Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heavy violence, language in tale of killer with autism.
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Why Age 16+?
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The Accountant
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is less violent than anticipated, with gun violence present but minimal gore and no sexual content, making it suitable for older teens. Although it features strong language and complex themes, many viewers appreciated the unique storyline and strong performances, particularly praising the portrayal of autism.
- less violent
- strong performances
- unique storyline
- suitable for teens
- complex themes
- minimal gore
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is THE ACCOUNTANT, an autistic math whiz who works a humble job. But, occasionally, he takes side jobs smoothing out the books for shady corporations. He was raised in a military family, and his father made sure that he and his brother, Brax (Jon Bernthal), were trained to fight and shoot so they could meet bigotry with violence—and have the upper hand. When Chris' latest job puts the life of a mid-level employee (Anna Kendrick) in danger, he springs into action. Meanwhile, the head of the Treasury Department (J.K. Simmons) has recruited a new agent (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) to discover Chris' true identity.
Is It Any Good?
The movie's main storyline of an accountant/assassin with autism is gimmicky and predictable, but its fabric is made up of enough good scenes and characters to make it worthwhile. Working from a screenplay by Bill Dubuque (The Judge), director Gavin O'Connor builds worlds for all of his characters to inhabit. It's not a coincidence that the cast includes strong performers and great character actors; they all bite into these roles with juicy histories.
Though any autistic character feels off when played by a neurotypical actor, Affleck delivers a minimalist performance that's a far cry from older, more offensive portrayals of neurodiversity. The Accountant doesn't short any of the other characters, either; they each get several moments to come alive. It's too bad the overall plot couldn't have come up with something a tad fresher, but at least it gets the job done.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Accountant's violence. How intense is it? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How does the movie portray autism? How does that compare to the way you've seen it portrayed in other movies and TV shows? What message does that send?
Are there consequences for the main character's many killings? Why does that matter?
What's the appeal of movies about professional killers/assassins? How is The Accountant similar to or different from others in the genre?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 14, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : January 10, 2017
- Cast : Ben Affleck , Anna Kendrick , J.K. Simmons
- Director : Gavin O'Connor
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 128 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence and language throughout
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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