'The Accountant 2' Review Thread (SXSW Premiere)

I will continue to update this post as reviews come in.

Rotten Tomatoes: Fresh

Critics Consensus: Improving on the original by leaning into Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal's buddy comedy chemistry, The Accountant 2 can safely be filed under a good time at the movies.

Metacritic: 60 (11 Reviews)

Sample Reviews:

Owen Gleiberman, Variety - To me, this franchise had nowhere to go but up. And that, I’m pleased to say, is exactly what happened. The Accountant 2 is an agreeably loopy hyperviolent good time.

Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter - Bernthal and Affleck reprise their roles as the estranged siblings... Their performances embrace O’Connor’s comic direction without losing the narrative’s emotional core, and the pair’s chemistry strengthens The Accountant 2.

Matt Donato, TheWrap - The Accountant 2 surpasses its original by keying into a lenient and dangerously playful tone.

Adrian Horton, Guardian - It’s neither groundbreaking nor exceptional, but it does deliver above the admittedly low bar for a questionable sequel, with enough juice for another at-home hit. 3/5

Alison Willmore, New York Magazine/Vulture - The new movie leans into comedy in ways that veer toward the cutesy, but the scenes of the brothers together are great, providing glimpses of the co-dependent boys they were before they grew into trauma-stunted men who regularly commit acts of bloodshed.

Tim Grierson, Screen International - The 2016 original had its share of ludicrous components, but the follow-up smartly leans into the absurdity, making this second chapter a more pleasurable ride without succumbing to self-parody.

Christian Zilko, indieWire - I’m still not convinced this franchise exists for any reason other than Affleck being jealous that Matt Damon... [starred] in “Good Will Hunting,” but it manages to offer more heart and more laughs the second time around. C+

Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com - The truth is that pacing often trumps realism, and “The Accountant 2” just doesn’t build enough momentum. 2/4

SYNOPSIS:

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) has a talent for solving complex problems. When an old acquaintance is murdered, leaving behind a cryptic message to “find the accountant,” Wolff is compelled to solve the case. Realizing more extreme measures are necessary, Wolff recruits his estranged and highly lethal brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), to help. In partnership with U.S. Treasury Deputy Director Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), they uncover a deadly conspiracy, becoming targets of a ruthless network of killers who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets buried.

CAST:

• Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff / The Accountant
• Jon Bernthal as Braxton
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Marybeth Medina
• Daniella Pineda as Anaïs
• Allison Robertson as Justine
• J. K. Simmons as Raymond King

DIRECTED BY: Gavin O'Connor

SCREENPLAY BY: Bill Dubuque

BASED ON CHARACTERS CREATED BY: Bill Dubuque

PRODUCED BY: Ben Affleck, Lynette Howell Taylor, Mark Williams

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Gavin O'Connor, Scott Lastaiti, Jamie Patricof, Matt Damon, Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, Dani Bernfeld, Alison Winter

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Seamus McGarvey

PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Jade Healy

EDITED BY: Richard Pearson

COSTUME DESIGNER: Isis Mussenden

MUSIC BY: Bryce Dessner

RUNTIME: 125 Minutes

RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2025