Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Road to Perdition
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Reception == ===Box office=== ''Road to Perdition'' opened in 1,798 theaters in its debut weekend, competing against several other new releases, including ''[[Reign of Fire (film)|Reign of Fire]]'', ''[[Halloween: Resurrection]]'' and ''[[The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course]]''. It ended up grossing $22.1 million, placing second to holdover ''[[Men in Black II]]''.<ref name="BOXWeekend">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2002&wknd=28&p=.htm |title=July 12β14, 2002 Weekend |work=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2010-04-24}}</ref> The film then beat ''Men in Black'' and ''[[Stuart Little 2]]'' to reach the number one spot during its second weekend with $15.4 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Brandon |date=July 22, 2002 |title='Road to Perdition' Squeaks Past 'Stuart Little 2' in Photo Finish |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed712246276/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=May 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515001557/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed712246276/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It grossed $104 million in the United States and $79.3 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $183.4 million.<ref name="numbers" /> === Critical response {{Anchor|Critics|Reception}}=== ''Road to Perdition'' received positive reviews from critics, with Conrad L. Hall's cinematography, the production design, and the lead performances of Hanks and Newman being praised. Review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] gives the film an approval rating of 82% based on 213 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Somber, stately, and beautifully mounted, Sam Mendes' ''Road to Perdition'' is a well-crafted mob movie that explores the ties between fathers and sons."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/road_to_perdition|title=Road to Perdition |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gave the film a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/roadtoperdition|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=2010-04-24|archive-date=10 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510025922/http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/roadtoperdition|url-status=dead}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "Road to Perdition" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' praised Hall's cinematography and the thematic use of water. He also felt emotionally detached from the characters, saying, "I knew I admired it, but I didn't know if I liked it ... It is cold and holds us outside."<ref>{{cite news|author=Ebert, Roger|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020712/REVIEWS/207120304/1023|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=2002-07-12|access-date=2007-07-25|archive-date=2012-09-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907201144/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020712%2FREVIEWS%2F207120304%2F1023|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised Hanks, Newman, and Craig but called Law's performance "almost cartoonish".<ref>{{cite news|author=Honeycutt, Kirk|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1530784|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=2002-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181242/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1530784|archive-date=2007-09-30|access-date=2007-07-25}}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' also complimented Hanks and Newman: "[They] act together with the confidence of titans, their talents in the service of character, never star ego." Travers cited Hall's "breathtaking" cinematography and composer [[Thomas Newman]]'s "evocative" score.<ref>{{cite news|author=Travers, Peter|url=https://www.google.com/search?cd=1&hl=en&gl=us|title=Road to Perdition: Review|date=2002-08-01|access-date=2010-04-24}}{{Dead link|date=January 2011}}</ref> [[Paul Clinton]] of [[CNN]] said: "While these deeply human issues are touched upon, they're never fully explored, and that undermines the sense of greatness to which this movie obviously aspires." Clinton considered Craig's character "one-dimensional to the extreme". He found the cinematography too overpowering for the film's storyline, which he considered "weak".<ref>{{cite news|author=Clinton, Paul|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/11/ca.s02.review.perdition/index.html|title=Review: 'Road to Perdition' scenic trip nowhere|work=[[CNN]]|date=2002-07-11|access-date=2007-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106040249/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/11/ca.s02.review.perdition/index.html|archive-date=2007-11-06}}</ref> J. Hoberman of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' described the film as "grim yet soppy". He added: "The action is stilted and the tabloid energy embalmed."<ref>{{cite news|author=Hoberman, J.|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2002-07-09/film/industrial-symphony|title=Industrial Symphony|work=[[The Village Voice]]|date=2002-07-10|access-date=2010-04-24}}</ref> Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' thought that the script lost its path when Sullivan and his son fled their old life.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hunter, Stephen|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58465-2002Jul11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116123815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A58465-2002Jul11/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-16|title=Bedeviled by The Details In 'Perdition'|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2002-07-12|access-date=2007-07-25}}</ref> Eleanor Ringel Gillespie of ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' enjoyed the film's cinematography, Depression-era setting, and the performances of Hanks and Newman. Gillespie wished the film lasted a little longer to explore its emotional core further.<ref>{{cite news|author=Eleanor Ringel Gillespie|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/R/roadtoperdition.html|title=Road to Perdition|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|access-date=2007-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212140617/http://www.accessatlanta.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/R/roadtoperdition.html|archive-date=2006-02-12}}</ref> Eric Harrison of the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' considered ''Road to Perdition'' "the most brilliant work in this [gangster] genre" since the uncut ''[[Once Upon a Time in America]]'' (1984). Harrison considered Self's script "so finely honed that the story can change directions in a heartbeat."<ref>{{cite news|author=Harrison, Eric|url=http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/1491161.html|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014091839/http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ae/movies/reviews/1491161.html|archive-date=2007-10-14|title=Road to Perdition|date=May 12, 2004|access-date=2011-01-01}}</ref> ===Accolades {{Anchor|Awards}}=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient ! scope="col"| Result |- ! scope="row" rowspan="6"| [[75th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/75academyawards/nomswins.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703204808/http://www.oscars.org/75academyawards/nomswins.html|archive-date=2008-07-03|title=75th Academy Award Nominees and Winners|work=Oscars.org|access-date=2007-05-20}}</ref> | [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] | [[Paul Newman]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Academy Award for Best Production Design|Best Art Direction]] | [[Dennis Gassner]] and [[Nancy Haigh]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] | [[Conrad Hall|Conrad L. Hall]]<small> ([[List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees|posthumous]])</small> | {{won}} |- | [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] | [[Thomas Newman]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]] | [[Scott Millan]], [[Bob Beemer]] and [[John Pritchett (sound engineer)|John Pritchett]] | {{nom}} |- | [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] | [[Scott Hecker]] | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[British Academy Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/24/film.baftas.reut|title='Pianist,' Kidman win BAFTAs|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=2010-04-24|date=2003-02-24}}</ref> | [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] | Paul Newman | {{nom}} |- | [[BAFTA Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]] | Conrad Hall <small> (posthumous)</small> | {{won}} |- | [[BAFTA Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]] | Dennis Gassner | {{won}} |- ! scope="row"| [[Golden Globe Award]]s | [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor β Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actor β Motion Picture]] | Paul Newman | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row"| [[American Society of Cinematographers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theasc.com/awards/history/2002.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609184630/http://www.theasc.com/awards/history/2002.htm|archive-date=2008-06-09|title=ASC 17th Annual Awards β 2002|work=TheASC.org|access-date=2007-05-20}}</ref> | [[American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases|Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography]] | Conrad Hall<small> (posthumous)</small> | {{won}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=4| [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]] | Top 10 Films | | {{draw|5th place}} |- | [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] | | {{nom}} |- | [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] | Paul Newman | {{nom}} |- | [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer|Best Young Performer]] | [[Tyler Hoechlin]] | {{nom}} |- ! scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Saturn Awards]] | [[Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]] | | {{won}} |- | [[Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor|Best Young Actor]] | Tyler Hoechlin | {{won}} |} In April 2006, ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' recognized ''Road to Perdition'' as No. 6 on its list of the top 20 comic book films.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.empireonline.com/features/comicbookfilms/6.asp|title=The 20 greatest comic book movies of all time|journal=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|pages=98β103|date=April 2006|access-date=2011-01-01}}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)