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Drama thriller

Silk Road (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Silk Road (2021) movie poster

Silk Road is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Tiller Russell, starring Nick Robinson as Ross Ulbricht, Jason Clarke and Alexandra Shipp. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $38,449 worldwide on a $5.9 million budget. Critics gave it 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10.

IMDb rating
6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
51%
worldwide gross
$38.4K
Echo Score
50
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Silk Road (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 52m (112 min)
Director
Tiller Russell
Genres
Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$5.9M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Silk Road About?

The premise of Silk Road without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Driven by a desire to promote free exchange and privacy, Ross Ulbricht creates Silk Road, an online black market operating on the darknet. The platform quickly becomes a hub for illicit goods, challenging the traditional drug trade and attracting unwanted attention. As Silk Road's influence grows, Ulbricht finds himself pursued by determined DEA agent Rick Bowden, leading to a tense and dangerous confrontation with significant consequences.

Silk Road Themes & Keywords

· 4 tags
  • business
  • drugs
  • dark net
  • rubik's cube
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Cast & crew

Silk Road Cast & Characters

Nick Robinson leads the cast as Ross Ulbricht, with Jason Clarke as Rick Bowden and Alexandra Shipp as Julia. Directed by Tiller Russell; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Silk Road

· 6 more
From the director

More from Tiller Russell

More films directed by Tiller Russell, best-rated first: The Seven Five and The Last Rites of Ransom Pride.

Full filmography
Ratings

Silk Road Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Silk Road 51% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in story & flow (45).

50 /100

Silk Road Echo Score Breakdown

In its portrayal of real-world intrigue, Silk Road struggles to distinguish itself from standard thrillers despite moments of tension. While some reviewers found it grounded and engaging over its two-hour runtime, others criticized its uneven tone and occasional melodrama that undercut narrative momentum. Performances, particularly by Nick Robinson, received measured praise but could not fully compensate for lapses in character depth and plot coherence. Overall, the film delivers a passable crime drama with intermittent engagement but does not sustain a compelling presence throughout.

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

  • Art & Craft 50

    In terms of direction and technical execution, the film presents a serviceable but unremarkable aesthetic. Its pacing maintains forward momentum, yet the visual treatment adheres to conventional thriller motifs without distinctive cinematography or editing flourishes. Production design effectively grounds the narrative in its period setting, but repetitive framing and standardized shot compositions limit visual impact. Ultimately, the art direction sustains basic functionality without elevating the material.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    When it comes to acting and emotional resonance, Silk Road benefits from committed lead performances that lend authenticity to key moments. Nick Robinson’s understated portrayal offers measured tension, and supporting cast members deliver solid work across interpersonal dynamics. However, character development often skims surface motivations, resulting in intermittent detachment from emotional stakes. While competence is evident throughout, deeper character complexity remains underexplored.

  • Story & Flow 45

    In terms of plot coherence and pacing, the narrative unfolds unevenly, oscillating between engaging sequences and abrupt lulls. While the film grounds its events in a recognizable real-life framework, thematic commentary often feels underdeveloped, and key story threads receive insufficient exploration. Viewers noted moments of logical inconsistency that disrupted immersion. Overall, the story struggles to maintain sustained engagement or originality throughout its runtime.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When assessing the sensory elements, the film offers a polished auditory and visual style that aligns with genre expectations. The soundtrack effectively underscores tension in key scenes, and sound design ensures clarity of dialogue and environment. Visually, the color palette remains subdued and cohesive, though it seldom ventures beyond standard thriller tropes. These sensory components support the narrative without delivering standout innovation.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    When considering rewatch potential, Silk Road yields moderate appeal for repeat viewings but rarely reveals new layers. The factual basis provides initial intrigue, yet the straightforward narrative and predictable structure limit its novelty on subsequent watches. While committed performances and sustained tension offer some incentive for a second viewing, the film’s core moments become familiar rather than increasingly rewarding over time.

Plot

Silk Road Plot Summary

What happens in Silk Road from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with the arrest of Ross Ulbricht in San Francisco in 2013, signaling the high-stakes world that follows. The story then traces his background as a well-educated, ambitious entrepreneur living in Austin, Texas, who believes liberty means pushing back against government control. He conceives Silk Road as a secret marketplace where anonymous buyers and sellers can trade illegal goods using cryptocurrency, and he launches the site to make that vision a reality. It doesn’t take long for Silk Road to grow, and it begins to generate millions as it facilitates the sale of drugs, weapons, and stolen identities.

Full summary

The whole story of Silk Road, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Silk Road Box Office & Budget

Silk Road grossed $38,449 worldwide on a $5.9 million budget.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$38.4K

International
$38.4K
Budget
$5.9M
Videos

Silk Road Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer, 3 clips and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Silk Road (2021 Movie) Official Trailer – Jason Clarke, Nick Robinson
  • Clip Silk Road (2021 Movie) Official Clip “We Are the Future” – Nick Robinson, Alexandra Shipp
  • Clip Silk Road (2021 Movie) Official Clip “Buy Dope on YouTube” – Jason Clarke
  • Clip Silk Road (2021 Movie) Official Clip “I Have Access” - Nick Robinson, Paul Walter Hauser
  • Behind the Scenes Silk Road (2021 Movie) “On-Screen Chemistry” Behind the Scenes – Nick Robinson, Alexandra Shipp
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Silk Road?

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

Which actor portrays Ross Ulbricht in the 2021 film Silk Road?

Cars

Cars in Silk Road

10 cars on screen, including the 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis and the Ford Crown Victoria.

All 10 cars
  • 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis in Silk Road 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis Important role
  • Ford Crown Victoria in Silk Road Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2010 Ford Fusion in Silk Road 2010 Ford Fusion Minor role
  • 2015 GMC Yukon XL in Silk Road 2015 GMC Yukon XL Minor role
Details

Silk Road Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Dead End on Silk Road” and “Асоциальная сеть”.

Also known as
  • Dead End on Silk Road
  • Асоциальная сеть
  • Silk Road: Atrapado en la Dark Web
  • 丝绸之路
  • 실크 로드
  • Silk Road: El camino oculto
  • Silk Road - Mercado Clandestino
  • Асоціальна мережа
  • Wirtualne imperium
  • דרך המשי
  • Silk Road - Gebieter des Darknets
  • 神鬼網戰
+4 more
  • Пътят на коприната
  • ยุทธการปราบเว็บเถื่อน
  • シルクロード.com -史上最大の闇サイト-
  • Svilena pot

Seen Silk Road?

FAQ

Silk Road FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Silk Road?

Silk Road runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).

When was Silk Road released?

Silk Road was released on February 19, 2021.

Who directed Silk Road?

Silk Road was directed by Tiller Russell.

More films by Tiller Russell

Who is in the cast of Silk Road?

Silk Road stars Nick Robinson as Ross Ulbricht, Jason Clarke as Rick Bowden and Alexandra Shipp as Julia, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Silk Road make at the box office?

Silk Road grossed $38,449 worldwide on a budget of $5.9 million.

How is Silk Road rated?

Silk Road has 6.0/10 on IMDb, 51% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does Silk Road have a post-credit scene?

No. Silk Road has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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