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IMDbPro

Sound of Metal

  • 20192019
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
121K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,126
6
Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal (2019)
During a series of adrenaline-fueled one-night gigs, itinerant punk-metal drummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) begins to experience intermittent hearing loss. When a specialist tells him his condition will rapidly worsen, he thinks his music career,  and with it his life, is over. His bandmate and girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) checks the recovering heroin addict into a secluded sober house for the deaf in hopes it will prevent a relapse and help him learn to adapt to his new situation. But after being welcomed into a community that accepts him just as he is, Ruben has to choose between his equilibrium and the drive to reclaim the life he once knew. Utilizing startling, innovative sound design techniques, director Darius Marder takes audiences inside Rubens experience to vividly recreate his journey into a rarely examined world.

This trailer purposefully includes captions (just like the film itself) so that hearing and non-hearing audiences can experience Rubens journey.

Sound of Metal arrives in select theaters November 20, and on Prime Video December 4 in the U.S.
Play trailer2:41
12 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
121K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,126
6
  • Director
    • Darius Marder
  • Writers
    • Darius Marder(screenplay by)
    • Abraham Marder(screenplay by)
    • Derek Cianfrance(story by)
  • Stars
    • Riz Ahmed
    • Olivia Cooke
    • Paul Raci
Top credits
  • Director
    • Darius Marder
  • Writers
    • Darius Marder(screenplay by)
    • Abraham Marder(screenplay by)
    • Derek Cianfrance(story by)
  • Stars
    • Riz Ahmed
    • Olivia Cooke
    • Paul Raci
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 584User reviews
    • 272Critic reviews
    • 82Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 89 wins & 175 nominations total

    Videos12

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:41
    Official Trailer
    Meet the Cast and Crew
    Trailer 1:08
    Meet the Cast and Crew
    Sound of Metal
    Trailer 2:41
    Sound of Metal
    Sound of Metal
    Trailer 0:53
    Sound of Metal
    Top Multitalents for 2021
    Clip 4:09
    Top Multitalents for 2021
    The 2021 Oscar-Winning Films You Need to Watch
    Clip 3:05
    The 2021 Oscar-Winning Films You Need to Watch
    The Rise of Riz Ahmed
    Clip 3:48
    The Rise of Riz Ahmed
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December
    Clip 3:16
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December
    Riz Ahmed Details His Intense Preparation for 'Sound of Metal'
    Clip 2:48
    Riz Ahmed Details His Intense Preparation for 'Sound of Metal'
    Riz Ahmed Celebrates Marvel's First Deaf Superhero
    Clip 1:31
    Riz Ahmed Celebrates Marvel's First Deaf Superhero
    'Sound of Metal' Introduced Riz Ahmed to an Inspiring Real-World Community
    Clip 11:04
    'Sound of Metal' Introduced Riz Ahmed to an Inspiring Real-World Community
    Sound of Metal
    Clip 1:18
    Sound of Metal

    Photos255

    Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal (2019)
    Riz Ahmed in Sound of Metal (2019)
    Mikkel E.G. Nielsen at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Jaime Baksht and Phillip Bladh at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Phillip Bladh at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Nicolas Becker at an event for The Oscars (2021)
    Riz Ahmed, Darius Marder, and Olivia Cooke at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)
    Riz Ahmed at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)
    Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)
    Darius Marder at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)
    Olivia Cooke at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)
    Chelsea Lee at an event for Sound of Metal (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Riz Ahmed
    Riz Ahmed
    • Ruben Stoneas Ruben Stone
    Olivia Cooke
    Olivia Cooke
    • Louas Lou
    Paul Raci
    Paul Raci
    • Joeas Joe
    Lauren Ridloff
    Lauren Ridloff
    • Dianeas Diane
    Mathieu Amalric
    Mathieu Amalric
    • Richard Bergeras Richard Berger
    Domenico Toledo
    • Michaelas Michael
    Chelsea Lee
    Chelsea Lee
    • Jennas Jenn
    Shaheem Sanchez
    Shaheem Sanchez
    • Shaheemas Shaheem
    Chris Perfetti
    Chris Perfetti
    • Harlanas Harlan
    Bill Thorpe
    Bill Thorpe
    • The Manas The Man
    Michael Tow
    Michael Tow
    • Pharmacistas Pharmacist
    William Xifaras
    William Xifaras
    • Michael's Fatheras Michael's Father
    Rena Maliszewski
    Rena Maliszewski
    • Audiologistas Audiologist
    Tom Kemp
    Tom Kemp
    • Dr. Paysingeras Dr. Paysinger
    Elan Sicroff
    • Pianistas Pianist
    Jeremy Lee Stone
    Jeremy Lee Stone
    • ASL Teacheras ASL Teacher
    • (as Jeremy Stone)
    Ezra Marder
    • ASL Studentas ASL Student
    Hartmut Teuber
    • Karlas Karl
    • Director
      • Darius Marder
    • Writers
      • Darius Marder(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Abraham Marder(screenplay by)
      • Derek Cianfrance(story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While Paul Raci (who plays Joe, the founder of the deaf rehab facility) isn't actually deaf, both his parents were. He is a prominent figure in the deaf community as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and a member of Hands of Doom, a band that performs in ASL.
    • Goofs
      Ruben gets simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants and is sent on his merry way. In actuality, he would be evaluated for suitability, including his commitment to learning how to process the new sounds. He would be expected to begin the work after activation and he would be informed of the differences between past hearing and the new experience up front.
    • Quotes

      Ruben Stone: Like, what does it matter? What does it matter? It just passes. Yo. If I disappear, like, who cares? Nobody cares, man. Seriously. Yo, and that's okay. That's life. That's life. No, for real. Okay? It just passes. It just fucking... fucking passes.

      Joe: I wonder, uh, all these mornings you've been sitting in my study, sitting, have you had any moments of stillness? Because you're right, Ruben. The world does keep moving, and it can be a damn cruel place. But for me, those moments of stillness, that place, that's the kingdom of God.

    • Connections
      Featured in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: The Best Movies of 2020 (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Purify
      Drums, Guitar & Vocals Performed by Riz Ahmed & Olivia Cooke

      Music by Margaret Chardiet

      Written by Olivia Cooke & Margaret Chardiet

      Drums by Harry Cantwell

      Produced by Abraham Marder

    User reviews584

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Powerful and thought provoking
    I was incredibly fortunate to have seen Sound of Metal at the Toronto International Film Festival including a Q&A after with the director and cast. Whereas a lot of films may take the storyline into melodramatic territory, Sound of Metal explores not only the reality of those who are deaf which is so poorly represented in film and television but also the destructive nature and high cost of denial and self-deception in the face of hard truths.

    By focusing on someone whose entire existence revolves around a world of sound losing that which defines his life, it gives the viewer pause to consider what life can be like when we learn to accept and let go. There is so much more to life than the small corners of existence we live in and this film paints that reality with both tremendous empathy and a bluntness that lesser writers and directors would avoid.

    In addition, one really has to commend the direction and design of this film's audio. It is clear that a great deal of thought went into how to use sound in this film. From the in-your-face pounding of metal music at the start through the muffled reality as the protagonist loses his hearing to the sense of peace in the moments of silence, it is clear that a great deal of painstaking detail was crafted in conveying this film's reality.

    Sound of Metal is one of those films which will keep you thinking for days after about so many aspects of life such as addiction and how some relationships may simply serve a purpose in the short term for our life but ultimately must be let go. How it illuminates aspects of the deaf community that few get a chance to see is important. But there is so much more to this film that to pigeonhole it as merely being about deaf people does a grand disservice to the many fantastic qualities in every aspect of its creation. I highly recommend taking the time to watch this film.
    helpful•412
    51
    • Surecure
    • Sep 9, 2019

    FAQ4

    • Does anyone behind the film, directors or writers, have any personal connections to the deaf community?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 4, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Metall tovushi
    • Filming locations
      • Antwerp, Belgium
    • Production companies
      • Caviar
      • Flat 7 Productions
      • Ward Four
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $516,520
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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