just a cartoon cap in your ass Tarantino style. As the film is cranked up to its final shocking scene you only wish it all wasnt so true. Brilliant and the party scenes took me back, thankfully nothing else.

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Nick Cassavetes

Director

Bruce Willis

Sonny Truelove

Emile Hirsch

Johnny Truelove

Justin Timberlake

Frankie Ballenbacher

Ben Foster

Jake Mazursky

Shawn Hatosy

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Synopsis

Teenage dealer Johnny Truelove (Emile Hirsch) and his friends kidnap the impressionable younger brother (Anton Yelchin) of a junkie (Ben Foster) who refuses to pay his drug debt. Things change unexpectedly when Frankie (Justin Timberlake), one of Johnny's pals, befriends the youth.

Director: Nick Cassavetes
Producer: Sidney Kimmel, Chuck Pacheco
Screenwriter: Nick Cassavetes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Sidney Kimmel Entertainment
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Pervasive Drug Use|Sexuality|Strong Violence)
Genre: Drama, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 12, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $15.2M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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