Live by Night
Performance & Direction: Live by Night Review
Last updated: February 15, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Live by Night (2016) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Crime is often anchored by its ensemble, and Live by Night features a noteworthy lineup led by Ben Affleck . Supported by the likes of Elle Fanning and Brendan Gleeson , 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: Live by Night
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2016, Live by Night is a Crime, Drama, Thriller film directed by Ben Affleck. The narrative dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Ben Affleck.
Story Breakdown
The title presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. A group of Boston-bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. Ben Affleck's arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: Live by Night
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Ben Affleck, Live by Night concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to crime resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes involving Ben Affleck, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the crime themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Live by Night reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Live by Night Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Live by Night incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a crime, drama, thriller film directed by Ben Affleck, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement for Ben Affleck's character.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Live by Night adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Live by Night?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Crime films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Ben Affleck or the director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Live by Night
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $90.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $22.7M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Live by Night Budget
The estimated production budget for Live by Night is $90.0M. 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: Live by Night
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Where to Watch Live by Night Online?
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Apple TV StoreLive by Night Parents Guide & Age Rating
2016 AdvisoryWondering about Live by Night age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Live by Night is 129 minutes (2h 9m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.3/10, and global performance metrics, Live by Night is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2016 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Live by Night worth watching?
Live by Night is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 6.3/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Live by Night parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Live by Night identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Live by Night?
The total duration of Live by Night is 129 minutes, which is approximately 2h 9m long.
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Critic Reviews for Live by Night
**Fall and rise, a revenge tale.** Number four for the director Affleck after his other film won the Oscars four years ago. He has also written the screenplay and produced it. It was based on the book of the same name. The story of a World War I veteran turned notorious gangster. Escaping from the war, falling in love with a gangster's woman, a bank heist, prison time, the son of a police officer and his journey to the top of the criminal world after losing everything at one stage of his life. More like a revenge film, but the intention was not aggressive. Only the time and the life passage give one to him. From all his directional films, probably this could be the worst one. It had everything a gangster film needed like gun fights, car chase, revenge, romance, yet I felt lacked depth in its overall theme. Actors were not bad, the settings looked fine. The length of the film was a bit long, but the film offered nothing new. It looked like someone's biography or made it look like one. I think that's the point. Even the end part of the film extends, only to annoy us after two long hours patiently sat for it. The best part of the film, what I liked was the 1920s. The story about between two the World Wars, that too was about an internal affair like underworld activities looked nice on the screen. The cast and crew were best for the film, yet failed to impress us. Though it was not totally a bad film of the year, only it did not stand and deliver as it was promised. So, still it can be watched once if you prefer, but not guaranteed entertainment. _6/10_
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.









