Overview
Two brothers take justice into their own hands, but are they heroes or vigilantes?
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- irreverent
- witty
- excessive
- cult movie night
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film stylish and occasionally entertaining but excessively violent, unevenly paced, and thinly plotted in its celebration of vigilante justice.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Conner and Murphy interpret their accidental killings as a calling from God and deliberately target organized-crime figures.
The film repeatedly emphasizes stylized shootouts, elaborate executions, and slow-motion violence.
Detective Paul Smecker investigates the brothers while gradually believing their targets deserve punishment.
The film mixes religious iconography, wacky banter, mob violence, and flamboyant execution sequences.
Films like The Boondock Saints, and why
Pulp Fiction
Shares stylized crime violence, irreverent vigilante morality, and a cult-favorite hipster crime sensibility.
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Shares Catholic imagery, theatrical brutality, morally conflicted law enforcement, and heightened crime-thriller style.
Smokin' Aces
Shares buddy-crime dynamics, criminal underworld violence, dark humor, and a conflicted relationship to vigilante justice.
Movie Details
- Director
- Troy Duffy
- Release Date
- 1999-01-22
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (2818)
Cast
- Willem Dafoe
- Sean Patrick Flanery
- Norman Reedus
- David Della Rocco
- Billy Connolly
- Bob Marley
- Brian Mahoney
- Gerard Parkes
- David Ferry
- Carlo Rota
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Boondock Saints about?
- Two Irish-American brothers become celebrated vigilantes after a violent encounter with mobsters, while a flamboyant detective hunts them and questions the justice system itself.
- What is The Boondock Saints like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Boondock Saints as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Boondock Saints violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Boondock Saints as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Boondock Saints?
- Critics broadly found the film stylish and occasionally entertaining but excessively violent, unevenly paced, and thinly plotted in its celebration of vigilante justice.
- Which films are like The Boondock Saints?
- Films with a similar feel include Pulp Fiction, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, and Smokin' Aces.
- How long is The Boondock Saints?
- The Boondock Saints runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Boondock Saints?
- In United States, The Boondock Saints streams on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus.
