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The GuardianPeter Bradshaw

“The personae and performances of Pacino, Domingo and Myha’la complicate the psychopathic nastiness of the affair, and create something surreal and bizarre and often hilarious: a display of, not heartlessness, exactly, but a shrewd professional sense that pity and fear were emotions that could only benefit the kidnapper.”

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The Hollywood ReporterDavid Rooney

“Dead Man’s Wire is a timely, entertaining reflection on the way the offer of the American Dream often tends to be snatched back.”

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Screen DailyNikki Baughan

“Director Gus Van Sant turns this fascinating true crime story into both an entertaining period drama and an evergreen tale of ordinary men pushed into desperate acts.”

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The Daily BeastNick Schager

“In this age of Luigi Mangione, it’s a snapshot of violent anti-establishment resentment and fury that’s eerily timely—and smartly leaves its own perspective on its mayhem open for debate.”

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The PlaylistMarshall Shaffer

“It’s engaging to watch without requiring viewers to completely turn off their brains. Van Sant makes “Dead Man’s Wire” move like a well-oiled machine, even if he can only get so much mileage from an old vehicle. Simple, familiar pleasures are still pleasures.”

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New York Magazine (Vulture)Bilge Ebiri

“It has plenty of gritty ’70s atmosphere (facial hair! Radio DJs!) and feels grounded in its time and place, but it also has a purposeful whiff of timeliness that tells us it’s as much about today as it is about 1977.”

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Screen RantNo Title

“Ultimately, Dead Man’s Wire succeeds as a comedy but often falters in its deeper social commentary. Though it lacks the critical bite that could make it one of Van Sant’s best, it sits comfortably among his most entertaining.”

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VarietyOwen Gleiberman

“There’s no doubt that Dead Man’s Wire holds you. It’s Van Sant’s most vital piece of work for the big screen in some time. The movie plays, and part of it is that it triggers our anti-institutional anger.”

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IndieWireKatie Rife

“One does not hire Bill Skarsgård unless one is looking for a lanky, off-putting weirdo. But Skarsgård does a good job of making his character’s frustration and rising panic grounded and relatable. This helps immensely when we get to the finale, which complicates the us-vs-them narrative.”

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Next Best PictureCody Dericks

“while there are certainly entertaining moments throughout, Van Sant’s interpretation of this forgotten true crime story is simply not as exciting as it should be – and clearly wants to be.”

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Denver Film Festival2025

“Winner Excellence in Directing Award, Gus Van Sant”

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AARP Movies for Grownups Awards2026

“Nominee Movies for Grownups Award”

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AACTA International Awards2026

“Nominee AACTA International Award, Dacre Montgomery”

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Astra Creative Arts Awards2025

“Nominee Astra Award, Frank Blake”