2nd Chance
Bleecker Street | Release Date: December 2, 2022 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
2
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
65
Film ThreatSumner ForbesJan 6, 2023
Davis’ delusions of grandeur are definitely not bulletproof like some of his vests, but that doesn’t necessarily make this an essential watch. Read full review
83
ColliderChase HutchinsonDec 8, 2022
It is via a willingness to push beyond the headlines and discover something more about humanity that 2nd Chance reveals a deeper sense of the truth behind its scandalous story. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperDec 7, 2022
There’s something irresistible about the story of the former pizza guy who invented the modern concealable bulletproof vest, and Richard Davis isn’t about to let the doubts about his origin story or some of the terrible missteps he made along the way get in the way of that tale. Read full review
63
Washington PostPat PaduaDec 5, 2022
For the most part, 2nd Chance is right on target. But in the end, its aim isn’t quite true. Read full review
73
Paste MagazineJacob OllerDec 2, 2022
Even if it feels a bit too neat and tidy and predetermined a metaphor, one has to appreciate 2nd Chance’s ogling commitment to dissecting a perfectly American parasite. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comChristy LemireDec 2, 2022
Indeed, the director of “99 Homes” and “The White Tiger” has proven a driving interest in telling stories that shine a light on injustice and cruelty. But here, the result suggests he’s dipping his toe into these enormous subjects rather than getting his arms around them in a smart and satisfying way. Read full review
70
The New York TimesNicolas RapoldDec 1, 2022
Bahrani’s film (which he narrates) beetles along without fully exploiting Davis’s ample entertainment value, which is counterbalanced by accounts of his dubious actions and sometimes unseemly opinions. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenDec 1, 2022
As crafted by Bahrani, this fascinating portrait of a hero/villain who comes across as both affable and unpleasant, often simultaneously, is a Greek tragedy and a Shakespearean comedy with a touch of “Tiger King” all expertly rolled into one all-too-pertinent cautionary tale. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineChuck BowenNov 30, 2022
2nd Chance a terrific American tall tale as well as a cautionary tale and a ripping good yarn. Read full review
80
Film ThreatAndy HowellMar 28, 2022
2nd Chance stands right up there as a complete portrait of someone we are simultaneously repulsed by and drawn to. As such, it is one of the year’s best documentaries. Read full review
75
ConsequenceClint WorthingtonJan 29, 2022
Formally, it doesn’t reinvent the wheel ... But this straight-shooting approach mostly works, even if it doesn’t pin Davis down as concretely as some would like. Read full review
83
The Film StageJake Kring-SchreifelsJan 29, 2022
As Bahrani goes to great depths to verify his subject’s contradictory tales and the circumstances behind his company’s termination, 2nd Chance turns into a familiar American portrait of mythmaking and cognitive dissonance. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterDan FienbergJan 29, 2022
It’s a good story and Bahrani has made a good film, albeit one with a tremendous closing twist that I felt pointed to what could instead have been a great film. Read full review
58
IndieWireDavid EhrlichJan 29, 2022
Jaw-dropping but often unfocused ... A rich film that nevertheless calls regular attention to any of the even richer (if perhaps less entertaining) films it might have been. Read full review
90
Screen DailyLee MarshallJan 29, 2022
Making a great documentary is half finding the right story, half knowing what to do with it. Ramin Bahrani hits the jackpot on both counts in this slyly entertaining but also morally and emotionally resonant investigation. Read full review
60
SlashfilmChris EvangelistaJan 29, 2022
Bahrani's doc moves at a steady pace, but it also runs through bullet points rather than taking a deeper dive into Richard and his life. Read full review
90
TheWrapCarlos AguilarJan 29, 2022
Davis’ story seems ripe for a sensational, multi-episode streaming event à la "Tiger King," but in Bahrani’s thorough and tactful hands, it yields a fascinating, infuriating but eventually touching piece of non-fiction storytelling. Read full review
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