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The General

The General

The extraordinary true story of the rise and fall of the gangster, Martin Cahill.

1998124 minRMidcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Director
John Boorman
Starring
Brendan Gleeson, Adrian Dunbar, Sean McGinley, Maria Doyle Kennedy

The real-life story of Dublin folk hero and criminal Martin Cahill, who pulled off two daring robberies in Ireland with his team, but attracted unwanted attention from the police, the I.R.A., the U.V.F., and members of his own team.

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Where can I watch The General?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The General streaming on The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free).

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The General?

The General earns 6 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The General worth watching?

The General's Midcredits score is the 87th percentile of all films, from 14K ratings across 6 sources. 77% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

87th percentile

Better received than 87% of films

79th percentile among Biography88th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)83rd
Approval (how many liked it)87th

71 /100

83rd percentile of all films

79th percentile among Biography86th percentile among 1990s

Critics 81 · Audience 70

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.3 — solid but not unanimous.

77% liked it

87th percentile of all films

78th percentile among Biography88th percentile among 1990s
77% rated it 7–1023% rated it 1–6

Critics 83% · Audience 81%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 9 wins / 13 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

77th percentile

14K ratings across platforms

56th percentile among Biography71st percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$27K
Domestic gross$1.2M
Worldwide gross$1.2M

36th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film offers a compelling character study of a charismatic Irish gangster, with strong central performances and stylish black-and-white cinematography.

Fans praised

  • Brendan Gleeson's magnetic lead performance as Martin Cahill
  • John Boorman's sharp, funny script and confident direction
  • Balanced portrayal of a complex anti-hero, mixing charm with brutality

Detractors panned

  • Glamorizes a vicious criminal as a Robin Hood figure
  • Weak narrative thread and overlong runtime
  • Unengaging characters and lack of moral weight

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Gleeson's transformative performance as Cahill widely praised; Voight's Irish accent divisive

DialogueDivisive75

Witty, sharp script with dark humor; thick accents sometimes impede clarity

Cinematography75

Black-and-white widescreen adds grit and focus; some find it murky or unnecessary

HumorDivisive75

Dark, playful humor throughout; some find it undermines the drama

CharactersDivisive70

Cahill depicted as a charming yet morally complex anti-hero; some find him unengaging

OriginalityDivisive70

Fresh take on gangster biopic; avoids typical tropes for some, derivative for others

Plot and storyDivisive65

Straightforward rise-and-fall story; detractors cite weak narrative thread

PacingDivisive60

Well-paced for many fans; detractors find it slow and overlong

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 17 points higher than women.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 13 points higher than US viewers.

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

  • Critics vs users 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is The General like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet.

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

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseMelancholic
Heaviest: late
Dark humor
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its material straight, treating Cahill's life with gritty seriousness and a touch of folk-tale reverence.
The rideThe film maintains a tense, brooding atmosphere throughout, with the emotional weight accumulating toward the inevitable confrontation.
StructureThe film presents Cahill's story in a conventional chronological order, following his criminal career from rise to fall.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film lingers with a bittersweet appreciation for Cahill's charisma and the futility of his life.
How it ends · evidence
Tragic 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).TragedyHubris
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% (this title): Hubris 1% (this title) · 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%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Hubris: Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).

9% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe film centers on Martin Cahill's high-profile robberies and the escalating heat they bring; it follows the classic arc of a criminal who overreaches.

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 filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9%
  • 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%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of films
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores Martin Cahill's dual identity as a Dublin folk hero and a ruthless criminal, and the way his own crew eventually turns on him.
StanceThe film presents Cahill's life with a neutral, observational lens, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions about his folk-hero status.

The world

Late 20th centuryUrbanDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · original score · Richie Buckley
SettingDublin's criminal underworld in the 1980s-90s

Content guide

Is The General okay for kids?

R

The General is rated R: “Rated R for violence and pervasive language” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (100/100), sexual content at moderate (44/100), language at severe (89/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100) and frightening material at intense (67/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • Germany16
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (9 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

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 The General have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The General?

Cast

Brendan Gleeson
as Martin Cahill
Adrian Dunbar
as Noel Curley
Sean McGinley
as Gary
Maria Doyle Kennedy
as Frances
Angeline Ball
as Tina
Jon Voight
as Inspector Ned Kenny
Eanna MacLiam
as Jimmy
Tom Murphy
as Willie Byrne
John Cronin
as Aiden
Paul Hickey
as Anthony

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The General?

Movies like The General include Trespass Against Us (2016), GoodFellas (1990) and The Departed (2006). Of the 12 closest matches, most are crime films, and several are films about identity.

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

7 of these 12 share its character type: gangster. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The General?

774 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: police officer. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.