Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- urgent
- provocative
- melancholic
- serious movie night
- social issue film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film timely and intermittently compelling, with strong performances, but criticized its derivative multi-strand structure and uneven execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The trafficker, recovering mother, and professor storylines gradually converge around the opioid supply chain.
A drug company with government influence promotes a supposedly non-addictive painkiller while research revelations emerge.
Addiction, research, smuggling, and institutional influence are presented through a stark, urgent, clinical register.
The central smuggling operation moves fentanyl between Canada and the United States through multiple cartels.
Films like Crisis, and why
Traffic
shared multi-strand crime drama structure, drug-trafficking plot, and institutional corruption
Sicario
shared investigative thriller focus on narcotics networks and political influence
Syriana
shared ensemble crime storytelling, morally compromised institutions, and urgent contemporary tension
The House That Jack Built
shared addiction-centered drama and pharmaceutical-industry critique
Movie Details
- Director
- Nicholas Jarecki
- Release Date
- 2021-02-26
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (407)
Cast
- Gary Oldman
- Armie Hammer
- Evangeline Lilly
- Greg Kinnear
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Luke Evans
- Lily-Rose Depp
- Guy Nadon
- Veronica Ferres
- Kid Cudi
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Crisis about?
- Three intersecting lives expose the human cost and institutional machinery of North America's opioid epidemic.
- What is Crisis like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Crisis as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Crisis violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Crisis as moderate.
- What did critics think of Crisis?
- Critics broadly found the film timely and intermittently compelling, with strong performances, but criticized its derivative multi-strand structure and uneven execution.
- Which films are like Crisis?
- Films with a similar feel include Traffic, Sicario, Syriana, and The House That Jack Built.
- How long is Crisis?
- Crisis runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Crisis?
- In United States, Crisis streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
