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The Kindness of Strangers (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Kindness of Strangers (2020) movie poster

The Kindness of Strangers is a 2020 drama directed by Lone Scherfig, starring Zoe Kazan as Clara, Andrea Riseborough and Jay Baruchel. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes and earned $129,603 worldwide. Critics gave it 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
29%
worldwide gross
$129.6K
Echo Score
54
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The Kindness of Strangers (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 52m (112 min)
Director
Lone Scherfig
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Kindness of Strangers About?

The premise of The Kindness of Strangers without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Amidst the vibrant energy of New York City, the lives of five individuals unexpectedly converge. Clara, escaping a difficult situation with her children, finds temporary comfort alongside Alice, a woman overwhelmed by work and nearing burnout. Mark, facing a false accusation, is represented by his dedicated lawyer, John Peter. Meanwhile, Jeff searches for meaning and direction in his life. Their paths intertwine in a touching story about resilience and the unexpected kindness of strangers.

The Kindness of Strangers Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • russian restaurant
  • manhattan new york city
  • policeman
  • soup kitchen
  • support group
  • homelessness
  • winter
  • nurse
  • lawyer
  • restaurateur
  • abusive husband
  • release from prison
+38 more
  • fired from a job
  • waiter
  • church
  • short haired female
  • triple f rated
  • ensemble cast
  • written and directed by female
  • husband wife relationship
  • buffalo new york
  • father in law daughter in law relationship
  • reference to torture porn
  • father son relationship
  • stealing food
  • clueless adult
  • prostitute
  • new york public library
  • shoplifting
  • car towed
  • sleeping in car
  • hypothermia
  • listening to music
  • sadist
  • attorney
  • filing for a divorce
  • son beats father
  • lap dog
  • double bass balalaika
  • forgiveness
  • homeless mother
  • sleeping rough
  • four word title
  • abusive cop
  • champagne
  • wife on the run from husband
  • cigarette smoking
  • beaten with a telephone
  • passionate kiss
  • head chef
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Cast & crew

The Kindness of Strangers Cast & Characters

Zoe Kazan leads the cast as Clara, with Andrea Riseborough as Alice and Jay Baruchel as John Peter. Directed by Lone Scherfig; 17 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Lone Scherfig

More films directed by Lone Scherfig, best-rated first: An Education, Italian for Beginners, Their Finest and Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Kindness of Strangers Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Kindness of Strangers 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 32 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 54/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).

54 /100

The Kindness of Strangers Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Kindness of Strangers delivers a mixed cinematic experience that oscillates between heartfelt intention and uneven execution. The film draws praise for its atmospheric visuals and empathetic performances, yet critics frequently highlight thin character development, inconsistent pacing, and overt sentimentalism. While users appreciated the emotional warmth and its depiction of communal solidarity, the narrative cohesion and tonal balance ultimately limit its broader appeal. The net impression is a well-meaning drama whose strengths are undercut by structural and stylistic inconsistencies.

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 art & craft, The Kindness of Strangers displays uneven technical achievements. Some viewers praised its well-crafted visual compositions and atmospheric city scenes, while several critics found the direction synthetic and the dialogue repetitive. The editing is serviceable but the production design struggles to balance whimsy with realism. Overall, the film’s craft feels inconsistent.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    In terms of character & emotion, the ensemble features moments of genuine empathy but often lacks sufficient development. Bill Nighy and other performers bring charisma, and some portrayals convey authentic warmth. However, critics note thin backstories and cartoonish elements that undercut emotional depth. Ultimately, the characters evoke intermittent resonance rather than sustained investment.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Concerning story & flow, the narrative interweaves multiple lives with an earnest message but suffers from coherence issues. While users found the interlocking tales touching and the pacing engaging in parts, reviews highlight a heavy-handed sentimentality and abrupt plot transitions. As a result, the storyline delivers occasional warmth but often feels uneven and unfocused.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    Regarding sensory experience, the film’s visual style and soundtrack evoke a moody, urban atmosphere. Several viewers complimented the atmospheric cinematography and nuanced score that underscore cold winter scenes, and production design captures communal spaces effectively. Critics, however, found the overall presentation overly sentimental. In sum, the sensory elements are appealing but occasionally lack subtlety.

  • Rewatch Factor 40

    As for rewatch factor, the film’s heartfelt moments and performances offer modest appeal for subsequent viewings. Some audience members revisit the emotional arcs and character interactions with pleasure, yet the uneven plotting and pronounced sentimentality lessen its lasting impact. Therefore, while certain scenes may hold appeal, the overall replay value is limited.

Plot

The Kindness of Strangers Plot Summary

What happens in The Kindness of Strangers from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Clara Scott, a determined mother living in Buffalo, New York, is trying to create a better life for her two sons, Anthony and Jude. After enduring a perilous and abusive relationship with her husband, Richard, who is a police officer, Clara decides to escape to New York City under the pretense of a “vacation.”

Full summary

The whole story of The Kindness of Strangers, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Kindness of Strangers Box Office

The Kindness of Strangers grossed $129,603 worldwide. $2,705 came from the US and Canada and $126,898 (98%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$129.6K

US & Canada
$2.7K
International
$126.9K
US & Canada 2% Rest of the world 98%
Videos

The Kindness of Strangers Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip Official Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Kindness of Strangers?

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 city does Clara and her sons flee from?

Cars

Cars in The Kindness of Strangers

25 cars on screen, including the Ford Focus and the Chevrolet Express.

All 25 cars
  • Ford Focus in The Kindness of Strangers Ford Focus Important role
  • Chevrolet Express in The Kindness of Strangers Chevrolet Express Minor role
  • Ford Crown Victoria in The Kindness of Strangers Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2005 Ford Crown Victoria in The Kindness of Strangers 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
Details

The Kindness of Strangers Also Known As

23 alternative titles, including “Доброта от непознати” and “Uprzejmosc nieznajomych”.

Also known as
  • Доброта от непознати
  • Uprzejmosc nieznajomych
  • La Bienveillance des Inconnus
  • Тайни от руската чайна
  • Un hiver à New York
  • Реальная любовь в Нью-Йорке
  • La amabilidad de los extraños
  • Um Inverno em Nova York
  • Uprzejmość nieznajomych
  • 陌生人的善意
  • Histórias que Fazem o Coração Crescer
  • Η Καλοσύνη των Ξένων
+11 more
  • Љубазност странаца
  • 紐約茶館
  • The Kindness of Strangers: Kleine Wunder unter Fremden
  • האדיבות של זרים
  • Un invierno en Nueva York
  • 타인의 친절
  • Voglia di gentilezza, უცხოთა სიკეთე
  • Yabancıların Nezaketi
  • Prijaznost neznancev
  • كرم الغرباء
  • Průvodce přežití v New Yorku

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FAQ

The Kindness of Strangers FAQ: Cast & Box Office

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

How long is The Kindness of Strangers?

The Kindness of Strangers runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).

When was The Kindness of Strangers released?

The Kindness of Strangers was released on February 14, 2020.

Who directed The Kindness of Strangers?

The Kindness of Strangers was directed by Lone Scherfig.

More films by Lone Scherfig

Who is in the cast of The Kindness of Strangers?

The Kindness of Strangers stars Zoe Kazan as Clara, Andrea Riseborough as Alice and Jay Baruchel as John Peter, among 17 credited actors.

How much did The Kindness of Strangers make at the box office?

The Kindness of Strangers grossed $129,603 worldwide ($2,705 domestic, $126,898 international).

How is The Kindness of Strangers rated?

The Kindness of Strangers has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, 32 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.

Does The Kindness of Strangers have a post-credit scene?

No. The Kindness of Strangers has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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