Killing Them Softly

For the 2000 stand-up comedy special, see Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly. For the 2002 erotic thriller film, see Killing Me Softly.

Killing Them Softly
A man in a leather jacket aims his shotgun at an unseen target, on top of a plain black background.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew Dominik
Screenplay byAndrew Dominik
Based onCogan's Trade
by George V. Higgins
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGreig Fraser
Edited byBrian A. Kates
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 22, 2012 (2012-05-22) (Cannes)
  • November 30, 2012 (2012-11-30) (United States)
Running time
97 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$15 million[3][4]
Box office$37.9 million[4]

Killing Them Softly is a 2012 American neo-noir crime film written and directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Brad Pitt. Based on George V. Higgins' 1974 novel Cogan's Trade, the story follows Jackie Cogan, a hitman who is hired to deal with the aftermath of a Mafia poker game robbery that ruptured the criminal economy; the events are set during the 2008 United States presidential election and financial crisis. Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, and Sam Shepard also star.

On May 22, 2012, the film premiered in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and received positive early reviews.[5][6] Killing Them Softly was released on November 30, 2012, domestically by The Weinstein Company and internationally by Inferno Distribution, to mostly positive reviews and moderate financial success, grossing $37.9 million against a budget of $15 million.

  1. ^ a b "KILLING THEM SOFTLY (2012)". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Title « British Board of Film Classification". British Board of Film Classification. August 28, 2012. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Amy (November 29, 2012). "Brad Pitt's 'Killing Them Softly' poised for soft box office debut". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Killing Them Softly (2012)". Box Office Mojo. February 10, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  5. ^ "2012 Official Selection". Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  6. ^ "Andrew Dominik, a certain vision of capitalism". Cannes Film Festival. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.