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Calvary

Play trailer Poster for Calvary R 2014 1h 45m Drama Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 167 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
An honest and good-hearted priest (Brendan Gleeson) wrestles with a cynical, spiteful community after he receives a death threat from an unknown parishioner.
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Calvary

Calvary

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Critics Consensus

Led by a brilliant performance from Brendan Gleeson, Calvary tackles weighty issues with humor, intelligence, and sensitivity.

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Critics Reviews

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Kate Muir The Times (UK) Dec 31, 2017
It's Gleeson who gives the performance of a lifetime as the priest. Go to Full Review
Anthony Lane The New Yorker Sep 22, 2014
The tension of Calvary is fitful at best, and much of the movie trips into silliness, but in Brendan Gleeson -- in his proud bearing and his lamenting gaze -- we see the plight of the lonely believer in a world beyond belief. Go to Full Review
Tom Long Detroit News Aug 15, 2014
C
Brendan Gleeson delivers a typically towering yet warm performance in "Calvary." Too bad the movie's something of a mess. Go to Full Review
Matt Oakes Silver Screen Riot Oct 15, 2026
B+
McDonagh looks past the low hanging fruit and aims for something infinitely more powerful and soulfully infectious, a modern stance on what it truly means to sacrifice. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 17, 2025
4/5
With that crafted tone, McDonagh's film feels like a religious-tinged western and a good one too. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film Aug 19, 2024
A+
Father James’ story is intriguing, provocative and one of the best experiences I’ve had in 2014. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Amy B @StrictyMcB Nov 2, 2026 Well done all around. See more
Chocolate D @RT62653882 Sep 12, 2026 bad; don't watch it. See more
Deborah M. @dsm821 Apr 2, 2026 Brilliant dialogue, spare but fully developed characters. Plot as old as the world. See more
Jean Anne P @JeanAnne87 Dec 24, 2024 Whoever wrote the script is remarkably intelligent. The plot is smart and unassuming but it's the dialogue that really brings this film to life with an extraordinary cast. The cinematography is subtly beautiful and the score is calm. The pace is a touch slow but stuck with it and it'll be worth it. A hauntingly beautiful film that'll have you thinking long after the credits roll... See more
MG_Claymore C @Claymore Nov 14, 2024 A Great man who has to pay the price for the sins of another. This actor in this film gives the performance of a lifetime. its a very depressing film about dark subject matter. Very gripping. Everyone in the film is a horrible character with the exception of the aforementioned priest. The priest in this film becomes very Christlike as he serves his community knowing the day is coming when this man is going to kill him. He simply accepts in. Truly amazing. See more
Meghan M @RT33783420 Mar 18, 2024 Loved it unto the very end. I hate a movie that doesn't get tone right. See more
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Calvary

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Cast & Crew

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John Michael McDonagh

Director

Brendan Gleeson

James Lavelle

Chris O'Dowd

Jack Brennan

Kelly Reilly

Fiona

Aidan Gillen

Frank Harte

Dylan Moran

Fitzgerald

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Calvary

Calvary (2014) Calvary (2014) Calvary (2014) (L-R)Dylan Moran as Michael Fitzgerald and David Wilmot as Father Leary in "Calvary." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An honest and good-hearted priest (Brendan Gleeson) wrestles with a cynical, spiteful community after he receives a death threat from an unknown parishioner.
Director
John Michael McDonagh
Producer
Chris Clark, Flora Fernandez-Marengo, James Flynn
Screenwriter
John Michael McDonagh
Distributor
Fox Searchlight
Production Co
Reprisal Films, Irish Film Board, Octagon Films, Lipsync Productions
Rating
R (Language|Brief Strong Violence|Sexual References|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Drama, Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 1, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.6M
Runtime
1h 45m
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