Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- brooding
- harrowing
- gritty crime movie night
- serious drama evening
What critics said
Critics generally found the film to be a gritty, generally favorable crime drama elevated by strong performances, especially Mark Ruffalo’s.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paulie and Brian grow up as local toughs carrying out jobs for a South Boston boss.
Brian attends A.A. meetings and seeks legitimate work while Paulie offers him an armored-car robbery.
Brian drinks and freebases while neglecting Stacy and their two young sons, then struggles through recovery.
Brian’s lifelong closeness with Paulie conflicts with his attempts to go straight and protect his family.
Films like What Doesn't Kill You, and why
The Town
shared gritty crime drama, working-class Boston setting, and morally conflicted criminals
The Drop
shared intimate heist plotting, criminal brotherhood, and understated urban noir atmosphere
The Fighter
shared addiction, family strain, and attempts at personal reform within a crime drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Brian Goodman
- Release Date
- 2008-12-12
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (233)
Cast
- Ethan Hawke
- Mark Ruffalo
- Amanda Peet
- Donnie Wahlberg
- Will Lyman
- Brian Goodman
- Angela Featherstone
- Edward Lynch
- Johnny Serret
- Lenny Clarke
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is What Doesn't Kill You about?
- A recovering South Boston criminal is pulled between family, sobriety, and the lifelong friend who wants him back in the game.
- What is What Doesn't Kill You like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of What Doesn't Kill You as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is What Doesn't Kill You violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in What Doesn't Kill You as moderate.
- What did critics think of What Doesn't Kill You?
- Critics generally found the film to be a gritty, generally favorable crime drama elevated by strong performances, especially Mark Ruffalo’s.
- Which films are like What Doesn't Kill You?
- Films with a similar feel include The Town, The Drop, and The Fighter.
- How long is What Doesn't Kill You?
- What Doesn't Kill You runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch What Doesn't Kill You?
- In United States, What Doesn't Kill You streams on fuboTV.
