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Mystery drama

Atonement (2007): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Atonement (2007) movie poster

Atonement is a 2007 mystery drama directed by Joe Wright, starring Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Brenda Blethyn. It is based on Atonement by Ian McEwan. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes and earned $129.3 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Score), and 5 awards in all. Critics gave it 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 85 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
83%
worldwide gross
$129.3M
Oscar won
1
Metascore
85
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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
Atonement (2007) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 3m (123 min)
Director
Joe Wright
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Romance , War
Original language
English
Studio
Focus Features
Based on
Atonement by Ian McEwan
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Atonement About?

The premise of Atonement without spoilers, adapted from Atonement by Ian McEwan. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1935, young Briony Tallis’s misinterpretation of events leads her to falsely accuse Robbie Turner, a member of the household staff, of a serious crime. This accusation sets in motion a devastating sequence of events with lasting consequences for Briony, Robbie, and Cecilia, Robbie’s love interest. Years later, Briony grapples with the weight of her lie and the irreversible damage it has caused, seeking a way to atone for her youthful mistake and understand the profound impact of her actions on the lives of those around her.

Atonement Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • false accusation
  • world war two
  • forbidden love
  • loss of virginity
  • rape
  • lovers reunited
  • dying
  • miscarriage of justice
  • jealousy
  • dead body
  • guilt
  • child molestation
+38 more
  • shooting a horse
  • wrongful arrest
  • young girl
  • class differences
  • remorse
  • drunkenness
  • wounded soldier
  • writer
  • lie
  • rear entry sex
  • death of sister
  • 1930s
  • sepsis
  • underwater scene
  • nonlinear timeline
  • reverse
  • period drama
  • tragic romance
  • sex scene
  • 13 year old
  • green dress
  • secret letter
  • prison
  • undressing
  • go between
  • witness
  • dunkirk
  • war wound
  • older man younger woman relationship
  • based on novel
  • surprise ending
  • wedding
  • gardener
  • beach
  • student nurse
  • typewriter
  • sex in a library
  • long take
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Cast & crew

Atonement Cast

Keira Knightley leads the cast, with James McAvoy and Brenda Blethyn. Directed by Joe Wright.

From the director

More from Joe Wright

More films directed by Joe Wright, best-rated first: Pride & Prejudice, Darkest Hour, Hanna and Cyrano.

Full filmography
Ratings

Atonement Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Atonement 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 85 on Metacritic.

Plot

Atonement Plot Summary

What happens in Atonement from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1935, a young girl named Briony Tallis, just 13 years old and hailing from an affluent English household, is on the verge of unveiling her talent for writing. She has penned a play and is eager to share her creation with her cousins. However, they quickly grow weary and opt for a swim, leaving Briony alone to witness a pivotal moment that would forever alter the course of her life. This moment is when her older sister, Cecilia, played by the talented Keira Knightley, experiences undeniable chemistry with Robbie Turner, portrayed by James McAvoy, a humble servant’s son for whom Briony harbors a childish infatuation.

Full summary

The whole story of Atonement, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Atonement Box Office

Atonement grossed $129.3 million worldwide. $50.9 million came from the US and Canada and $78.3 million (61%) from the rest of the world.

2007 box office

Worldwide gross

$129.3M

US & Canada
$50.9M
International
$78.3M
US & Canada 39% Rest of the world 61%
Awards

Atonement Awards & Nominations

Atonement won 1 Oscar, including Music (Original Score), and 5 awards in all. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 2008, with 2 wins from 14 nominations.

5 wins34 nominations5 ceremonies

Show all 5 ceremonies
Videos

Atonement Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 1 trailer, 7 clips, 3 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 12 videos
Atonement - trailer
  • Clip "Atonement" - Clip 3
  • Clip Caught in the Library
  • Clip The Dunkirk Long Take
  • Clip Cecilia Takes a Dip in the Fountain
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Atonement?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does the majority of Atonement take place?
Cars

Cars in Atonement

16 cars on screen, including the 1950 AEC RT and the 1937 Lagonda LG 45R Rapide.

All 16 cars
  • 1950 AEC RT in Atonement 1950 AEC RT Minor role
  • 1937 Lagonda LG 45R Rapide in Atonement 1937 Lagonda LG 45R Rapide Minor role
  • 1938 Wolseley 14/60 in Atonement 1938 Wolseley 14/60 Minor role
  • 1939 AEC Matador in Atonement 1939 AEC Matador Background role
Details

Atonement Also Known As

44 alternative titles, including “Искупление” and “Espiazione”.

Also known as
  • Искупление
  • Espiazione
  • Reviens-moi
  • Desejo e Reparação
  • 愛．誘．罪
  • Expiación: Más Allá de la Pasión
  • تاوان
  • Expiación
  • Atonement - Abbitte
  • 어톤먼트
  • Försoning
  • 愛誘罪
+32 more
  • Expiation
  • Chuộc Tội
  • Abbitte
  • Vágy és vezeklés
  • Kefaret
  • Expiación, más allá de la pasión
  • Expiação
  • Sovitus
  • 赎罪
  • Pokání
  • Покајање
  • Soning
  • Pokuta
  • Εξιλέωση
  • כפרה
  • Спокута
  • Remușcare
  • Expiació
  • Pokánie
  • Изкупление
  • つぐない
  • 贖罪
  • 愛･誘･罪
  • Expiación, deseo y pecado
  • ตราบาปลิขิตรัก, მონანიება
  • Chuộc Lỗi
  • تعويض
  • प्रायश्चित
  • Okajanje
  • Om forlatelse
  • Atpirkimas
  • Piedošana

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From the blog

Articles About Atonement

Our article about Atonement: “The Role of Costume Design in Character Building”.

FAQ

Atonement FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Atonement, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Atonement?

Atonement runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).

When was Atonement released?

Atonement was released on December 7, 2007.

Who directed Atonement?

Atonement was directed by Joe Wright.

More films by Joe Wright

Who is in the cast of Atonement?

Atonement stars Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Brenda Blethyn.

How much did Atonement make at the box office?

Atonement grossed $129.3 million worldwide ($50.9 million domestic, $78.3 million international).

How is Atonement rated?

Atonement has 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, 85 on Metacritic and 76% on TMDB.

Is Atonement based on a book?

Yes. Atonement is adapted from Atonement by Ian McEwan.

What awards did Atonement win?

Atonement won 5 awards from 34 nominations, including Best Film at the BAFTA 2008.

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