Dark Waters
Performance & Direction: Dark Waters Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Dark Waters (2019) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a SUPER HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.5/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Dark Waters features a noteworthy lineup led by Mark Ruffalo . Supported by the likes of Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Dark Waters
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2019, Dark Waters is a Drama, Thriller film directed by Todd Haynes. The narrative explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Mark Ruffalo.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. A tenacious attorney uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths to one of the world's largest corporations. In the process, he risks everything — his future, his family, and his own life — to expose the truth. The screenplay takes time to develop Mark Ruffalo's journey, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: The protagonist, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo, undergoes a meaningful transformation, with their journey feeling earned and emotionally resonant. Supporting characters are well-developed, each serving a purpose in the narrative.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Thematic Depth
The film delves into universal human experiences including love, loss, identity, and belonging. It holds up a mirror to society, asking difficult questions about morality, choice, and consequence.
What Works & What Doesn't
✅ Strengths
- Exceptional storytelling that balances entertainment with substance
- Strong performances, especially from Mark Ruffalo, that bring depth to the characters
- Technical excellence in cinematography, editing, and sound design
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Minor pacing issues that do not significantly detract from the experience
- A few underdeveloped subplots
Ending Explained: Dark Waters
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Todd Haynes, Dark Waters resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Mark Ruffalo, creating a memorable conclusion that audiences have responded to positively.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes in a way that feels organic to the story.
The final moments of Dark Waters demonstrate careful narrative planning, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Dark Waters?
Highly Recommended For:
- Fans of Drama cinema looking for quality storytelling
- Viewers who appreciate emotionally resonant character studies and meaningful themes
- Anyone seeking a well-crafted film that delivers on its promises
Box Office Collection: Dark Waters
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $20.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $13.6M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Dark Waters Budget
The estimated production budget for Dark Waters is $20.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Dark Waters
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Dark Waters Online?
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Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At HomeDark Waters Parents Guide & Age Rating
2019 AdvisoryWondering about Dark Waters age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Dark Waters is 127 minutes (2h 7m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.5/10, and global performance metrics, Dark Waters is classified as a SUPER HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2019 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dark Waters worth watching?
Dark Waters is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 7.5/10 and stands as a SUPER HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Dark Waters parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Dark Waters identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Dark Waters?
The total duration of Dark Waters is 127 minutes, which is approximately 2h 7m long.
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Critic Reviews for Dark Waters
After watching 'Dark Waters', you'll simply leave the cinema enraged by the sheer display of economic cruelty from a monolithic, faceless corporation and its evil and very rich henchmen. - Jake Watt Read Jake's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-dark-waters-a-frightening-and-infuriating-tale-of-corporate-greed
Great acting and portrayal of corporate madness and the total disregard for human lives in exchange for the almighty dollar.
Great, but it should have been a series instead of a movie Dramatic movie based on true events taken from The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare and this New York Times article. The story of the movie is about a corporate defense attorney named Robert Billet, who filed an environmental lawsuit against a giant chemical company, with time discovering a long way from pollution. A dramatic and humane movie that you will enjoy watching if you are a fan of investigative investigations, but it is heavy if you are a fan of light movies, but it is dramatic and controversial. After watching the movie, I felt that my entire soul was polluted and poisoned, and I was almost afraid that my clothes were all full of radiation. It was a shocking thing for me. We have seen what humans do in certain things they make and don't think about their consequences even if they know their consequences. There are companies that do not care about any of the creatures on the planet, only seeking and crawling for money. There have been films similar to Dark Waters such as A Civil Action 1998 by John Travolta and Erin Brockovich 2000 by Julia Roberts. This movie, which contains destruction, pollution, and damage, harms a frightening number of living creatures. The movie portrayed major companies as a scary monster that devours humanity and living creatures, even seaweed. I loved Mark Ruffalo in this movie. He played the role of a person who makes huge sacrifices in order to reveal the truth. He waited 15 years for the American judiciary to issue the final ruling in the case, and we saw how big and giant companies rule the country regardless of the law. Mark Ruffalo's acting was strong and I liked it, but it doesn't reach the perfection that deserves an Oscar. Bill Camp impressed me the most in this movie. He could be an Oscar star. His scenes were powerful and breathtaking, and the pain was heart-wrenching. The sequence of the story and events was somewhat flopped at the beginning of the movie, sometimes it becomes interesting and sometimes it becomes boring. I understand that the story is long and its events took place over a period of years. I think it is worth making a series for this instead of a movie, in order to see a more coherent story. I don't think that Dark Waters deserves an Oscar, but it deserves to be nominated for an Oscar, and it is a good drama movie, and I wish it would be done in the form of a series
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
