State of Grace
Performance & Direction: State of Grace Review
Last updated: January 29, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is State of Grace (1990) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and State of Grace features a noteworthy lineup led by Sean Penn . Supported by the likes of Ed Harris and Gary Oldman , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: State of Grace
Quick Plot Summary: State of Grace is a Drama, Crime, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: State of Grace
Ending Breakdown: State of Grace concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of State of Grace reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
State of Grace Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
State of Grace incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a drama, crime, thriller film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: State of Grace adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch State of Grace?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: State of Grace
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $7.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $1.9M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
State of Grace Budget
The estimated production budget for State of Grace is $7.0M. 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: State of Grace
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch State of Grace Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Amazon Prime Video
fuboTV
MGM+ Amazon Channel
MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel
MGM Plus
Philo
Amazon Prime Video with AdsState of Grace Parents Guide & Age Rating
1990 AdvisoryWondering about State of Grace age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of State of Grace is 135 minutes (2h 15m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.9/10, and global performance metrics, State of Grace is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1990 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is State of Grace worth watching?
State of Grace is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.9/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find State of Grace parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for State of Grace identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of State of Grace?
The total duration of State of Grace is 135 minutes, which is approximately 2h 15m long.
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How State of Grace Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for State of Grace
The Westies. State of Grace is directed by Phil Joanou and written by Dennis McIntyre. It stars Sean Penn, Ed Harris, Gary Oldman, Robin Wright, John Turturo and John C. Reilly. Music is by Ennio Morricone and cinematography by Jordan Cronenweth. Terry Noonan (Penn) returns to Hells Kitchen after a number of years away and finds his best pal, Jackie Flannery (Oldman), is a major player in the Irish/American mob being run by his elder brother, Frankie Flannery (Harris). With a love interest rekindled and a secret he dare not reveal, Terry is soon caught in a maelstrom of danger and tested loyalties. It got lost in the slipstream of Goodfellas, but although it’s not in the same league as Scorsese’s critical darling, State of Grace is a splendid slice of neo-noir gangsterism. The plot is made up of standard genre tropes, divided loyalties, betrayals, kinship, revenge, rivalries, territorial machismo and etc, all of which of course comes laced with spitfire dialogue and sparky violence. The strengths come with the performances of the lead cast members, the visual flourishes via Cronenweth and Joanou and Morricone’s classical score. Penn and Oldman are forces of nature, the former a ball of emotional turbulence, the latter a hopped up maniac with killer tendencies. Harris as the daddio main man is a moody and malevolent presence, as is Joe Viterelli as mafia boss man Borelli. Wright seems a little out of place in this material, Turturo isn’t used nearly enough, but Reilly scores well with a limited role and Burgess Meredith pops in for a superb cameo. It doesn’t have originality on its side, but it’s a mightily strong film regardless, with the human drama drawing one in as the tech skills impress across the board. 8/10
This is a fine film. Loved everything about it! Great ensemble cast, Sean Penn plays a fantastic role as imbedded mole unto his past ‘hoodlum’ friends. Gary Oldman is outstanding with such intensity and dynamic manic character he plays. Robin Wright plays the love interest, and you can understand how Penn fell for her (outside of movie) There’s such great music too. Brilliant soundtrack! Merrideth Burgess plays a lovely cameo which must have been one of his last appearances on film. The st Patrick’s Day Finale is beautifully filmed. Totally loved the film!! Seen it more than once!!
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.
