Prime Video’s twisty crime thriller Play Dirty delivers “exactly what you want” – here’s what the critics said

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Play Dirty, the latest film by Shane Black – the director behind Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, and Iron Man 3 – is now available on Prime Video. This is his first movie since 2018’s The Predator, which received very different reactions from audiences. The question now is: does this new film represent a comeback, or will it also be a film that people disagree about?

The movie centers around an experienced thief who is double-crossed by his crew mid-robbery, before he could even enact his own betrayal of them. Driven by a thirst for revenge, he becomes entangled in a plot to overthrow a ruthless dictator.

I’m so excited about the cast for this! It’s got Mark Wahlberg, who’s always great, and I’m a big fan of LaKeith Stanfield. Plus, Rosa Salazar is amazing, and it’s cool to see Tony Shalhoub, Keegan-Michael Key, and Thomas Jane all in one movie!

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As noted above, the film is available to stream now. But is it worth it?

Critics are divided on whether the film is good. Currently, its Rotten Tomatoes score shows a near 50/50 split, with 53% of the 19 reviews collected being positive.

Let’s see what some of them have said.

Flicks

Okay, so Play Dirty has got this awesome energy – it’s got guts, attitude, and just feels really raw. Honestly, it’s pretty much exactly what I expect from a Shane Black film. Black… [He] can definitely direct action well, but what *really* makes his movies stand out is the writing. Play Dirty feels right at home as a heist movie, but it throws in these moments that totally grab your attention – it’s like a bucket of cold water to the face, you know?

Comic Book Resources

The actors’ performances and how well they interacted with each other were definitely the highlights of the film, although not every character was equally engaging. The movie is particularly strong when it concentrates on the heist itself. Combined with a great musical score by Alan Silvestri, these moments are when the film really comes alive, despite some of the intended shocking twists feeling predictable.

Variety

The idea that everything happens at Christmas is a well-worn cliché, but just when you think Play Dirty is losing steam, it throws in enough action to keep things exciting. The film occasionally feels like a forgettable Ocean’s spin-off mixed with National Treasure, but it has a surprisingly ruthless and mean-spirited edge.

Blu-ray.com

Play Dirty largely delivers what fans of Black have come to expect: talkative characters, strong language, plenty of action, and a complicated plot centered around the criminal world. While not a triumphant return for the director, it feels like a straightforward and uncomplicated project. However, at 125 minutes long, the film’s constant attempts at being charming become tiresome, and Black’s choices regarding actors and filmmaking techniques aren’t particularly impressive.

This week, Prime Video didn’t just add one film-several new titles are now available. You can find Interstellar, No Country for Old Men, and The Terminator, all of which are excellent movies.

There’s also Mission Alarum, which is very not good (see above).

Play Dirty is available to stream on Prime Video now.

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2025-10-02 02:19