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Crime thriller

Finestkind (2023): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Finestkind (2023) movie poster

Finestkind is a 2023 crime thriller directed by Brian Helgeland, starring Toby Wallace as Charlie, Tommy Lee Jones and Ben Foster. It runs 2 hours 6 minutes. Critics gave it 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10.

IMDb rating
6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
27%
Echo Score
47
Metascore
44
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Finestkind (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 6m (126 min)
Director
Brian Helgeland
Genres
Crime , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Finestkind About?

The premise of Finestkind without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Two brothers, separated by their differing childhoods, find themselves reunited as adults in the harsh environment of commercial fishing. Driven by desperation, they enter a dangerous agreement with a Boston crime syndicate, leading to escalating tensions and a high-stakes struggle for survival.

Finestkind Themes & Keywords

· 13 tags
  • brother
  • hand job
  • criminal
  • boston massachusetts
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • male rear nudity
  • male nudity
  • fishing
  • ship at sea
  • drug trafficking
  • fishing boat
  • father son relationship
+1 more
  • case
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Cast & crew

Finestkind Cast & Characters

Toby Wallace leads the cast as Charlie, with Tommy Lee Jones as Eldridge and Ben Foster as Tom. Directed by Brian Helgeland; 20 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Finestkind

· 16 more
From the director

More from Brian Helgeland

More films directed by Brian Helgeland, best-rated first: 42, Legend, Payback and A Knight's Tale.

Full filmography
Ratings

Finestkind Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Finestkind 27% on Rotten Tomatoes and 44 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 47/100, strongest in character & emotion (70) and weakest in story & flow (35).

47 /100

Finestkind Echo Score Breakdown

Finestkind presents a mixed impression, anchored by a strong ensemble but undermined by a disjointed narrative and uneven craftsmanship. Critics acknowledge the capable performances of Foster, Ortega, and Jones, yet they cite a meandering plot, over‑the‑top tonal shifts, and an overall lack of focus. User feedback mirrors this division, with several praising the cast and setting while others note pacing issues and narrative confusion. The combined sentiment places the film in a lower‑mid range, reflecting solid acting against a flawed structural foundation.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 35

    In terms of art and craft, the film struggles with consistency and cohesion. Critics point to an over‑the‑top tone, meandering pacing, and a lack of clear visual or editorial direction. There is little mention of standout cinematography or production design to offset these weaknesses. Consequently, the technical execution appears underwhelming, limiting the overall impact of the visual storytelling.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances emerge as the film's primary asset. Multiple reviewers highlight strong work by Ben Foster, Jenna Ortega, and Toby Wallace, describing the cast as powerful and engaging. Though some note occasional over‑acting, the majority of commentary emphasizes nuanced portrayals that sustain viewer interest despite narrative flaws. This positive consensus elevates the character score.

  • Story & Flow 35

    The story and flow receive the most criticism, with reviewers calling the plot bland, unpersuasive, and riddled with unnecessary twists. Pacing is described as dragging, and the narrative is said to shift tone without clear purpose. Such feedback indicates limited originality and coherence, resulting in a low assessment for the storytelling aspect.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    Sensory experience, including soundtrack and visual style, is not heavily addressed in the critiques, suggesting an average reception. While the setting is occasionally noted as fresh, there is no strong praise for sound design or visual aesthetics. The neutral commentary leads to a middle‑range score reflecting neither standout success nor notable failure.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Rewatch factor is mixed, with some viewers expressing enjoyment of the cast and setting, while others find the film's pacing and narrative flaws diminish repeat appeal. The lack of a compelling story and uneven execution reduces incentive for multiple viewings, yet strong performances provide modest replay value, resulting in a below‑average but not minimal score.

Plot

Finestkind Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Finestkind from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As Charlie (Toby Wallace) visits his half-brother Tom Eldridge (Ben Foster), who manages a scallop fishery in New Bedford, Massachusetts, he finds himself facing a pivotal moment in his life. Feeling disillusioned by his routine existence, Charlie persuades Tom to take him along on an upcoming fishing trip, which Tom hesitantly agrees to. The faithful vessel, the Harmony, embarks on its journey with an unusual crew including Nunes (Scotty Tovar), Costa (Ismael Cruz Cordova), and Skeemo (Aaron Stanford). Unfortunately, their adventure is abruptly interrupted when a disastrous explosion strikes the boat during turbulent seas, leaving the group fighting for survival.

Full summary

The whole story of Finestkind, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Finestkind Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 2 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip You Set Us Up
  • Clip Mabel and Charlie Meet
  • Featurette What To Expect
  • Featurette A Writer-Director Who Lived The Story
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Finestkind?

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 type of fishing does Tom Eldridge do?

Details

Finestkind Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Finest Kind” and “Лучший вид”.

Also known as
  • Finest Kind
  • Лучший вид
  • بهترین گروه
  • 那个最好的
  • Найкраща
  • 善类
  • Найкращий вид
  • 파이니스트 카인드
  • Ti nejlepší
  • Најфиније
  • شرافتمندان
  • Крупный улов
+4 more
  • Najbolja vrsta
  • Didelis laimikis
  • Jedna krew
  • 善類

Seen Finestkind?

FAQ

Finestkind FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Finestkind, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Finestkind?

Finestkind runs 2 hours 6 minutes (126 minutes).

When was Finestkind released?

Finestkind was released on December 15, 2023.

Who directed Finestkind?

Finestkind was directed by Brian Helgeland.

More films by Brian Helgeland

Who is in the cast of Finestkind?

Finestkind stars Toby Wallace as Charlie, Tommy Lee Jones as Eldridge and Ben Foster as Tom, among 20 credited actors.

How is Finestkind rated?

Finestkind has 6.1/10 on IMDb, 27% on Rotten Tomatoes, 44 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Does Finestkind have a post-credit scene?

No. Finestkind has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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