Matchstick Men

Name: Matchstick Men
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: September 12, 2003
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Alison Lohman, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell

2003

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 238 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 238 Ratings

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Matchstick Men

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: September 12, 2003 | PG-13

Starring: Alison Lohman, Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell

Summary: A phobia-plagued grifter (Cage) discovers he has a teenage daughter (Lohman) who wants to get to know him?and his business.

Director: Ridley Scott

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Lohman in particular is effective; I learn to my astonishment that she's 24, but here she plays a 15-year-old with all the tentative love and sudden vulnerability that the role requires, when your dad is a whacko confidence man. Read full review

Michael O'Sullivan

Enormously entertaining. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

This movie is a model of technique, beautifully crafted, often brilliantly acted by Cage and the others, but it's a bit hollow at the center. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

The best moments in Matchstick Men belong to Cage and Lohman, who, in "Paper Moon" fashion, prove that the family that cons together, laughs together. Read full review

Dana Stevens

Both entertaining and empty: an emotional shell game that leaves you feeling cheated even though, on the surface at least, everyone is a winner. Read full review

Peter Rainer

The movie is moderately enjoyable, but it also makes you feel conned: It offers up a disturbing protagonist and then substitutes cuteness for character. Read full review

David Edelstein

My real problem with Matchstick Men is that it didn't con me well enough: I saw every trick up its sleeve in the first 20 minutes. If everything had been what it seemed--now, that would have been a stunning twist. Read full review

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User Reviews

timrichie

Oct 8, 2014

Alison Lohman is genius here, and Cage deserves an Oscar nod as well, but Ridley Scott is the one who deserves all the praise. If anyone, anywhere, asked you about cinematic brilliance, tell them to look no further than Matchstick Men.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

Depose570

May 16, 2021

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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

bfoore90

Jul 24, 2017

After being subjected to the rather disappointing "Alien:Covenant" it was nice to see a movie, albeit an older movie made by Ridley Scott to wash the taste out. Cage was great in this film, he plays the part well and Alison Lohman's performance as his "daughter" was a real knockoutAfter being subjected to the rather disappointing "Alien:Covenant" it was nice to see a movie, albeit an older movie made by Ridley Scott to wash the taste out. Cage was great in this film, he plays the part well and Alison Lohman's performance as his "daughter" was a real knockout performance. Scott's direction and focus is on point here, the film is evenly paced, tense, original and heartwarming at times. The only real knock I have against the movie was the "twist" at the ending, it takes away from the film's brilliance in the end.

Overall Score: A-… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

geewah

May 2, 2021

A clever con movie that is as much about the lives of the characters leading the sting as it is about the sting itself.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Spangle

Jul 31, 2014

This one is very well done. Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell make for a great pair of leads. Both are very likable and convincing as con men. Cage, in particular, as a man struggling with OCD is very good and really portrays the struggles of an OCD man very, very well. Alison Lohman is alsoThis one is very well done. Nicolas Cage and Sam Rockwell make for a great pair of leads. Both are very likable and convincing as con men. Cage, in particular, as a man struggling with OCD is very good and really portrays the struggles of an OCD man very, very well. Alison Lohman is also very convincing in this one and does a good job in her role. Ridley Scott's direction is also very strong as usual and shows good focus. The script is also solid. This one is called a comedy drama, but it was never really that funny, so it missed the mark there, but the drama was well done. The characters were all very well developed and you really feel like you know them all by the end of the film. In addition, the ending is particularly strong and very unexpected, which makes it all the more effective. Overall, this one is not some world beating film, but it is a well made one and a very entertaining film that keeps you hooked until the very end.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

eva3si0n

May 21, 2018

The quite good movie about swindlers. The excellent cast, but a plot is so naive, and interaction of characters sometimes reaches unrealistic absurdity. The only thing that has disappointed - an ending, all movie was tried to be built around it, but at the same time to it throughout theThe quite good movie about swindlers. The excellent cast, but a plot is so naive, and interaction of characters sometimes reaches unrealistic absurdity. The only thing that has disappointed - an ending, all movie was tried to be built around it, but at the same time to it throughout the movie there is not no one sending.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Nicholascagesuc

Aug 28, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Everybody sucks in this stupid ass film! Nicholas’s character is flawed. I’m not talking about he’s caged and he’s flawed. The ceramic dog bake was THE BEST CHARACTER OF ALL TIME. MVP award and anybody that says the “Daughter” was amazing your mom was not amazing in bed. Worst way to end a hump day. I had such great afternoon, the meal was good, no thanks to this **** Nicholas cage movie! *eats my damn popcorn*… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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