The Art of Self-Defense
Seen it?2019 | 104 min | Comedy, Thriller, Drama, Mystery
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. 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 likes to be kept guessing and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Code 3, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Provocative satire that goes after everyone, tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence and sex.
- An animal is harmed or dies.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Casey is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman fighting for her place in it.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 129K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Riley Stearns
- Jesse EisenbergCasey
- Alessandro NivolaSensei
- Imogen PootsAnna
- Steve TeradaThomas
- David ZellnerHenry
- Phillip Andre BotelloKennith
- Jason BurkeyAlex
- Mike BrooksSteve
- C.J. RushOther Steve
- Davey JohnsonGun Store Owner