Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
81%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Luther: The Fallen Sun is a film that has left critics divided, much like the titular character’s moral compass. While some praise Idris Elba’s performance and the continuation of Luther’s dark and gritty tone, others criticize the convoluted plot and lack of evolution from the TV series. However, one thing is certain: Andy Serkis’ hairpiece is a crime against humanity. All in all, Luther fans will find something to enjoy in this feature-length chapter, but newcomers may want to start with the original series to fully appreciate the character’s journey.
Luther: The Fallen Sun is like a rollercoaster ride that you can’t get off of, even if you wanted to. Idris Elba and Andy Serkis are a dynamic duo that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot may be a bit convoluted, but who cares when you have Luther kicking butt and taking names? This movie is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed. Just make sure to bring a barf bag for all the twists and turns.
Production Company(ies)
BBC Film, Chernin Entertainment, Green Door Pictures, Netflix
Distributor
Netflix
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Netflix), Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
London, England, United Kingdom; London M25 Loop, England, United Kingdom; Brussels, Belgium
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Atmos, Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 8m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States, United Kingdom
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 24, 2023 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 10, 2023
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, Cynthia Erivo, Dermot Crowley, Lauryn Ajufo, Andy Apollo, directed by Jamie Payne, written by Neil Cross, crime, drama, mystery, thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Claudia Puig, Wenlei Ma, Robbie Collin, Noel Murray, John Anderson, Leslie Felperin, Aaron Neuwirth, Adrián Monserrat, Graeme Tuckett, MontiLee Stormer, John Lui, Tony Black, R rating, Netflix, Peter Chernin, Neil Cross, Idris Elba, David Ready, Jenno Topping, Dolby Digital, London, serial killer, detective, prison, cyber psychopath, violence, disturbing content, sexual material, language, Idris Elba as John Luther, Andy Serkis as David Robey, Cynthia Erivo as Odette Raine, Dermot Crowley as Martin Schenk, Lauryn Ajufo as Anya Raine, Jamie Payne as director, Neil Cross as writer, Peter Chernin as producer, Neil Cross as producer, Idris Elba as producer, David Ready as producer, Jenno Topping as producer
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $15,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $15,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,484
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,077,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Andy Serkis – David Robey
Cynthia Erivo – Odette Raine
Dermot Crowley – Martin Schenk
Lauryn Ajufo – Anya Raine
Andy Apollo – Barman
Director – Jamie Payne
Producers – Peter Chernin, Neil Cross, Idris Elba, David Ready, Jenno Topping
Writer – Neil Cross
Director(s)
Jamie Payne
Writer(s)
Neil Cross
Producer(s)
Peter Chernin, Neil Cross, Idris Elba, David Ready, Jenno Topping
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (90) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (61) | Rotten (29)
Idris Elba and Andy Serkis are at the top of their game.
March 21, 2023
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
A feature-length Luther chapter that is larger in scale than a regular episode but with the same darkness coursing through its veins.
March 19, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Wenlei Ma
News.com.au
TOP CRITIC
Cross’s plot doesn’t so much thicken as coagulate into nonsense.
March 11, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Robbie Collin
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
“Fallen Sun” is best described as a movie-size version of a “Luther” season — which, for longtime fans, is better than no “Luther” at all.
March 10, 2023
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Mr. Elba is as charismatic as ever, and an unlikely heartthrob for homicidal maniacs.
March 9, 2023
John Anderson
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
Idris Elba’s grizzled, determined detective has been repotted in a standalone film. But the formula is limp and underwatered, like the weird haystack of fake hair they’ve pinned on to Serkis’s head to make him look sinister.
March 9, 2023 | Rating: 2/5
Leslie Felperin
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Elba brings precisely the sort of screen energy that made him appear too big for TV to begin with by continuing to play up Luther’s ability to use his wits to great effect, let alone handle himself in action.
March 22, 2023 | Rating: 7/10
Aaron Neuwirth
We Live Entertainment
The movie doesn’t evolve at any given moment and results in a commercial product decorated by the phrase: inspired by the TV series. [Full review in Spanish]
March 20, 2023 | Rating: 5/10
Adrián Monserrat
EscribiendoCine
I can watch and re-watch the first three series of Luther endlessly, but Fallen Sun is a fine reminder of why I stopped.
March 20, 2023
Graeme Tuckett
Stuff.co.nz
Luther: Fallen Sun is very gritty and definitely a Bad Things Happen in The Big City kind of movie. Lots of screaming, torture, shooting, and fighting, so if you don’t have the stomach for it, maybe hang back and catch a Murder She Wrote rerun.
March 18, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
MontiLee Stormer
MovieReelist.com
An arc fit for a Luther series has been compressed into a movie, but the story and characters have kept their flavour. Most importantly, Luther once more offers his pain for the salvation of others.
March 15, 2023 | Rating: 4/5
John Lui
The Straits Times (Singapore)
With room for growth as a series, Luther: The Fallen Sun is a rewarding, exciting and brutal first foray for John Luther on a big canvas.
March 13, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Tony Black
Film Obsessive…
Plot
on of the TV show Luther, where the brilliant but disgraced detective John Luther breaks out of prison to catch a gruesome serial killer terrorizing London.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels lists a goof in Luther: The Fallen Sun where there is no ferry route between Norway and the UK, despite a scene in the film suggesting otherwise.
Jamie-Payne.jpg
