Death Note
Death Note Review: Story, Cast, Rating & Final Verdict
Last updated: April 11, 2026
Movie Overview: Death Note
| Movie | Death Note |
| Release Year | 2017 |
| Director | Adam Wingard |
| Genre | Crime / Fantasy / Horror |
| Runtime | 101 minutes |
| Language | EN |
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Death Note (2017) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a FLOP with a verified audience rating of 4.3/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast & Character Study
The performances in Death Note are led by Nat Wolff . The supporting cast, including LaKeith Stanfield and Margaret Qualley , provides the necessary layers to the central narrative.
movieMx Verdict: Is it Worth Your Time?
What Works in the Movie
While Death Note does not fully realize its potential, it still contains moments that may appeal to viewers who enjoy Crime films.
- Interesting concept or premise
- Some entertaining scenes
- Supporting cast delivers occasional highlights
What Doesn't Work
Despite its strengths, Death Note has a few issues that may affect the overall viewing experience, particularly in terms of pacing and narrative consistency.
- Uneven pacing in certain parts of the film
- Some predictable plot developments
- May not appeal to audiences outside the Crime fanbase
Story & Plot Summary: Death Note
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 2017, Death Note is a Crime, Fantasy, Horror film directed by Adam Wingard. The narrative dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Nat Wolff.
Story Breakdown
The title presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. Light Turner finds a supernatural notebook and uses it to mete out death, attracting the attention of a detective, a demon and a girl in his class. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: Death Note
Death Note Ending Explained: Directed by Adam Wingard, Death Note attempts to bring together the film’s narrative threads. The ending highlights the core crime themes developed throughout the film.
The final moments emphasize tension and lingering uncertainty, particularly in scenes involving Nat Wolff. The interpretation of the ending may vary among viewers.
Key Elements of the Ending
- Narrative Resolution: The story resolves its primary conflict while leaving room for interpretation.
- Character Development: Character motivations become clearer by the final scenes.
- Thematic Message: The ending reinforces the crime themes introduced earlier in the film.
The final moments of Death Note reflect the creative choices of the filmmakers and align with the tone of the narrative.
Death Note Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Is Death Note Based on a True Story?
Death Note draws from real criminal cases and investigative records. As a crime, fantasy, horror film directed by Adam Wingard, the production explores how real events can be adapted into a dramatic narrative.
Real Story vs Movie Version
The film takes creative liberties to strengthen its narrative. Certain scenes are likely dramatized to enhance emotional impact.
While inspired by real events, the narrative focuses more on storytelling than strict historical accuracy.
Accuracy Assessment: Death Note uses real-life inspiration as the foundation for a dramatized narrative. The film prioritizes thematic storytelling over strict documentary accuracy.
Who Should Watch Death Note?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Crime films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Box Office Collection: Death Note
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $40.0M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Death Note Budget
The estimated production budget for Death Note is $40.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Death Note
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Death Note Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixDeath Note Parents Guide & Age Rating
2017 AdvisoryWondering about Death Note age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Death Note is 101 minutes (1h 41m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 4.3/10, and global performance metrics, Death Note is classified as a FLOP. It remains an essential part of the 2017 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Death Note worth watching?
Death Note is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 4.3/10 and stands as a FLOP in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Death Note parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Death Note identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Death Note?
The total duration of Death Note is 101 minutes, which is approximately 1h 41m long.
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How Death Note Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Death Note
_Death Note_ - _★★★★_ While different from the anime, and surely the manga, Death Note is an enjoyable adaption. If you watched the anime, you know that the series’s first episode titled “Rebirth” starts out in the Shinigami Realm. We unfortunately do not see this scene or ever visit the Shinigami Realm but I think that’s just fine for this adaption as when we meet Ryuk for the first time, it’s so cool and terrifying at the same time. The film didn’t feel rushed despite having a fast pace but I never felt lost. In addition, the killings were gruesome. Also let me just say Margaret Qualley is bae to unbelievable max. Her Mia Sutton (originally Misa Amane) is just UGH <3 Nat Wolff was actually fairly decent as Light Turner (originally Light Yagami). Keith Stanfield as L was different but not totally in a negative way. And as expected, WILLEM DAFOE AS RYUK IS PERFECT!
Despite tentative hopes, the Netflix live action movie for Death Note was painful to watch. Watching with my husband and another friend who was a fan of the original anime, we switched it off after 10 minutes soon after Light's girly screaming. I did manage to play the rest on my own while multi-tasking since I felt I owed it that much. The shinigami Ryuk was the one cool thing, even if they changed his amused observer role the acting and effects for him were great. Everything else though? Instead of a top role model perfect student equally liked by fellow students and adults, Light became a whiney emo brat with so many issues. Mia, who filled in for Misa's role, instead of sweet ditzy but still somewhat smart (and definitely loyal to a fault in her love) just became a *itch. Now I always rooted for L, but these two are our protagonists of the story and unlike the original source, I could find nothing likable or admirable about them. The gore-fest was also distracting. Death Note is a very toned down thriller with most deaths happening naturally with heart attacks, implied suicides, hit by a car and so on but expect Final Destination shock-factor and gory deaths in this adaption.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
