---
title: "The Order"
year: 2024
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-order"
fi1m_id: "the-order"
imdb_id: "tt26625693"
tmdb_id: 1082195
wikidata_id: "Q118287624"
fi1m_score: 75
critics_score: 75
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:57.278037+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Order (2024)

Directed by Justin Kurzel · 1h 56m · MPA R · Crime, Drama, Thriller

## Identity

The Order

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-order
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-order
- **IMDb ID:** tt26625693
- **TMDB ID:** 1082195
- **Wikidata ID:** Q118287624
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26625693/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1082195, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q118287624

**Fi1m score: 75** · Critics 75 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* Jude Law’s nose bleeds for two hours and it is still not the most alarming thing on screen

> Justin Kurzel’s account of the 1983 hunt for a white-supremacist gang in the Pacific Northwest is a lean, well-made procedural with a frightening Nicholas Hoult at its centre. Jude Law’s agent is a type we have met many times, and the film knows it.

## Synopsis

Idaho and Washington State, 1983. Terry Husk (Jude Law), an FBI agent with years of Klan and Mob work behind him and a family he no longer lives with, takes a post in a small town in the Pacific Northwest hoping for quiet. A run of bank robberies and a body in the woods suggest otherwise. Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), a local deputy, has been watching the nearby Aryan Nations compound and believes a splinter group has formed under Robert Jay Mathews (Nicholas Hoult), a soft-spoken young man with a wife, a son and a plan taken from a novel. Husk starts connecting the robberies. Justin Kurzel directs from Zach Baylin’s screenplay; Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Alison Oliver co-star.

## Review

*The Order* is a manhunt film, and Justin Kurzel has made it plainly. In 1983, in the Pacific Northwest, a handful of men broke away from the Aryan Nations compound at Hayden Lake and began robbing banks to fund a war on the American government. Zach Baylin’s screenplay follows them, and the FBI agent who slowly works out that a run of robberies is one organisation. Kurzel has spent his career on men who do terrible things, in *Snowtown* and *Nitram*, and this is the most conventional film he has made, and a good one. We were held for all of its 116 minutes.

Nicholas Hoult plays Robert Jay Mathews, the man who leads them, and he is the reason the film frightens. Hoult barely raises his voice. He talks to his followers in the tone of a man explaining a mortgage, he is patient with Richard Butler (Victor Slezak), the old preacher who counsels patience, and he means every word. We were horrified, and what horrified us was how reasonable he sounded; we kept following his sentences for a beat before hearing what was in them. Rachel Dainer-Best puts him in work shirts and a quilted waistcoat, and Kurzel gives him a wife (Alison Oliver), a small son and a kitchen table. We see him at breakfast as often as we see him with a gun.

Jude Law’s Terry Husk is the other half, and he is a man we have met in a great many films. Husk is an FBI man with years on the Klan and the Mob behind him; he drinks, his wife and daughters no longer live with him, and he gets nosebleeds when he is under strain. Law knows the type and plays him without apology: heavier than we are used to seeing him, slow to speak, and prickly about being helped. His best scenes are with Tye Sheridan’s Jamie Bowen, a local deputy who has been watching the compound on his own time. Sheridan is open where Law is shut, and the film is at its warmest when the two of them are in a car.

Adam Arkapaw shoots Idaho and Washington in wide, level frames: pine hills, long roads with nothing on them, a grey sky that never quite rains. The men in it look small and the mountains look permanent. Karen Murphy’s production design gives the compound peeling white paint and folding chairs, so that it looks like a church hall, and gives Husk a rented house with nothing in the fridge. Jed Kurzel’s score is mostly low strings and a held drone, and it does its best work by stopping. Nick Fenton cuts the robberies fast but legibly. We always know where the door is, which is what makes them frightening.

What does not work is mostly what the genre brings with it. Baylin’s plot knows exactly where it is going and does not stop for anyone who is not carrying a gun. The women are there to tell us about the men. Jurnee Smollett-Bell comes in as Joanne Carney, an FBI agent sent to help; the film treats her as a colleague and then gives her little to do beyond stand beside Husk in briefings. Odessa Young’s Zillah Craig, a woman in the group with her own claim on Mathews, gets one good scene and is then set down.

The Times found it leaden, and it is true that most of it we have seen before. But all of it has been built with care, and the film makes its case about what these men were mostly by showing them. Kurzel rarely points at the present, and the film is better for the restraint; these people are on screen, in daylight, being polite, and that is argument enough. Mathews and his crew take their plan from a novel, *The Turner Diaries*, and Kurzel shows them reading it like scripture and working through its chapters.

See it if you like your crime films spare and your villains quiet. And watch Hoult. If you catch yourself nodding along to him for half a sentence, that is the film working.

*Fi1m score 75, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like The Order, and they like it for the same reasons. The praise clusters around the two leads: Jude Law’s rumpled, world-weary FBI agent draws mention in nearly every review, and Nicholas Hoult’s charismatic, unsettling kingpin is close behind. Kurzel’s direction is the other constant, credited with a grimy, near-documentary feel and with chases and shootouts that keep the film taut.

The reservations are about familiarity. Several reviews find it hits well-worn cop-thriller beats and prefers squealing tyres to deeper thought about extremism, and The Guardian notes underdeveloped female characters. The Playlist finds the ending a disjointed whimper that undoes some of the tension. IndieWire faults Kurzel for returning yet again to the male criminal psyche. The spread is fairly narrow, most reviews landing between good and very good; the one clear dissenter is The Times, which finds the formula leaden and the clichés too many, though even there Law’s performance is spared.

## Straight answers

**Is The Order worth watching?**

*The Order* is worth watching for anyone who likes a spare, well-made crime procedural, and we scored it 75. Nicholas Hoult's quiet, reasonable-sounding white supremacist is the reason to see it; Jude Law's damaged FBI agent is a type you have met before, and the women are given too little to do.

**How long is The Order, and what is it rated?**

*The Order* runs 1h 56m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a crime and drama film.

**Where can I watch The Order in the US?**

*The Order* is streaming on Hulu and Disney+ in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Order, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Order* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children. The bank robberies are cut fast but clearly, and there is a body in the woods early on, but the frightening part is Nicholas Hoult's Mathews talking calmly about a war on the American government. Teenagers who can take that will be fine; the squeamish will not find it gory.

**How does The Order compare to Zodiac?**

*The Order* is the leaner and more conventional of the two; [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac) is the richer film, though it asks more patience over a longer running time. Both are manhunts built from paperwork and grey light, but Kurzel keeps his to under two hours and gives it a more frightening villain in Hoult. Choose *Zodiac* if you want to sit with an investigation; choose *The Order* if you want it to move.

**What should I watch after The Order?**

After *The Order*, try [*Zodiac*](https://film.one/film/zodiac) (2007, Fi1m 91): Another manhunt built from paperwork and patience, with the same grey light. Then [*Memories of Murder*](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder) (2003, Fi1m 91): Bong Joon-ho’s rural detectives chase a killer through mud and their own incompetence.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Los Angeles Times**, Joshua Rothkopf (85/100, inferred): The fact-based story is told with chilling clarity and pared-down tension as a near-metaphysical showdown between taciturn men. Kurzel finds a magnifying glass for his gifts in this timely, unblinking portrait of hate. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-12-06/the-order-review-nicholas-hoult-jude-law-justin-kurzel)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (Critics Pick): The film is a riveting and explosive docudrama that is supremely intelligent about the rise of the white-supremacist movement and a gripping crime story. It is rigorously authentic and suspenseful while showing how white supremacy can be two sides of the same coin. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/the-order-review-jude-law-nicholas-hoult-venice-film-festival-1236125318/)
- **Empire**, Laura Venning (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as a tense, grown-up thriller with strong lead performances from Nicholas Hoult and Jude Law as matched adversaries. It highlights the gripping script and Kurzel's visceral direction in bleak landscapes without lecturing on its timely subject matter. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-order/)
- **Little White Lies**, Rafa Sales Ross (1/4/3): The critic finds it a competently realised old-school policier and captivating cat-and-mouse chronicle of 1980s white supremacist ideology, powered by strong lead performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. They single out the director's tamer approach here, which prioritises ethical questionings over the violent minutiae seen in his earlier work. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-order)
- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (4/5): The critic deems it a hugely satisfying crime drama with a grimy, near-documentary feel that follows high-quality police procedural conventions. They single out the two stellar central performances, with Jude Law at the top of his game as the cynical fed and Nicholas Hoult unsettling and charismatic as the white-power kingpin. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ru5x0x/the-order/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Robert Daniels (80/100, inferred): The film is a bracing investigative thriller that holds a strict tone and pacing to slowly unravel the viewer. It focuses on the real and present danger of the white supremacist group through strong performances, especially by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-order-jude-law-film-review)
- **Screen Daily** (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the real-life crime-thriller lean and efficient, with a level of craft that keeps proceedings reliably taut, especially in chase sequences and shootouts. They single out Jude Law's impressive work as the lead lawman pursuing the dangerous white supremacist group. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-order-venice-review/5196722.article)
- **The New York Times**, Ben Kenigsberg (60/100, inferred): The thriller hits familiar genre beats as a grim, involving cop story about an FBI agent pursuing a white supremacist group and real-life crimes. It is more effective as a cop thriller than as a statement on contemporary reverberations. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/movies/the-order-review.html)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (3/5): The critic calls it a brooding, muscular FBI procedural that occasionally explodes into action but ultimately opts for squealing tyres and shootouts over deeper exploration. They single out Jude Law's rumpled, lived-in performance as the dogged federal agent for particular praise. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-order-review-2024)
- **IndieWire**, Ryan Lattanzio: The review faults Kurzel for repeating his focus on the male criminal psyche and urges him to explore new topics. It acknowledges skillful filmmaking and a strong Jude Law performance but finds the material overly familiar. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-order-review-justin-kurzel-1235042526/)
- **Slant Magazine**, Marshall Shaffer: The review describes a sturdy crime thriller that confronts white nationalist terror through parallel stories of lawman and fanatic. It singles out the fervent fanaticism of the villains and Hoult's magnetic performance while noting it lacks the punch of Kurzel's earlier work. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-order-review-jude-law-nicholas-hoult/)
- **The Guardian**: The film is a brisk, compelling true-crime detective thriller about the 1980s hunt for a neo-Nazi militia, with strong performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult and propulsive action sequences. It affirms Kurzel as a formidable auteur of dark material but has some fuzzier patches and underdeveloped female characters. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/31/the-order-review-jude-law-leads-neo-nazi-hunting-thriller-with-confident-authority)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Jordan Mintzer: The critic calls it a gripping, superbly made historical thriller and a tense reflection on American violence that Hollywood rarely produces. Kurzel's intense, verisimilar direction of violence and Law's world-weary lead performance stand out. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-order-review-jude-law-justin-kurzel-1235988678/)
- **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★☆☆☆): Even a sympathetic Jude Law performance and propulsive robbery sequences cannot overcome the leaden formula and cop-movie clichés in this true-life tale of far-right extremism. Kurzel falls victim to easy stereotypes here. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-order-review-even-jude-law-cant-save-this-cliched-tale-of-extremism-5cccdk0xg)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri: The critic deems it an absorbing, beautifully shot and impressively acted crime thriller, unforgettable and disturbing. Law and Hoult's contrasting performances as pursuer and prey create a gripping, discomfiting duality like Heat with white supremacists. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-jude-law-hunts-neo-nazis-in-the-order.html)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (8/10): The film is a solid, haunting crime drama that hits too close to home with its portrayal of domestic terrorism. Kurzel delivers a Mann-esque thriller with standout performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult. [Read](https://collider.com/the-order-2024-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Marko Stojiljkovic (70/100, inferred): Though not a masterpiece and somewhat unoriginal in plot and characters, the film is very effective procedural thriller fun thanks to an airtight script, strong casting, and Kurzel's methodical direction and set pieces. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-order-2024-film-review-by-marko-stojiljkovic)
- **The Playlist**, Gregory Ellwood (C+): The stylish thriller compellingly depicts forgotten true events with fine performances and riveting action, but ends with a disjointed whimper that undermines the preceding tension and emotional impact. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/the-order-review-jude-law-nicholas-hoult-a-white-nationalism-history-lesson-venice-20240831/)
- **Deadline**, Stephanie Bunbury: The critic calls the film a brilliantly-shot sweeping slice of political Americana and praises Jude Law's nuanced, fully human performance as the grizzled FBI agent. They single out the urgent, brilliantly composed action sequences for particular praise. [Read](https://deadline.com/2024/08/the-order-review-justin-kurzel-jude-law-venice-film-festival-1236074907/)
- **Film Stories**, Ryan Lambie: Kurzel's direction is electrifying in this procedural thriller and unsettling drama about extremism, with impeccably constructed pacing and strong performances from Law as a jaded FBI agent and Hoult as a charismatic antagonist. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/news/the-order-review-intense-jude-law-and-nicholas-hoult-thriller-shouldnt-be-missed/)
- **Paste**, Jason Gorber (8.3): The taut thriller finds chilling reflections of the present in past extremists, with great performances and a focused script. Kurzel's most mature work exposes the insidiousness of hate groups through truthful, compelling storytelling. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/justin-kurzel/the-order-review)
- **The Wrap**: The critic hails Kurzel’s most accomplished work to date for offsetting broody fatalism against natural splendor and creating a haunting, unique mood. They single out Jude Law’s dominating, paunchy performance as the washed-up FBI agent for particular praise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-order-review-jude-law-neo-nazi-drama/)

## Details

- **Director:** Justin Kurzel
- **Director:** Justin Kurzel
- **Screenplay:** Zach Baylin
- **Cinematography:** Adam Arkapaw
- **Editor:** Nick Fenton
- **Music:** Jed Kurzel
- **Production design:** Karen Murphy
- **Costume design:** Rachel Dainer-Best
- **Producer:** Jude Law, Bryan Haas, Justin Kurzel
- **Cast:** Jude Law as Terry Husk; Nicholas Hoult as Robert Jay Mathews; Tye Sheridan as Jamie Bowen; Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Joanne Carney; Alison Oliver as Debbie Mathews; Odessa Young as Zillah Craig; Sebastian Pigott as Bruce Pierce; George Tchortov as Gary Yarborough/Talk Show Caller
- **Runtime:** 1h 56m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 6 December 2024
- **Genres:** Crime, Drama, Thriller
- **Budget:** $20 million
- **Box office:** $2 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPZaOB4ea-0

## Where to watch in the US

- Hulu: streaming, hd
- Disney+: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $5.00, hd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Snowtown* (2011): Kurzel’s first film, and the one where his interest in ordinary monsters began
- *Betrayed* (1988): Debra Winger goes undercover among American white supremacists; Costa-Gavras keeps it uncomfortable
- *Zodiac* (2007), Fi1m 91: Another manhunt built from paperwork and patience, with the same grey light — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/zodiac.md)
- *Memories of Murder* (2003), Fi1m 91: Bong Joon-ho’s rural detectives chase a killer through mud and their own incompetence — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/memories-of-murder.md)
- *Red Riding* (2009): Yorkshire police corruption across three films; dour, well acted, and hard to shake

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-order