In the gritty underworld, a ruthless hitman's quest to rescue a young trafficking victim unravels a sinister plot, forcing him to confront his troubled past and the darkness within. As the stakes escalate, he must use his deadly skills to protect the girl and bring down the corrupt forces holding her captive.
Does You Were Never Really Here have end credit scenes?
No!
You Were Never Really Here does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.
Explore the complete cast of You Were Never Really Here, 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.
Dante Pereira-Olson
Young Joe
Joaquin Phoenix
Joe
Alessandro Nivola
Judith Roberts
Joe's Mother
John Doman
John McCleary
Alex Manette
Senator Albert Votto
Edward Latham
Drug Dealer
Ekaterina Samsonov
Nina Votto
Frank Pando
Angel
Jason Babinsky
Larry Canady
Cincinatti Cab Driver
Madison Arnold
Neo Randall
Moises's Friend
Ryan Martin Brown
Vinicius Damasceno
Moises
Discover where to watch You Were Never Really Here online, including streaming platforms, rental options, and official sources. Compare reviews, ratings, and in-depth movie information across sites like Metacritic, Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb or TMDb.
See how You Were Never Really Here is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where You Were Never Really Here stands among top-rated movies in its genre.
84
Metascore
7.3
User Score
89%
TOMATOMETER
64%
User Score
6.7 /10
IMDb Rating
65
%
User Score
3.7
From 1K fan ratings
2.00/5
From 6 fan ratings
Challenge your knowledge of You Were Never Really Here 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.
What profession does Joe have?
Discover all the awards and nominations received by You Were Never Really Here, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how You Were Never Really Here and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.
Best Feature
Best Cinematography
Read the complete plot summary of You Were Never Really Here, 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.
The film begins with Joe, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, in a rundown motel. Joe is a skilled hired gun, specializing in recovering missing trafficked girls. After successfully completing a job, he meticulously cleans up his traces before leaving. Canvassing the streets, Joe finds himself in a confrontation with an assailant in an alley, but he skillfully defends himself and escapes. He soon locates a phone to inform his handler that the mission is accomplished.
Living in New York City with his frail mother, Judith Roberts, Joe is not only a tough operator but also a son grappling with deep emotional scars. A former FBI agent and Gulf War veteran, he suffers from PTSD, haunted by eerie flashbacks — such as the disturbing memory of a child he saw shot after Joe offered him a candy bar, traumatic scenes from an abandoned storage unit with lifeless bodies of trafficked girls, and bleak childhood recollections of evading his abusive, alcoholic father. In moments of despair, he contemplates taking his own life, often playing with a knife or standing on the precipice of train tracks.
In another grim turn, Joe visits a local bodega to collect his payment from Angel, a middleman handling communications between Joe and his handler. During their exchange, Joe expresses concern that Angel’s son Moises saw him returning home the previous night, hinting that the boy might be aware of Joe’s dangerous profession. Feeling uneasy about this, Joe decides to sever his ties with Angel.
Later, Joe meets with his handler John McCleary, who briefs him about a new assignment: he must locate the missing daughter of State Senator Albert Votto, whose daughter, Nina, has vanished. Votto wishes to avoid involving law enforcement, as he is collaborating with Governor Williams and offers a hefty sum of $50,000 for her safe return.
Upon meeting Votto, Joe learns the girl’s name and possible whereabouts, specifically noting a location notorious for sheltering trafficked girls. Votto urges Joe to punish those responsible once he retrieves his daughter. After scouring the area for supplies, Joe identifies the child trafficking hub that Nina is believed to be held captive in. The tension escalates as Joe confronts and intimidates a man for information on the number of guards present.
With steely determination, Joe infiltrates the house, eliminating any threats in his path until he finally locates Nina. He takes her to a motel, anticipating the arrival of her father, only to discover disturbing news on the television: Votto has apparently committed suicide. As chaos ensues, corrupt officers barge into the motel, seizing Nina from Joe. In a fierce struggle, Joe fights back and vanquishes one of the rogue cops.
Seeking assistance, Joe attempts to reach McCleary, only to learn that he has been killed, along with Angel and Moises. Returning home, Joe is met with the tragic sight of his mother, now lifeless in her bed. The perpetrators—still lurking—are confronted as Joe fights for survival, ultimately overpowering them. As one unfortunate assailant clings to life, Joe demands answers regarding his mother’s death and Votto’s suicide. The hitman reveals a shocking truth: Votto was part of a larger conspiracy with Governor Williams, who had vested interests in Nina.
In a moment of profound grief, Joe buries his mother by a lake, momentarily overwhelmed by sorrow, he attempts to drown himself. However, a vision of Nina jolts him back to reality, reigniting his resolve to finish what he started. As the narrative unfolds, Joe pieces together the sinister plot—realizing that Votto had sold Nina to Williams to gain favor, a decision that drove him to despair and ultimately to self-destruction.
With newfound clarity, Joe tracks Williams throughout the city, only to discover his ultimate location—at home, met with shocking circumstances as he finds the decorated official dead, a victim of throat slitting. Amidst the eerie stillness, Joe uncovers Nina in the dining room, smeared in blood, holding a razor.
Joe then takes Nina to a diner to share a meal together. While she heads to the bathroom, an unexpected turn occurs when Joe shoots himself in his despair, unnoticed by the world around him. Yet, as Nina returns, reality shifts; the scene reveals that it was merely a fantasy, as Joe remains in a clouded state of exhaustion. She gently suggests a stroll, claiming it’s a beautiful day, and with that, they fade away from view as the camera lingers on their now-abandoned booth.
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