Atonement

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Atonement

R

2007

2h 3m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

218 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

This sweeping English drama, based on the book by Ian McEwan, follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner. When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony, all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II.

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Critics Consensus

Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it's a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Aug 23, 2018

It is an elegant and sophisticated film, one that never condescends or shirks from the complexity of the novel and its grand themes - war, love, sex, memory, betrayal, redemption - but it's also strangely unfeeling.

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Christopher Orr

The New Republic

Sep 22, 2008

Atonement is a film out of balance, nimble enough in its first half but oddly scattered and ungainly once it leaves the grounds of the Tallis estate.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

May 1, 2008

2/5

[U]ltimately, the movie amounts to rolling lawns, lovely costumes, and characters that simply fail to resonate.

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Cameron Meier

MeierMovies.com

Sep 9, 2025

5/5

Best film of the 21st century.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Sep 7, 2024

5/5

…Atonement might look from its glamorous shell like the usual British fantasy about WWII romance, but has something tougher, more meta and more timeless inside…

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Andrew Collins

Radio Times

May 30, 2024

5/5

Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page.

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Robert P

@Superbad 1 day ago

Atonement = a *4* star Movie...

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Johannes S

@RT64416087 Aug 31, 2026

Broke my heart. It's a bit stretched, but the third act delivers. Gorgeous shots!

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Cinema S

@cinema_sensei Aug 21, 2026

I really wasn't prepared for how devastating the ending would be. The story kept me emotionally invested, but that final reveal completely changed how I looked at everything before it. The performances, atmosphere, and emotional weight all work beautifully, but the ending is what stayed with me most. It's the kind of film that finishes and leaves you sitting there for a while, just processing what you watched.

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Juris O

@Juris100 Aug 5, 2026

The film is good but a bit drawn out.

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Aye G

@AyeGeeYT Jul 11, 2026

And the award for the least likable movie character of all time goes to... Atonement took me on an emotional roller coaster and left me conflicted in the best and worst ways. James McAvoy is fantastic, and I only wish we had gotten more time with Keira Knightley's character before the story took its heartbreaking turns. The performances, cinematography, and emotional weight are all excellent, but I can't honestly say it lived up to the enormous hype for me. Even so, it's a beautifully crafted film that stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

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Soaraia B

@RT17644618 Jun 23, 2026

I love a tragic love story, but this was like really tragic. Not for the faint of heart.

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Joe Wright

Director

James McAvoy

Robbie Turner

Keira Knightley

Cecilia Tallis

Romola Garai

Briony - Age 18

Saoirse Ronan

Briony - Age 13

Brenda Blethyn

Grace Turner

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Synopsis

This sweeping English drama, based on the book by Ian McEwan, follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner. When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony, all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II.

Director: Joe Wright
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Universal Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing War Images|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 7, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.9M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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