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Layer Cake

Play trailer Poster for Layer Cake R 2005 1h 45m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 141 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
An unnamed mid-level cocaine dealer (Daniel Craig) in London makes plans to step away from the criminal life. Before he can cut ties, the dealer's supplier Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) draws him into a complicated pair of jobs involving kidnapping the teenage daughter of a rival gangster (Michael Gambon) and brokering the purchase of a large shipment of ecstasy pills from a dealer known as the Duke (Jamie Foreman), leading to a series of elaborate double-crosses from all corners.
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Layer Cake

Layer Cake

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A stylized, electric British crime thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Will Self London Evening Standard 12/27/2017
Layer Cake features all the doublecrosses, grasses and reversals of fortune that come as standard to the genre, but it is lifted by the uniformly excellent cast, the snide intelligence of the script, and the effortless pace of Vaughn's direction. Go to Full Review Leslie Felperin Variety 07/29/2008
There's a proper lived-in believability about Layer Cake's depiction of how the worlds of the rich, the criminal and the criminally rich intersect. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 06/20/2005
I like Layer Cake a lot. Go to Full Review Johnny Loftus Decider 05/14/2021
Daniel Craig is cool and compelling. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ 01/05/2021
4.5/5
As well as a marvellous scenario that boasts more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, Vaughn has also assembled a terrific cast. Go to Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media 02/08/2020
3/5
Violence, language, drugs in British noir crime movie. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jed I @RT01296269 5d 7.3/10 — "Pretty Good/Engaging" -(Seen on 4/11/26) See more Marco L @decatur555 Jan 28 Layer Cake is driven by rhythm above all else. It moves with confidence, avoiding unnecessary explanations and trusting the audience to keep up. The storytelling feels sharp and controlled, with each scene naturally pushing the next forward. The British tone is unmistakable, blending dry humor, sharp dialogue, and a stylish but restrained approach to the criminal underworld. While it echoes the influence of filmmakers like Guy Ritchie, it avoids excess and keeps its focus firmly on narrative flow rather than flashy technique. What stands out most is its perspective. The film adopts a cool, almost cynical viewpoint, grounded in decisions and consequences rather than grand statements. Humor is used sparingly, never undercutting the tension, but adding character and texture. Layer Cake doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it executes it with precision and confidence. It’s engaging from start to finish and leaves a lasting impression through its balance of style, control, and momentum. See more O g @RT76089177 Jan 6 Paint-by-numbers, a bit clichéd but well-acted by Craig and quite fun See more Maksim S @MaksimusMovies Nov 2 James Bond on Drugs, but I am sober. Layer Cake tries to inject sophistication into Guy Ritchie’s familiar crime playground, but the formula feels stretched. Stylish, fast-paced, and impeccably shot, it teeters between sleek thriller and indulgent chaos, yet lacks the spark that made Lock, Stock feel alive. Daniel Craig is magnetic, but the plot twists and genre tropes pile up, leaving the film more clever than compelling. A polished ride through London’s underworld, but ultimately a stylish slog — James Bond on drugs, but not quite intoxicating. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Aug 20 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more emma b @RT55963874 Jun 28 Doesn't age well, so many similar films made in that era, just boring See more Read all reviews
Layer Cake

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Cast & Crew

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Matthew Vaughn

Director

Daniel Craig

XXXX

Colm Meaney

Gene

Kenneth Cranham

Jimmy Price

George Harris

Morty

Jamie Foreman

The Duke

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Layer Cake

A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. A scene from the film LAYER CAKE directed by Matthew Vaughn. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An unnamed mid-level cocaine dealer (Daniel Craig) in London makes plans to step away from the criminal life. Before he can cut ties, the dealer's supplier Jimmy Price (Kenneth Cranham) draws him into a complicated pair of jobs involving kidnapping the teenage daughter of a rival gangster (Michael Gambon) and brokering the purchase of a large shipment of ecstasy pills from a dealer known as the Duke (Jamie Foreman), leading to a series of elaborate double-crosses from all corners.
Director
Matthew Vaughn
Producer
Adam Bohling, David Reid, Matthew Vaughn
Screenwriter
J.J Connolly
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Sony Pictures Classics, Falcon Films
Rating
R (Nudity|Drug Use|Pervasive Language|Sexuality|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 13, 2005, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.3M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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