← Back to results
25th Hour
2002 135 min United States of America R 18+
★7.5
Crime, Drama
Director: Spike Lee
🎭 Based on
«The 25th Hour»
byDavid Benioff
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
On the eve of a seven-year prison sentence, a New York drug dealer spends his final day of freedom confronting his past, his relationships, and the choices that led to his downfall in a city still reeling from 9/11.
Budget:
$5M
US Gross:
$13.08M
Worldwide:
$23.93M
Starring
Edward Norton
Actor
Barry Pepper
Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2003
— Best Original Score
Berlin International Film Festival 2003
— Golden Bear
Key opinion
25th Hour is widely regarded as a profound and emotionally resonant character study anchored by Edward Norton’s exceptional lead performance. While some viewers may find the slow, contemplative pace lacking in traditional crime-thriller action, the film succeeds as a poignant meditation on regret, responsibility, and the atmospheric malaise of post-9/11 New York.
| Acting | Edward Norton anchors the film with a raw, nuanced performance, particularly during the iconic mirror monologue. | |
| Direction | Spike Lee’s direction effectively captures the spiritual and emotional layers of the protagonist's final day without resorting to melodrama. | |
| Score | Terence Blanchard’s melancholy score and the film's evocative cinematography successfully build an atmosphere of somber introspection. | |
| Screenplay | The script provides deep, character-driven insights into morality and friendship, though it occasionally includes subplots whose necessity is debated. | |
| Pacing | The slow, deliberate pacing rewards viewers looking for a meditative drama but alienates those expecting the high-energy momentum typical of the crime genre. |