Road to Perdition

Year: 2002

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: Sam Mendes

Budget: $80M

AdventureDramaThrillerCrime

During the 1930s in the American Midwest, mob enforcer Mike Sullivan struggles with his loyalty to crime boss John Rooney. After a devastating betrayal by Connor Rooney, Mike’s family is targeted, leaving him with a burning need for vengeance. With his son killed and his wife seemingly lost, Mike embarks on a dangerous quest for retribution, accompanied by his teenage son Michael. As they journey, they uncover unsettling truths and confront the dark underbelly of their world.

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Timeline & Setting – Road to Perdition (2002)

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Main Characters – Road to Perdition (2002)

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Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:22

Major Themes – Road to Perdition (2002)

Explore the central themes of Road to Perdition (2002), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:22

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Father-son crime odysseys like Road to Perdition

A parent and child navigate a dangerous landscape, testing their bond.Explore movies like Road to Perdition where a father and son are forced on a journey through a dangerous world. These similar crime dramas and thrillers focus on the heavy themes of protection, legacy, and the bond tested by violence and moral compromise.

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Narrative Summary

This thread follows narratives where a protective parent, often with a morally ambiguous or violent profession, must guide their child through a crisis. The plot is driven by survival and redemption, with key moments revealing the child's perspective on the parent's world, leading to a poignant, often bittersweet resolution about the legacy being passed on.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their central focus on the parent-child dynamic within a high-stakes narrative. They share a somber, emotionally heavy tone, a steady pacing that allows for character reflection, and a thematic exploration of what it means to be a guardian in a corrupt world.

Somber revenge thrillers like Road to Perdition

Grief-stricken protagonists seek methodical revenge within organized crime.Discover more movies like Road to Perdition that feature a somber and methodical quest for revenge within the world of organized crime. These similar thrillers and dramas focus on the heavy emotional cost of vengeance, driven by betrayal and profound loss, rather than action-packed spectacle.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern begins with a devastating betrayal or loss that shatters the protagonist's world. Instead of a fast-paced action romp, the revenge is pursued with steady, deliberate pacing, allowing the weight of each action to sink in. The journey is as much about mourning and internal conflict as it is about external retribution, culminating in a resolution that is bittersweet or tragic, acknowledging the emptiness of vengeance.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a specific mood: a dark, brooding atmosphere where revenge is a source of grief, not gratification. They are unified by a high emotional weight, a steady pacing that builds tension, a dominant dark tone, and a focus on the psychological toll of violence within a criminal framework.

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Road to Perdition Summary

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Road to Perdition Timeline

Track the full timeline of Road to Perdition with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Road to Perdition Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About Road to Perdition

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Road to Perdition: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Road to Perdition

Discover movies like Road to Perdition that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.