Kneecap

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Kneecap

R

2024

1h 42m

Comedy

Drama

Music

Biography

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

145 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed 'low life scum' Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, KNEECAP fast become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue. But the trio must first overcome police, paramilitaries and politicians trying to silence their defiant sound -- whilst their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies. In this fiercely original sex, drugs and hip-hop biopic KNEECAP play themselves, laying down a global rallying cry for the defense of native cultures.

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Critics Consensus

A rebellious anthem for cultural preservation, Kneecap is as shaggy, rambunctious, and lovable as the eponymous hip hop group at its center.

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Jacob Oller

AV Club

Oct 25, 2024

C-

Rich Peppiatt’s film has a hard time connecting its stylish music video silliness with drama that meanders and a political message that repeats like it’s stuck on a cheap turntable.

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Wenlei Ma

The Nightly (AU)

Sep 6, 2024

3.5/5

It crackles with energy, attitude and youth, and takes you along for a riotous and persuasive ride.

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

Aug 31, 2024

3.5/5

This highly original film is about liberation, of an indigenous language and of the people who speak it. As Caitlin puts it: “A country without a language is only half a nation.”

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Richard Watts

ScreenHub

Sep 15, 2026

4/5

Kneecap remains fluid, fast-paced and dynamic instead of falling into the pitfalls which often befall musical biopics – real life, after all, stubbornly refuses to conform to the tropes of a traditional three-act story structure.

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Christos Tsiolkas

The Saturday Paper

Jul 23, 2026

I do feel like a Scrooge for disliking it so much. But it is faux radicalism, and it is certainly ersatz filmmaking.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 11, 2026

It was an absolute blast. It’s unique, funny, and has a lot of style and personality. It kind of felt like a mix of Trainspotting and Bodied.

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J W

@RT27694954 Sep 22, 2024

Go in knowing as little as possible about the story, and a bit about the Troubles and you’ll have an absolutely stunning experience. I read this before going and it was super helpful as a refresher: https://m.imdb.com/review/rw9937468/?ref_=tt_urv

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KNEECAP

Sep 16, 2024

I liked it...A bit humorous, crude, language but I understand Belfast lingo and really enjoyed it!

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Tim

Sep 15, 2024

Shocking and rebellious, this comedy is an interesting Oscar submission by the government of Ireland. (Not for children!)

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Kevin

Aug 25, 2024

It brilliantly bumped up against all the complexities founding NI

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Mr. Hollywood

Aug 21, 2024

Enjoyable. Whats interesting about this movie is that the same people who saying this movies praises were the same people hating anyone who didnt go along in 2020. Think about that

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John M

Aug 19, 2024

SO good. Lord the music and the performances. Story was gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed it.It wasn't perfection, but it was absolutely a breath of fresh air. I was engaged. I cared and I was entertained.

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Kneecap: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed 'low life scum' Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, KNEECAP fast become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue. But the trio must first overcome police, paramilitaries and politicians trying to silence their defiant sound -- whilst their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies. In this fiercely original sex, drugs and hip-hop biopic KNEECAP play themselves, laying down a global rallying cry for the defense of native cultures.

Director: Rich Peppiatt
Producer: Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling
Screenwriter: Rich Peppiatt
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Fine Point Films, Mother Tongues Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Drug Content|Language|Sexual Content/Nudity|Some Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music, Biography
Original Language: Irish
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2024, Wide
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 42m

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