Dead Man's Wire
2025 · Movie · R · 105 min · ★ 6.5 · 67% critics
In 1977, a disgruntled former real estate developer rigs a “dead man’s switch” to force a mortgage banker and demand $5 million and a personal apology. What follows is a tense, escalating standoff that draws in mediators, investigators, and curious onlookers.
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Streaming on Netflix — or rent from $3.99.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2025
- Release date
- 2026-01-09
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Max quality
- UHD
- Critic score
- 67/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.5/10 (137 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy Dead Man's Wire if you want a true-crime style standoff with dark humor and mounting unease; Not for you if you prefer fast, streamlined thrillers—especially if you disliked Breaking (2022) or The Matador (2005).
Pros: taut standoff tension; strong 1970s feel; standout lead performance | Cons: middle drags; limited lead supporting role; tone can feel uneven
Themes
- banker
- kidnapping
- hostage
- 1970s
- dark comedy
- indianapolis
- based on true story
- courtroom
- hostage negotiator
- standoff
- radio host
- duringcreditsstinger
- +6 more
Cast & crew
Bill Skarsgård
as Tony Kiritsis
Dacre Montgomery
as Richard 'Dick' Hall
Cary Elwes
as Michael Grable
Myha'la
as Linda Page
Colman Domingo
as Fred Temple
Al Pacino
as M.L. Hall
Kelly Lynch
as Mabel Hall
Jordan Claire Robbins
as Doreen
John Robinson
as Cameraman
- KK
Katie Kinman
as Ibby Hall
Directed by Gus Van Sant