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Carnage

Carnage

A new comedy of no manners.

201180 minRMidcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Director
Roman Polanski
Starring
Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Carnage?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Carnage streaming on Sony Pictures Core via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Carnage?

Carnage earns 11 badges, led by Top 10% in Comedy and Standout acting.

Show 3 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Carnage worth watching?

Carnage's Midcredits score is the 84th percentile of all films, from 266K ratings across 6 sources. 74% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

84th percentile

Better received than 84% of films

90th percentile among Comedy84th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)81st
Approval (how many liked it)84th

71 /100

81st percentile of all films

88th percentile among Comedy80th percentile among 2010s

Critics 61 · Audience 71

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

74% liked it

84th percentile of all films

89th percentile among Comedy84th percentile among 2010s
74% rated it 7–1026% rated it 1–6

Critics 71% · Audience 66%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 6 wins / 19 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical

95th percentile

266K ratings across platforms

95th percentile among Comedy95th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 16% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$25M
Opening weekend$80K
Domestic gross$2.5M
Worldwide gross$30M

Returned 1.2× its budget — 86th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A talky, stagey film about four adults devolving into childish behavior over their sons' playground fight, driven by sharp dialogue and strong performances.

Fans praised

  • Sharp, witty dialogue delivered with aplomb by the four leads
  • Electric performances in a minimalistic, one-room setting
  • Darkly comedic exploration of social hypocrisy and marriage

Detractors panned

  • Too theatrical, never shakes off its stage origins
  • Mean-spirited and unpleasant, with no compelling characters
  • Plot feels contrived and obvious, lacking cinematic depth

What stands out

Acting87

Four Oscar-caliber performers deliver powerhouse, electric work

DialogueDivisive82

Sharp, witty, verbally lethal social jousting

Pacing75

Fast, furious 79-minute verbal showdown

HumorDivisive72

Dark, situational comedy with cringe and laughs

Tension72

Slow-burn unraveling of civility

CharactersDivisive65

Complex yet deliberately unlikable and repulsive

Plot and story40

Thin, one-room premise sustained by dialogue, not story

Originality35

Derivative of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, familiar play structure

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 14 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 16 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart

Watch experience

What is Carnage like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark comedy: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want to laugh at things you probably shouldn't.

It is intense and leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Dark comedy.

Moods
TenseAbsurdMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Satirical humor
The answer rests on this: Register
Satirical · 5% of filmsCynical · 1% of films
Told as
Single location · 5% of films: Confined to essentially one place throughout.Real time · 1% of films: Story time equals screen time — no time skips.
ToneThe film presents its material with a wry, satirical edge, allowing the characters to expose their own hypocrisy while maintaining a straight-faced, theatrical form.
The rideThe mood shifts from polite discomfort to escalating tension and absurd outbursts, with a melancholic undercurrent in the final act as pretense collapses.
StructureThe story unfolds in one apartment in near real-time, with only brief bookends in the park.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's raw depiction of social hypocrisy leaves a lingering unease and a critical view of polite society.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe film is a chamber drama about two couples whose attempt to civilly discuss their children's fight unravels into personal recriminations; no archetypal plot structure applies.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfClassPower
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% (this title) · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% (this title) · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Power

Class · 3% of filmsMarriage · 2% of filmsDeception · 9% of films
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores the fragile performance of upper-middle-class civility and how quickly it unravels under pressure, exposing the fault lines in both marriages.
StanceThe film satirizes the characters' hypocrisy and class pretensions, using the confined setting to expose how thin the veneer of civility really is.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Alexandre Desplat
SettingA well-appointed apartment in Brooklyn, where two couples meet to discuss their sons' fight.
MusicDesplat's score uses sparse, rhythmic phrases that underscore the tense, absurd rhythm of the dialogue.

Content guide

Is Carnage okay for kids?

R

Carnage is rated R: “Rated R for language” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (26/100), sexual content at minimal (11/100), language at moderate (59/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (49/100) and frightening material at mild (32/100). Overall it is heavier than 6% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 18 other countries
  • UK15
  • CanadaR
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland15A
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil12
  • Czechia15+
  • FinlandK-16
  • GreeceΚ
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyT
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/12
  • SK15
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 30% of all filmsHeavier than 6% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 9%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 5%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 35%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 63%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 16%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 35% of R-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Carnage have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Carnage?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Jodie Foster
as Penelope Longstreet
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kate Winslet
as Nancy Cowan
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or MusicalTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Christoph Waltz
as Alan Cowan
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John C. Reilly
as Michael Longstreet
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Elvis Polanski
as Zachary
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Eliot Berger
as Ethan
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Joseph Rezwin
as Walter
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Nathan Rippy
as Dennis
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tanya Lopert
as Mother
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
Julie Adams
as Secretary

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Carnage?

Movies like Carnage include The Party (2017), The Boys in the Band (1970) and Six Degrees of Separation (1993). Of the 5 closest matches, two are films told in real time, and two are films set in New York.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with Carnage?

3.2K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: dark comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.