X
  • 2019
  • R
  • Bleecker Street Media
  • 1 h 44 m
  • 2019
  • R
  • Bleecker Street Media
  • 1 h 44 m

Summary After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of c...

Directed By: Riley Stearns

Written By: Riley Stearns

  • 2019
  • R
  • Bleecker Street Media
  • 1 h 44 m
  • 2019
  • R
  • Bleecker Street Media
  • 1 h 44 m

The Art of Self-Defense

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 32 Critic Reviews
65
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 90 User Ratings
6.5
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary After he’s attacked on the street at night by a roving motorcycle gang, timid bookkeeper Casey (Jesse Eisenberg) joins a neighborhood karate studio to learn how to protect himself. Under the watchful eye of a charismatic instructor, Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), and hardcore brown belt Anna (Imogen Poots), Casey gains a newfound sense of c...

Directed By: Riley Stearns

Written By: Riley Stearns

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 32 Critic Reviews
65
69% Positive
22 Reviews
31% Mixed
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 32 Critic Reviews
65
69% Positive
22 Reviews
31% Mixed
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
Mar 25, 2019
The Art Of Self Defense is set in a very peculiar world populated by eccentric characters. While that might turn some off, due to the vision of director Riley Stearns and his incredible production team, as well as a top-notch cast, the movie is as hilarious as it is unpredictable. It emerges as a strong early contender for best film of the year.
By Bobby LePire FULL REVIEW
88
Jul 18, 2019
The film’s calm brutality is effective. Plot-wise, some punches are telegraphed, while others are not. The satire is a spinning wheel kick I didn’t see coming. Black belts all around.
By Brad Wheeler FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 90 User Ratings
6.5
68% Positive
61 Ratings
14% Mixed
13 Ratings
18% Negative
16 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 90 User Ratings
6.5
68% Positive
61 Ratings
14% Mixed
13 Ratings
18% Negative
16 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
stoffanator
Jul 22, 2019
Just to let other reviewers know. The movie wasn't unable to make up its mind about whether or not you should laugh at the characters or care for them, it was a dark comedy, and a perfect one at that. Enjoyed from start to finish.
Report
9
alejandro970
Sep 4, 2021
If you think Cobra Kai's teacher and students are savages, you haven't seen anything yet. With quite subtle black humor it explores the world of martial arts, from the perspective of a man who wants to rise from prey to hunter. What pleases are those unexpected twists, especially in the last act.
Report
78
Jul 10, 2019
In the end, the film is caught in a tug-of-war between absurdity and sincerity.
FULL REVIEW
70
Mar 15, 2019
While the beats of its plot may be nothing very new, the tone, language and performances here make Self-Defense its own beast.
By John DeFore FULL REVIEW
63
Jan 7, 2020
As things go very, very dark in the last third, the tone control starts to slip, eventually sliding away in the final moments, when what had been a sly critique of toxic masculinity turns preachy.
By Josh Larsen FULL REVIEW
50
Jul 15, 2019
The sum of the parts in martial arts on view here do not add up to a fascinating, consistently intelligent whole. You can write the plot on the head of an ice pick.
By Rex Reed FULL REVIEW
40
Jul 10, 2019
The one halfway-interesting part of this movie is Nivola’s performance, which operates at both a deeper register of seriousness and a higher pitch of comedy than anything else.
By A.O. Scott FULL REVIEW
See All 32 Critic Reviews
9
geewah
Dec 26, 2020
One of the most underrated and original movies of 2019. Eisenberg gives us one of his best performances in this zany dark comedy.
Report
6
Gamzguy17
Aug 21, 2021
Serves up some laughs, but has a potent message to deliver through some very dark, albeit humorously aware, scenes. It's a fine curiosity to check out for more serious movie goers. Casual audiences may find the deliberately stilted direction a bit too much.
Report
6
bataguila
Nov 4, 2019
entretenida,la historia es interesante, el guion da un giro cuando se vuelve surealista, me recuerda a pelis de Craig Zahler. El problema es que la 1ra media hora es muy pesada.
Report
3
Mauro_Lanari
Mar 12, 2020
(Mauro Lanari) A minimalist "Fight Club" with the anthropological problematic supplanted by criticism of machismo. The black humor runs out at the first scene.
Report
3
JoeCool
Nov 13, 2019
I don't think much of this movie. It's supposed to be funny, but the issues touched on just aren't funny in the least. Maybe it's my background in martial arts, but I found this movie rather painful to watch. The views on women, strength and violence portrayed in this movie, I just can't laugh at those at all, sorry.
Report
See All 31 User Reviews

Details

 View All
Production Company End Cue
Release Date Jul 12, 2019
Duration 1 h 44 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline You can't be weak anymore.
Website https://why-karate.com/
View All Details

Awards

Munich Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

Seven Samurai

98
Universal Acclaim

The Wild Bunch

98
Universal Acclaim

North by Northwest

98
Universal Acclaim

Ran

97
Universal Acclaim

Dunkirk

94
Universal Acclaim

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

94
Universal Acclaim

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

94
Universal Acclaim

The French Connection

94
Universal Acclaim

Yojimbo

93
Universal Acclaim

Badlands

93
Universal Acclaim

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

92
Universal Acclaim

Mad Max: Fury Road

90
Universal Acclaim

The Incredibles

90
Universal Acclaim

Scarface

90
Universal Acclaim

United 93

90
Universal Acclaim

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

90
Universal Acclaim

House of Flying Daggers

89
Universal Acclaim

Assault on Precinct 13

89
Universal Acclaim

White Heat

89
Universal Acclaim

The Hidden Fortress

89
Universal Acclaim

Gangs of Wasseypur

89
Universal Acclaim

Captain Blood

89
Universal Acclaim

Related News

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie