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Accidents Happen

Accidents Happen

Comedy · Drama · 2009

There are dysfunctional families... and then there are the Conways. After a family tragedy, 15-year-old Billy Conway has become the de facto glue between his bitter mom, distant brother, and stoic dad. But when Billy starts to act out, everything changes for him and his family

Movie details

Accidents Happen

“Meet the world's unluckiest family”

2009 Comedy · Drama 1h 32m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.9 / 10

Community rating

There are dysfunctional families... and then there are the Conways. After a family tragedy, 15-year-old Billy Conway has become the de facto glue between his bitter mom, distant brother, and stoic dad. But when Billy starts to act out, everything changes for him and his family

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Accidents Happen?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Andrew Lancaster

Written by

Brian Carbee

Geena Davis

Geena Davis

Gloria Conway

Harrison Gilbertson

Harrison Gilbertson

Billy Conway

Harry Cook

Harry Cook

Larry Conway

Joel Tobeck

Joel Tobeck

Ray Conway

Sebastian Gregory

Sebastian Gregory

Doug Post

S

Sarah Woods

Dottie Post

Morgan Griffin

Morgan Griffin

Katrina Post

Court is in session

Put Accidents Happen on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.