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Congressman Stan Lohman hosts a tense dinner party with his brother Paul and their wives, hoping to mend familial tensions. The evening spirals into crisis when it’s revealed that their sons have been involved in a serious crime. As the truth emerges, the families grapple with difficult choices and long-held secrets, forcing them to confront their values and fight to protect their loved ones from the consequences. Loyalties are pushed to the breaking point as they navigate a web of deception and face a moral reckoning.

Congressman Stan Lohman hosts a tense dinner party with his brother Paul and their wives, hoping to mend familial tensions. The evening spirals into crisis when it’s revealed that their sons have been involved in a serious crime. As the truth emerges, the families grapple with difficult choices and long-held secrets, forcing them to confront their values and fight to protect their loved ones from the consequences. Loyalties are pushed to the breaking point as they navigate a web of deception and face a moral reckoning.

Does The Dinner have end credit scenes?

No!

The Dinner does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Dinner

Explore the complete cast of The Dinner, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


No actors found

Ratings and Reviews for The Dinner

See how The Dinner is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Dinner stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

57

Metascore

4.8

User Score

IMDb

4.5 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

45

%

User Score

Movie Insider

3.00/5

From 7 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Dinner Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Dinner with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Dinner Quiz: Test your knowledge on the intense drama and complex dynamics of 'The Dinner'.

What event brings the four main characters together for dinner?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Dinner

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Read the complete plot summary of The Dinner, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


On a cold winter evening in Dobbs Ferry, New York, history teacher Paul Lohman, portrayed by Steve Coogan, and his wife Claire (Laura Linney), are joined for an exclusive dinner by Paul’s older brother Stan, played by Richard Gere, a Congressman, along with his wife Katelyn (Rebecca Hall). The upscale restaurant has been reserved solely for the four of them.

While Stan faces mounting pressure as a frontrunner in the gubernatorial race—with the responsibility of pushing an essential mental health bill through the House—tension brews among the group. As the dinner unfolds, structured around the various courses of their meal, they delve into a harrowing incident involving their teenage sons: Michael (Charlie Plummer) and Rick ([Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick]), who brutally harassed a homeless woman at an ATM, tragically resulting in her death after Michael threw a lit match that ignited her sleeping bag. A third boy, Beau ([Miles J. Harvey]), Stan’s adopted son with his ex-wife Barbara ([Chloë Sevigny]), was present but fled before the attack occurred and witnessed the unprovoked violence.

As the evening progresses, family dysfunction and past grievances surface through interwoven flashbacks, particularly highlighting Stan’s efforts to support Paul as he grapples with his own deepening depression. The atmosphere grows fraught as they debate whether the boys should face the consequences of their actions or if they should simply cover up their misdeeds.

Paul’s mental state deteriorates further following the revelation that Michael uploaded footage of the woman’s tragic death online. The estrangement intensifies when Michael refuses to remove the video, causing a rift between him and Paul. It becomes even more complicated when Paul discovers that Claire is secretly collaborating with Michael to distribute hush money to anyone who might find out about the incident. As tensions escalate, Paul reacts violently after Stan offers to care for Michael while Claire is hospitalized, accidentally striking Stan with a saucepan in a moment of anger.

During dinner, Stan expresses his intention to withdraw from the gubernatorial race and plans to report the ATM incident, insisting on taking Michael to the police. This leads to a heated confrontation: Stan adamantly seeks justice for the crime, while Claire and Katelyn prioritize the family’s reputation and their children’s futures. Paul, remaining silent, observes the discord unfold. Katelyn succeeds in persuading Stan to defer his decision to inform the authorities, escalating the discomfort around the table.

In his emotional turmoil, Paul leaves the restaurant, fixated on finding Beau, struggling with the irrational thought that eliminating Beau might resolve their problems. A violent clash ensues as Paul threatens Beau with a rock. Ultimately, he faces off against an infuriated Stan, who is also frantically searching for Beau, joined by Katelyn and Claire. Just as Katelyn attempts to reach Beau on the phone, news arrives indicating that the votes for the mental health bill are secured. The film concludes abruptly as Paul collapses in the snow, uttering a poignant, haunting plea: >“Mental health for everyone!” as his family gathers around him.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Dinner

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Dinner. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


The Dinner (2017) | Official Trailer HD

Cars Featured in The Dinner

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Explore all cars featured in The Dinner, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Audi

2013

A4 B8

BMW

2004

X5 E53

Cadillac

2007

Escalade ESV

Ford

1997

Econoline

Ford

1989

Taurus

Honda

2013

Civic

Hyundai

2004

Elantra

Kia

2011

Optima

Lincoln

2006

Town Car

Mercedes-Benz

2010

Sprinter W906

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


wealthfather son relationshipmother son relationshiphusband wife relationshiprestaurantpoliticianbrother brother relationshipteenage boysecurity cameraex high school teacherex history teacherviolenceuncle nephew relationshipaunt nephew relationshipfamily relationshipsscene during opening creditsfoodeatingplaying a video gamecousin cousin relationshipteenage girlkisspartyteenagerteen drinkingdrug userap musicbeerdrinkingdrinkpolicemanblack americanafrican americanreference to alexander the greatreference to cleopatrareference to julius caesarf wordamerican civil warvoice over narrationspoken inner thoughtsmirrorlooking at oneself in a mirrorapplying makeup20 year oldbaristacoffeereflection in a mirrorcell phonetelephonetelephone call

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