Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

87% Tomatometer 70 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob's money -- but the important part is to make it out alive.

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Bound

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Critics Consensus

Bound's more titillating elements attracted attention, but it's the stylish direction, solid performances, and entertaining neo-noir caper plot that make it worth a watch.

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Critics Reviews

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Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Jake Cole Slant Magazine This is an erotic thriller where eroticism is the agent of redemption, not damnation. Jun 14, 2024 Full Review Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Bruce Walker Washington Post Like so many other rob-the-mob movies, the plan seems pretty far-fetched, and the ending isn’t much of a surprise. But if you like your films sprinkled liberally with sex, violence and humor, then you’re bound to like "Bound." Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Janet Maslin New York Times The Wachowskis make a better debut than their screenplay for ''Assassins'' or their credit on ''Hellraiser'' comics might promise. Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Joshua Ryan FandomWire The bare-bones approach and minimal budget add a layer of rawness and authenticity. Rated: 9/10 Oct 1, 2024 Full Review Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 1996’s Bound has Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly as co-conspirators and lovers in what’s not just one of the great neo-noirs, but way up there amongst mainstream Hollywood depictions of lesbian love and lust. Jun 13, 2024 Full Review Bound | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) Works as a straight up noir, but also as a nuanced exploration of what it means to be trapped - in your life, in your job, in your sexuality, and even in your expressed gender. Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Torin F BOUND is the Wachowskis' feature film debut, and their skillful direction elevates the film into something more than the sum of its parts. Though a neo-noir erotic crime thriller that relies heavily on melodrama and violence, the film has a certain style and cinema artistry that hints at the greatness to come with The Matrix. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review R 9 'Bound' is a fun one!I've always wanted to get this watched since growing up with (the great) Jennifer Tilly via the 'Chucky' franchise and having heard this mentioned on/off down the years, so I'm glad that I have belatedly done so. It's entertaining! I knew of the love stuff and it sure does deliver, though I am surprised it only really happens at the beginning... it makes sense, I just assumed it was gonna be recurring throughout.Tilly and Gina Gershon are excellent together, very strong onscreen chemistry! Like with what I previously mentioned, I was also slightly surprised that Gershon disappears for what felt like a decent chunk of the movie; despite being literally next door. Again, works for the story but would've expected her to be there all the way. Joe Pantoliano stars behind them, ahead of a solid supporting cast.One to watch, which is interestingly The Wachowskis' directorial debut. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review Corey J pretty good, the dialogue at the beginning was a bit awkward but it smoothed out a little. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/22/23 Full Review PridePosterStudios “What did she do to you?”“Everything you couldn’t” Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Milo M Thrilling, daring, exciting, but most of all—refreshingly new. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/07/23 Full Review Pragya Kirti R When Quentin Tarantino and Gasper Noe have a baby together !Wow, It has to be one of the most interesting films I've ever watched. Truly cinematic right from the first frame. It has that suaveness, right amount of seduction and modernized neo-noir theme. The Watchowski brothers (then) did such a fantastic job in their debut, Their use of palette on the screen is really interesting and distinctive. Bill Pope's cinematography is so rad and stylish that one easily notices the signature shots they later used in Matrix trilogy and Spiderman trilogy. It makes perfect sense of thrill and tension between the characters and screenplay. Performances are so good, Jennifer Tilly's distinctive and seductive dialogue delivery makes all the stress go away and Gina Gershon is also good but it's Joe Pantoliano who steals the show, Such a brilliant performance. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Lilly Wachowski Director Lana Wachowski Director Jennifer Tilly Violet Gina Gershon Corky Joe Pantoliano Caesar Barry Kivel Shelly
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Synopsis Sparks fly when Violet (Jennifer Tilly) sets eyes on Corky (Gina Gershon) in an elevator. Violet is the girlfriend of a violent gangster, Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), while Corky is fresh out of prison and doing renovations on the apartment next door. As the two women launch into a passionate love affair, they assemble an intricate plan for Violet to escape from Caesar, with two million dollars of the mob's money -- but the important part is to make it out alive.

Director
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Producer
Andrew Lazar, Stuart Boros

Screenwriter
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski

Distributor
Gramercy Pictures

Production Co
Dino De Laurentiis Productions

Rating
R

Genre
Mystery & Thriller, LGBTQ+

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 4, 1996, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.8M

Runtime
1h 48m

Sound Mix
Surround
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