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Poster for The Believer

The Believer

Seen it?

2001 | 98 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 38 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A hardcore US racist skinhead who, because of his intelligence, leads a gang dedicated to fighting the enemy: the supposed American-Jewish conspiracy for domination. However, he's hiding a secret: he's Jewish-born, a brilliant scholar whose questioning of the tenets of his faith has left him angry and confused, turning against those who he thinks have a tragic history of their own making.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 75 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.9 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    2 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $1 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 190K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Henry Bean

  • Ryan GoslingDanny Balint
  • Summer PhoenixCarla Moebius
  • Theresa RussellLina Moebius
  • Billy ZaneCurtis Zampf
  • Garret DillahuntBillings
  • A.D. MilesGuy Danielsen
  • Glenn FitzgeraldDrake
  • Elizabeth ReaserMiriam
  • Joshua HartoKyle
  • Ronald GuttmanDanny's Father