Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

92% Tomatometer 106 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings

On January 30, 1972, in the Northern Irish town of Derry, a peaceful protest march led by civil rights activist Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt) turned into a slaughter. British soldiers suddenly opened fire on the defenseless crowd, killing 13 people and wounding 14 more. Shot as if a documentary, this film follows Ivan throughout the day as it chronicles the events leading up to the horrific incident and the bloodied, confused aftermath that followed.

Bloody Sunday

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Critics Consensus

Bloody Sunday powerfully recreates the events of that day with startling immediacy.

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Critics Reviews

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Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Powerful retelling of 1972 demonstrations. Rated: 4/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Scott Foundas Variety Stunning. Mar 11, 2008 Full Review Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Patrick Z. McGavin Chicago Reader Greengrass sacrifices character and plot to a chilling impressionistic stylization. Mar 11, 2008 Full Review Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Dennis Harvey 48 Hills [An] outstanding dramatization of real-life emergencies, with a nerve-jangling, documentary-type immediacy. Oct 21, 2020 Full Review Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Although originally produced for British television in 2002, Paul Greengrass's vivid depiction of a violent turning point in the so-called Troubles in Northern Ireland was released in the U.S. in theaters. Rated: A+ May 7, 2013 Full Review Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Time has offered the Troubles perspective, investigation and pop-culture outlets (U2′s "Sunday Bloody Sunday"). But Paul Greengrass's film spoke to how reason meant absolutely nothing when rage reigned on either side of the line. Rated: 4/4 Sep 25, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Biker B An absolutely brilliant film that shows the brutality and hatred the Irish have received from the British and these events ultimately led to the prosecution of several British soldiers. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/17/25 Full Review Alec B Fascinating mostly on a technical level as the recreation of the Bloody Sunday massacre is impeccably staged. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review nilufer e It was good to learn about historic facts about the incident and even though it was touching I didn't enjoy it as much as I would like. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Overall, this is a heartbreaking and devastating film. Serving as a dramatic rendition of the real tragedy, Director Paul Greengrass gives us plenty to admire here. His realistic style from start to finish makes it feel as if viewers are watching this whole thing from the sidelines. At times, elements such as a shaky camera give a nice touch and many moments on-screen will feel raw and tense. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/11/23 Full Review dave s January 30, 1972 was a pivotal moment in The Troubles of Northern Ireland when British soldiers opened fire on citizens in what started as a peaceful civil rights protest in Derry, killing thirteen and wounding fourteen. Gritty and grainy throughout, director Paul Greengrass uses a handheld camera to effectively capture the tumult and horror of the event, a defining moment in the decades long conflict between British and Irish loyalists. Other than Parliamentarian Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt), the organizer of the march, there aren't a lot of characters (and, as a result, not a lot of character development) to follow, allowing the audience to focus on the details of the conflict between the protesters and the police. While Bloody Sunday may not be totally objective in its depiction of events, one is forced to wonder if there actually are two valid sides to this story of injustice and oppression. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Although actual film of the incident apparently does not exist, this movie has all the feel of actual film of the incident. Impossible to watch the film and not be caught up with the emotion of the moment, total suspension of disbelief, you are THERE. Impossible to not conclude that the British Army did absolutely everything wrong, including firing on and killing non-threatening protesters. My wife is Irish on her father's side and was very much pulled into the film. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Greengrass Director James Nesbitt Ivan Cooper Tim Pigott-Smith Major General Ford Nicholas Farrell Brigadier Maclellan Gerard McSorley Chief Supt. Lagan Kathy Kiera Clarke Frances

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Bloody Sunday

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Synopsis On January 30, 1972, in the Northern Irish town of Derry, a peaceful protest march led by civil rights activist Ivan Cooper (James Nesbitt) turned into a slaughter. British soldiers suddenly opened fire on the defenseless crowd, killing 13 people and wounding 14 more. Shot as if a documentary, this film follows Ivan throughout the day as it chronicles the events leading up to the horrific incident and the bloodied, confused aftermath that followed.

Director
Paul Greengrass

Producer
Mark Redhead

Screenwriter
Paul Greengrass, Don Mullan

Distributor
Paramount Pictures

Production Co
Hell's Kitchen Films

Rating
R (Violence|Language)

Genre
History, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 11, 2002, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013

Box Office (Gross USA)
$773.2K

Runtime
1h 47m

Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR

Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Bloody Sunday | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)
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