Kaglines: Some things never let us go.
The Little Things Movie Storyline. One night in 1990, a girl drives on a highway, stalked by a motorist. After stopping at an abandoned gas station, she catches the attention of a passing truck driver and escapes her pursuer. Some time later in Bakersfield, Kern County deputy sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon is called to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to collect evidence pertaining to a recent murder. Deacon, a former L.A. Sheriff’s detective, accompanies recently appointed lead detective Jimmy Baxter to the scene of a new murder in L.A. Deacon notices similarities between the M.O. of the killing and the M.O. of an old serial murder case he was unable to solve.
That night, a woman named Ronda Rathbun is followed by a car while jogging and is reported missing the following morning. Baxter learns from the precinct’s captain Farris that Deacon got divorced and suffered a heart attack due to his obsession with the unsolved case. Baxter is advised not to involve Deacon any further, but Deacon takes vacation leave to assist in solving Baxter’s case.
The next night, the police discover the body of another victim washed up beneath a bridge. Baxter learns the M.O. is consistent with that of the earlier murder and others: the victims were all sex workers who were stabbed to death. Deacon begins investigating Albert Sparma, a suspect working at a repair store in proximity to the murders. Deacon tails Sparma but is thwarted, so he takes Sparma in for questioning.
While under interrogation, Sparma taunts the detectives and is released after provoking Deacon into an angry outburst. The young woman pursued in the desert is interviewed, but sees Sparma in handcuffs at the police station which effectively compromises her eligibility as an objective witness for identifying him as a suspect.
The FBI is called in to take charge of the investigation within the week, giving Deacon and Baxter less time to resolve it. Farris informs Baxter that eight years prior, Sparma confessed to a murder which he couldn’t possibly have committed and is thus an unlikely suspect. Sparma’s fingerprint is similar to the killer’s but not a definitive match. Baxter and Deacon go to Sparma’s apartment and conduct an illegal search, but find nothing incriminating. As Deacon searches the apartment, his portable police scanner goes off and he narrowly escapes from Sparma’s home after Sparma calls in an “officer down” report at that address. Police arrive and Deacon escapes while Baxter sees Sparma watching the ordeal.
The Little Things is a 2021 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by John Lee Hancock and produced by Hancock and Mark Johnson. Set in early 1990s Los Angeles, the film follows detectives (Denzel Washington and Rami Malek) who investigate a string of murders, which lead them to a strange loner who may be the culprit (Jared Leto). The film also stars Chris Bauer, Michael Hyatt, Terry Kinney, and Natalie Morales.
The Little Things was released in the United States on January 29, 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures, both theatrically and, for one month, simultaneously on the HBO Max streaming service. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, direction, and atmosphere but noted the film as familiar and criticized the screenplay, with some comparing it unfavorably to the 1995 film Seven. For his performance, Leto received Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The film was theatrically released in the United States on January 29, 2021 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It also had a simultaneous release on the HBO Max streaming service for 31 days, as part of Warner Bros.’ plan for all of its 2021 films. It was the most-watched item on the platform in its debut weekend, with Samba TV reporting that 1.4 million households streamed the film over its opening weekend. The film was released on Premium VOD on March 19, 2021.
The Little Things grossed $15.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $14.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $29.8 million. Domestically, the film was projected to gross around $2.5 million in its opening weekend. It ended up debuting to $4.8 million from 2,171 theaters, topping the box office; 55% of the audience was male, while 80% were over the age of 25.
Internationally, the film grossed $2.8 million from 18 markets for a worldwide start of $7.6 million. The film remained atop the box office both domestically and abroad in its second weekend, with $2.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The film made $2.4 million over its third weekend, the four-day President’s Day slate, and was dethroned by holdover The Croods: A New Age, then made $1.2 million in its fourth weekend.
The Little Things (2021)
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Chris Bauer, Michael Hyatt, Terry Kinney, Natalie Morales, Isabel Arraiza, Joris Jarsky, Glenn Morshower, Sofia Vassilieva
Screenplay by: John Lee Hancock
Production Design by: Michael Corenblith
Cinematography by: John Schwartzman
Film Editing by: Robert Frazen
Costume Design by: Daniel Orlandi
Set Decoration by: Susan Benjamin
Art Direction by: Samantha Avila, Lauren E. Polizzi
Music by: Thomas Newman
MPAA Rating: R for violent / disturbing images, language and full nudity.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: January 29, 2021 (United States)
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