Manchester by the Sea

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Steven M. My favorite movie of that year! Simply splendid. The acting and directing and writing are beautiful. My pick for Best Picture over Moonlight. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/08/21 Full Review Katie D Perfect movie for a gray day! This film feels a little long and the editing/cinematography could use some work, but the acting is award-worthy! It is definitely Casey Affleck's best work and also a wonderful performance by Lucas Hedges! Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/15/21 Full Review Faiz D Casey Affleck's best performance since Ain't Them Bodies Saints. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/13/25 Full Review Spike D It balances levity and tragedy with a deftness most films could only dream of. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Noah J Manchester by the Sea doesn’t shout—it aches. Kenneth Lonergan’s quietly devastating film strips grief down to its rawest form, telling the story of a man broken not by one tragedy, but by the unbearable weight of surviving it. Casey Affleck is remarkable as Lee Chandler, a man who’s emotionally underwater and sees no reason to come up for air. His performance is internal, suffocating, and painfully real. Michelle Williams, in just a few scenes, leaves a crater. One conversation between them late in the film is among the most honest depictions of loss you’ll see onscreen. There are no grand gestures here. Just silences, small kindnesses, and the awful reality that some wounds never close. Manchester by the Sea is tough, tender, and unflinchingly human. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Benji D Manchester by the Sea is a masterful exploration of grief and the weight of unspoken pain. Set against the stark beauty of coastal Massachusetts, the film's grey skies and empty winter streets mirror its protagonist's emotional landscape perfectly. Casey Affleck delivers a haunting performance as Lee Chandler, a man who carries his past like a physical burden. The film slowly reveals why Lee is the way he is, using carefully placed flashbacks that build toward an understanding of his isolation. His relationships, particularly with his teenage nephew, are marked by what goes unsaid as much as what's spoken. What sets this film apart is its refusal to provide easy answers or forced redemption. Some wounds don't heal with time—they simply become part of who we are. The film's memorable final line encapsulates this truth perfectly, reminding us that sometimes the most honest thing is to acknowledge we're not ready to confront certain conversations. Director Kenneth Lonergan has created something rare: a film that respects the complexity of human grief without trying to solve it. It's a deeply moving experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Manchester by the Sea

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now