Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s production company, Artists Equity, acquired the rights to The Accountant 2 from Warner Bros. They then connected with Amazon MGM Studios to make and distribute the film.
This is a sequel to The Accountant (2016), with director Gavin O’Connor and writer Bill Dubuque taking on the same responsibilities. Cast members Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and J. K. Simmons have also returned and are reprising their roles. This assisted with the continuity and continuation of the story, with nine years having passed.
The film starts with Ray King (J. K. Simmons) waiting to meet someone. The place they are meeting is being watched, and it isn’t clear who is being watched. Ray leaves behind a message that brings in Treasury agent Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). She contacts the Harbor Neuroscience Center to connect with Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck). Once the puzzle pieces have been provided, he reaches out to his brother, Braxton (Jon Bernthal), to come and assist.
Although the storyline here is not as focused on what Chris’s brain can do, there are enough well-timed breadcrumbs so that the viewer doesn’t forget. One that stuck with me was the reporting of to-go boxes on a business’s tax return. We are also introduced to others with brains like Chris, who work behind the scenes to provide support. It makes you think about what could happen in ‘the real world’ if more acceptance and adaptation to being accommodating were possible. The story also digs more into the relationship between the Wolff brothers. The chemistry between Affleck and Bernthal felt real and left things open for a third installment.
Like many modern action films that take full advantage of today’s technological advancements, this one leans toward the superhero genre, stepping beyond realism. From a post-fight scene with numerous bodies on the ground and one barely scratched man walking away to a man going over a balcony from a single punch and a high-speed motorcycle ride exceeding 200 miles per hour, these are just a few moments that stretch the bounds of believability.
Watching this film with an audience adds to the experience. Parts of the film lulled me into the story to the point where I didn’t remember other people were around, and then something would occur that created a reaction, and I was reminded I wasn’t alone. We laughed, we cheered, we clapped, and we groaned together.
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Cast: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, J. K. Simmons
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
Selig Rating: 3.5 stars
Runtime: 2h 5m
Release Date: April 25, 2025
Genre(s): Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Movie Site: The Accountant 2 website
Trailer: The Accountant 2 trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
