Suave, charming and volatile, Reggie Kray and his unstable twin brother Ronnie start to leave their mark on the London underworld in the 1960s. Using violence to get what they want, the siblings orchestrate robberies and murders while running nightclubs and protection rackets. With police Detective Leonard "Nipper" Read hot on their heels, the brothers continue their rapid rise to power and achieve tabloid notoriety.
Acting
Hardy playing BOTH Krays—technically stunning, emotionally distinct.
Production
East End period detail that makes violence look almost fashionable.
Writing
Frances narrates from beyond the grave—cheeky structural gamble.
Director
Brian Helgeland
Tom Hardy
Ronald Kray / Reginald Kray
Emily Browning
Frances Shea
Christopher Eccleston
Leonard 'Nipper' Read
David Thewlis
Leslie Payne
Taron Egerton
Mad Teddy Smith
Chazz Palminteri
Angelo Bruno
Colin Morgan
Frank Shea
Paul Bettany
Charlie Richardson
Tara Fitzgerald
Elsie Shea
Paul Anderson
Albert Donoghue
Nicholas Farrell
Dr Humphries
Duffy
Timi Yuro
Kevin McNally
Harold Wilson
John Sessions
Lord Boothby
Sam Spruell
Jack 'The Hat' McVitie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hardy filmed scenes twice, opposite a body double and tennis ball stand-ins, then merged takes digitally—sometimes arguing with himself between setups.
The real Krays were celebrity gangsters before the concept existed; this film interrogates whether we're still fascinated by monsters in nice suits.
GB
