Criminal Activities

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jackie Earle Haley directs. Seamus Tierney behind the camera. Keefus Ciancia scores. Alex Márquez cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 11 years ago.
• 2Directed by Jackie Earle Haley, shot by Seamus Tierney. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Keefus Ciancia. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Alex Márquez shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Dan Stevens and John Travolta and Michael Pitt carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "Leave the crime to the criminals.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt3687310 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 8Classified under 15 themes, including "mobster", "criminal underworld", "enforcer", "money problems".

The technical file

Cinematography

Seamus Tierney

Original score

Keefus Ciancia

Editing

Alex Márquez

Production design

Jennifer Klide

Costume design

Carla Shivener

Makeup / hair

Elizabeth Cook

VFX supervisor

Chris Haley

Stunt coordinator

Richard Fike

Runtime

94 min · 1h 34m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Budget

$7,000,000

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

R

IMDB

Criminal Activities (2015) ↗

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Criminal Activities: OFFICIAL TRAILER

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Dan_Tebasco2017-04-16
  ★ 7/10

  Although listed as a drama thriller this is really more of a dark comedy than anything else, a bit in the veins of 'SUICIDE KINGS (1997)' albeit not quite as good (but that would be asking a bit much from it tbh). Initially it feels like the editor was a little quick on the trigger to squeeze in the film with a 90 minute timeline but eventually it finds it's pace. It does have it's share of logical loopholes but still entertaining for sure. John Travolta takes up the biggest space on the poster but that is merely due to the fact that he's the most famous person in it, his role is important but there are at least 5 people with more screen-time than him. Michael Pitt is what drew me to this movie the most but I must say that Dan Stevens and Edi Gathegi outshone him in this. If you're looking for a dark comedy about some not so brilliant criminals you could do alot worse than this.

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• NE

  NeeNee Productions

• CA

  Capacity Pictures

• MA

  May Day Movies

• JT

  JTP Films

  US

Key crew

• StuntsChris Hahn
• StuntsKenny Santiago Marrero
• ProducerMicah Sparks
• Executive ProducerMichael Pitt
• Executive ProducerJohn Travolta
• Executive ProducerDan Stevens
• ProducerHoward Burd
• ProducerWayne Allan Rice
• EditorAlex Márquez
• CastingVicky Boone
• CastingAngela Demo
• CastingBarbara J. McCarthy
• Production DesignJennifer Klide
• Set DecorationCarmen Navis
• Costume DesignCarla Shivener
• Makeup ArtistElizabeth Cook
• Hair Department HeadDeborah Lilly
• Makeup Department HeadErica Stewart
• Makeup ArtistAlan Tuskes
• HairstylistAlicia Zavarella
• First Assistant DirectorChris Debenedetto
• Property MasterPeter Cordova
• Art Department CoordinatorLauren Robinson
• Sound Effects EditorDan Kremer

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• mobster
• criminal underworld
• enforcer
• money problems
• classmates
• investment
• high tension
• borrow trouble
• botched heist
• high‑stakes deal
• friends in trouble
• unexpected consequences
• illegal operations
• fearful accomplices
• failed plan

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2015-11-20R
• Digital2015-11-20
• Physical2016-02-16