The Accountant

Movie review by Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media
The Accountant Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Heavy violence, language in tale of killer with autism.

R 2016 128 minutes
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Parents say

age 16+

Based on 8 reviews

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 21 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Accountant is an action movie about Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), a man with a high-functioning form of autism who uses his math skills for very powerful people -- and his fighting and killing skills when trouble arises. While his character shows that people with autism aren't lesser than others, he's also extremely violent, which makes him an iffy role model at best. Most of the violence is fairly over the top, with lots of fighting (punching, bashing, martial arts) and shooting (lots of blood and point-blank shots to the face). Kids are shown in tense, possibly dangerous situations. Language isn't constant but includes "f--k," "s--t," and more. The main character takes prescription medications.

Community Reviews

Steve W.
Steve W. Adult
December 27, 2021
age 18+

Finally, A Badass Hero on the Autism Spectrum. It's About Damn Time!

I will admit, I'm not a fan of the whole savant thing (most of us on the spectrum are not savants), but I still like the idea of someone with autism/Asperger's being portrayed as a badass hero who doesn't take crap from anyone. And to all the people complaining about the movie portraying an autistic person as violent, don't overthink or overanalyze stuff and just love the movie for what it is. Besides, his training as a kid and what he himself chooses to do as a person is why he's a hitman, not his diagnosis. A great man once said, "It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices." Ben Affleck nailed this role. It's definitely one of his better roles for sure. His one role in "Daredevil" had a similar concept (only in that movie he was blind instead of autistic), but this movie just does it better. The rest of the cast did really good, too. I also like the twist at the end when we find out who's been helping Chris with his missions. It was actually somewhat sweet and uplifting. Overall, a fairly good movie. Is it the best movie ever? No, of course not. But I love the movie's message and the Autism pride and empowerment it brings to us. Seriously, we need more movies like this. Maybe next time when they come out with another form of autistic or Asperger's hero, maybe try not to make them a savant. That's not necessarily an essential character trait.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
MovieMom128
MovieMom128 Adult
August 26, 2018
age 16+

An educational and entertaining portrayal of autism

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), who has a high-functioning form of autism, is a math whiz who works as a humble accountant. Occasionally, he takes side jobs smoothing out the books for shady corporations. He was raised in a military family, and his father made sure he was trained to fight and shoot so he could defend himself against those who might call him "different." When Wolff's 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 Wolff's true identity.

Is It Any Good?

The movie's main storyline of an accountant/hit man with autism is somewhat ordinary 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 terrific performers and great character actors; they all bite into these roles with juicy histories.

Wolff in particular comes with all kinds of props, routines, and traits that are endlessly fascinating. He requires a minimalist performance that Affleck handles well. After his many ups and downs in the movie business, the star finally looks like he's lived a life. But 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/hit men? How is The Accountant similar to or different from others in the genre?

Movie Details

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