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Crime comedy

Riff Raff (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Riff Raff (2025) movie poster

Riff Raff is a 2025 crime comedy directed by Dito Montiel, starring Ed Harris as Vincent, Gabrielle Union and Lewis Pullman. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $1.9 million worldwide on a $16 million budget. Critics gave it 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
55%
worldwide gross
$1.9M
Echo Score
50
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Riff Raff (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Director
Dito Montiel
Genres
Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$16M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Riff Raff About?

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

Vincent, seeking a quiet life with his wife Sandy and their son DJ, plans a winter break in a remote cabin. Their peaceful retreat is shattered when Vincent's estranged son Rocco arrives with his girlfriend Marina and Vincent's ex-wife Ruth. They bring with them a dire warning: dangerous gangsters Leftie and Lonnie are on their way, threatening to disrupt the family's fragile harmony and expose a troubled past.

Riff Raff Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • dark comedy
  • organized crime
  • gun pointed at head
  • fireworks
  • gun
  • chipmunk
  • father son relationship
  • adoptive father adopted son relationship
  • beer
  • mother son relationship
  • police officer
  • police
+38 more
  • bat
  • pregnancy
  • stepbrother stepbrother relationship
  • adopted brother adopted brother relationship
  • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
  • running
  • listening to music on headphones
  • ex husband ex wife relationship
  • boy dresses as a girl
  • reference to peter pan the stage play
  • knife
  • maine
  • knife held to someone's neck
  • male protagonist
  • ex wife new wife relationship
  • vacation house
  • stepmother stepson relationship
  • advil
  • bird
  • ticket
  • reference to celine dion
  • reference to clair huxtable
  • going to college
  • orange juice
  • talking about orgasm
  • beats headphones
  • houseguest
  • christmas
  • apple
  • blowing nose
  • murder
  • blood
  • boats
  • purse
  • throwing a rock
  • gay slur
  • woman grabs a man by his crotch
  • sexual harassment
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Cast & crew

Riff Raff Cast & Characters

Ed Harris leads the cast as Vincent, with Gabrielle Union as Sandy and Lewis Pullman as Rocco. Directed by Dito Montiel; 20 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Dito Montiel

More films directed by Dito Montiel, best-rated first: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Fighting, Boulevard and Man Down.

Full filmography
Ratings

Riff Raff Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Riff Raff 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).

50 /100

Riff Raff Echo Score Breakdown

The film presents a mixed overall experience defined by strong ensemble performances and fluctuating tonal consistency. While reviewers praise the chemistry and range of key cast members and acknowledge occasional sparks of dark humor, many note that derivative plot elements and uneven pacing undermine engagement. The production design and atmospheric touches hint at ambition but lack cohesive execution. Overall, Riff Raff offers intermittent entertainment without delivering a fully satisfying cinematic journey.

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

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of art direction and editing quality, the film exhibits uneven craftsmanship. Critics frequently cite jarring cuts and pacing disruptions that diminish narrative clarity. The production design occasionally delivers a stylized, Tarantino-inspired palette, yet these visual highlights are offset by inconsistent stylistic transitions. Overall, the art and craft ambition falls short of a cohesive, polished presentation.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    In terms of character depth and emotional resonance, the ensemble consistently elevates the material. The cast’s performances, particularly Bill Murray’s darkly comedic turn and supporting roles that break type, earn frequent praise for chemistry and range. However, the script’s scattershot backstories limit deeper emotional investment for several characters. Overall, the film succeeds in showcasing its performers but struggles to sustain lasting character engagement.

  • Story & Flow 35

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the film struggles with uneven development. Multiple accounts describe a derivative crime narrative punctuated by half-baked comedic scenes and predictable twists. Reviewers criticize frequent flashbacks that disrupt engagement and tonal shifts that undercut suspense. Overall, the story delivers sporadic thrills but remains too familiar and disjointed to maintain sustained narrative momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    In terms of sensory experience, the film offers moments of striking atmosphere alongside tonal inconsistency. The soundtrack and sound design at key turning points underscore suspense and dark humor, yet these elements sometimes feel overbearing. Visually, the cinematography channels a moody palette reminiscent of pulp thrillers, though uneven editing occasionally undermines cohesion. Overall, sensory highs are tempered by irregular execution.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    In terms of rewatch value and lasting appeal, the film delivers limited replay incentive. While its cast performances and select twists provide occasional entertainment, the lack of original narrative beats and forgettable script details diminish subsequent enjoyment. Multiple viewers note that the film fails to reward a second viewing, as its comedic impact and thematic depth are insufficient to sustain long-term appeal. Overall, it remains largely forgettable on repeat.

Plot

Riff Raff Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Riff Raff from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Elderly Vincent Gauthier [Ed Harris] and his college-age son DJ [Miles J. Harvey] are spending the Christmas and New Year holidays at a quiet vacation cabin in Yarmouth, Maine, hoping for a peaceful retreat. Vincent’s much younger wife Sandy [Gabrielle Union] arrives with groceries, bringing a sense of unsettled energy to the blended family as they try to carve out normalcy amid the season’s tensions.

Full summary

The whole story of Riff Raff, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Riff Raff Box Office & Budget

Riff Raff grossed $1.9 million worldwide on a $16 million budget, 12% of what it cost. $1.9 million came from the US and Canada and $67,681 (4%) from the rest of the world.

2025 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.9M

12% of its budget back

US & Canada
$1.9M
International
$67.7K
Budget
$16M
US & Canada 96% Rest of the world 4%
Videos

Riff Raff Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 2 trailers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Clip Convenience Store
  • Featurette TIFF 2024 Q&A with Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union & Bill Murray
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Riff Raff?

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

In which town is the vacation cabin located?

Cars

Cars in Riff Raff

6 cars on screen, including the 1972 Ford LTD and the 2006 Cadillac DTS.

All 6 cars
  • 1972 Ford LTD in Riff Raff 1972 Ford LTD Main role
  • 2006 Cadillac DTS in Riff Raff 2006 Cadillac DTS Important role
  • 2019 BMW X7 G07 in Riff Raff 2019 BMW X7 G07 Minor role
  • 1992 Ford Econoline in Riff Raff 1992 Ford Econoline Background role
Details

Riff Raff Also Known As

10 alternative titles, including “乌合之众” and “Riff Raff - Verbrechen ist Familiensache”.

Also known as
  • 乌合之众
  • Riff Raff - Verbrechen ist Familiensache
  • Чокнутые
  • Riff Raff: Verbrechen ist Familiensache
  • Набрід
  • اراذل و اوباش
  • 烏合大亂鬥
  • Όλο το Σόι
  • Ayak Takımı
  • אספסוף

Seen Riff Raff?

FAQ

Riff Raff FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Riff Raff, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Riff Raff?

Riff Raff runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Riff Raff released?

Riff Raff was released on February 28, 2025.

Who directed Riff Raff?

Riff Raff was directed by Dito Montiel.

More films by Dito Montiel

Who is in the cast of Riff Raff?

Riff Raff stars Ed Harris as Vincent, Gabrielle Union as Sandy and Lewis Pullman as Rocco, among 20 credited actors.

How much did Riff Raff make at the box office?

Riff Raff grossed $1.9 million worldwide ($1.9 million domestic, $67,681 international) on a budget of $16 million.

How is Riff Raff rated?

Riff Raff has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 48 on Metacritic and 58% on TMDB.

Does Riff Raff have a post-credit scene?

No. Riff Raff has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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