Going in Style (2017 film)

Going in Style

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2017
Founder	Zach Braff (director), Theodore Melfi (screenplay)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Comedy film
Parent	New Line Cinema, Village Roadshow Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, De Line Pictures

Going in Style is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Zach Braff with a screenplay by Theodore Melfi. This movie is a remake of the 1979 original and features Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin portraying retirees who plot a bank heist after their pensions are revoked. Additional cast members include Joey King, Matt Dillon, Christopher Lloyd, and Ann-Margret.

The film was produced by New Line Cinema, Village Roadshow Pictures, RatPac-Dune Entertainment, and De Line Pictures. It debuted at the SVA Theatre on March 30, 2017, and was subsequently released in the United States on April 7, 2017, through Warner Bros. Pictures. With a production budget of $25 million, it earned $84.9 million globally, demonstrating strong box office results despite receiving mixed critiques.

Plot

Joe, Willie, and Albert—three lifelong friends and senior citizens living in Brooklyn—witness a bank robbery during a frustrating visit. Joe spots a unique Mongol warrior tattoo on the leader, which becomes the sole clue to identify the perpetrator. The robbers make off with more than $1.6 million.

Following the acquisition of their company, the trio’s pensions are terminated, leaving Joe vulnerable to foreclosure as his mortgage payments rise without pension support. Meanwhile, Willie discovers he requires a Kidney Transplant due to terminal kidney failure, further straining his family relationships.

Inspired by the robbery and their financial hardships, Joe suggests they rob the bank themselves to recover their lost pensions. Although initially shocked, Albert and Willie agree after learning that the bank intends to confiscate their funds.

After an unsuccessful attempt at shoplifting, they recruit Joe’s ex-son-in-law Peter Murphy and Jesús, a pet store owner with criminal ties, for assistance. They schedule the heist to coincide with their lodge’s carnival event.

Disguised as "The Rat Pack" (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr.), they carry guns loaded with blanks to avoid causing injury. The robbery nearly unravels when Willie collapses; however, a young witness named Lucy helps him breathe and forms a connection after noticing his granddaughter’s photo on his watch.

They manage to steal over $2.3 million but are apprehended after Albert is identified from surveillance footage. FBI Agent Hamer assembles suspects for Lucy to identify; she refuses to accuse Willie, resulting in no charges.

Willie’s condition worsens due to kidney failure until Albert donates one of his kidneys. Part of the stolen money resolves their financial problems; the remainder is distributed among family, friends, co-workers, and lodge members. Joe fulfills his promise of gifting a puppy to his granddaughter with Jesús’s help—who is later revealed as the mastermind behind the robbery, laundering the money while wearing a fake henna tattoo to mislead law enforcement.

The narrative concludes with Albert marrying Annie in celebration of their newfound wealth.

Cast

• Morgan Freeman as Willie Davis: grandfather to Kanika and father to Maya; one of the three main characters who shares an apartment with Albert.
• Michael Caine as Joe Harding: Brooklyn resident; grandfather to Brooklyn; father of Rachel; Peter’s former father-in-law; one of the three leads.
• Alan Arkin as Albert Garner: one of the trio; Annie’s romantic interest and saxophone instructor.
• Matt Dillon as Special Agent Arlen Hamer: FBI agent investigating the bank robberies.
• Ann-Margret as Annie Santori: Albert’s love interest; grandmother to Ezra; employee at Value Town.
• Christopher Lloyd as Milton Kupchak: elderly lodge companion exhibiting signs of senility.
• Joey King as Brooklyn Harding: Joe’s granddaughter; daughter of Peter and Rachel.
• Annabelle Chow as Lucy: child witness; daughter of Mandy.
• John Ortiz as Jesús Garcia: Queens-based pet store owner and leader of the initial group of robbers.
• Peter Serafinowicz as Peter Murphy: Joe’s ex-son-in-law; Rachel’s former husband; Brooklyn’s estranged father.
• Josh Pais as Chuck Lofton: manager of Williamsburg Savings Bank aiming to foreclose on Joe’s home.
• Maria Dizzia as Rachel Harding: Joe’s daughter and mother to Brooklyn.
• Kenan Thompson as Keith Schonfield: manager at Value Town grocery store.
• Ashley Aufderheide as Kanika Davis: granddaughter of Willie and daughter of Maya.
• Gillian Glasco as Maya Davis: daughter of Willie and mother of Kanika.
• Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Mitzi: waitress at Nat's Diner.
• Nancy Sun as Mandy: mother of Lucy.
• Jeremy Schinder as Ezra Bronkowski: Annie’s grandson.
• Anthony Chisholm as Paul: Grandmaster of the Knights lodge.
• Jeremy Bobb as Donald Lewis

Development

On October 12, 2012, New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. revealed plans to remake the 1979 heist comedy Going in Style, with Theodore Melfi assigned to write the screenplay. The production team included Donald De Line and Tony Bill, who served as executive producer on the original film. Melfi was committed to crafting a positive conclusion that resonated with contemporary attitudes towards banks, envisioning a flawless heist where the main characters emerge victorious.

By January 9, 2013, Don Scardino was brought on board as director. However, by September of that year, discussions were underway for Melfi to take over directing duties. Later, in November 2014, Zach Braff entered negotiations but was never officially offered the director position. That same month marked the casting of principal roles with Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and ongoing talks involving Dustin Hoffman. The lead trio was solidified on April 9, 2015, when Alan Arkin joined the cast.

Casting expanded in August 2015: Joey King was cast as the granddaughter of Caine’s character; Matt Dillon took on the role of an FBI agent tracking the trio; and Ann-Margret was added for a role that remained undisclosed.

Filming

Principal photography commenced on August 3, 2015, in Brooklyn, New York City, with supplementary shooting conducted in Astoria, Queens.

Soundtrack

The film’s score was composed by Rob Simonsen, accompanied by songs from various artists and performances by two members of the cast:

1. "Memories Are Made of This" – Dean Martin
2. "St. Thomas" – Sonny Rollins
3. "Feel Right" – Mark Ronson featuring Mystikal
4. "Hard to Handle" – Otis Redding
5. "Can I Kick It?" – A Tribe Called Quest
6. "Hey, Look Me Over" – Jamie Cullum
7. "Hallelujah I Love Her So" – performed by Alan Arkin and Ann-Margret
8. "Mean Old World" – Sam Cooke
9. "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" – Dinah Washington

Other featured tracks include:

1. "A Long Walk Out" – by Leslie Mills
2. "Yankee Doodle" – Lawrence Feldman
3. "Happy Birthday to You" – performed by Christopher Lloyd and cast members
4. "Automatic" – composed by Brock Walsh and Mark Goldenberg
5. "Higher Ground" – by Stevie Wonder
6. "Hey, Look Me Over" – performed by Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin
7. "Sobre las Olas" – instrumental carnival piece by Juventino Rosas

Release

Going in Style premiered on April 7, 2017, following Warner Bros.' decision to postpone its initial release date from May 6, 2016.

Box office

The movie earned $45 million domestically in the United States and Canada, alongside $39.6 million internationally, culminating in a global total of $84.6 million against a production budget of $25 million.

In its North American debut, it competed with Smurfs: The Lost Village and The Case for Christ, with forecasts estimating approximately $8 million from 3,061 theaters. The film collected $4.2 million on opening day and totaled $11.9 million over the opening weekend, surpassing expectations and securing fourth place at the box office. During its second weekend, it brought in $6.3 million—a decline of 47%—finishing fifth in overall rankings.

Critical reception

The movie has garnered a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 171 critic reviews, with an average rating of 5.4 out of 10. The site's consensus notes that, "Although the film features notable performances from its lead actors, Going in Style often falls short on humor and tends to play it safe." On Metacritic, it holds a weighted average score of 50 out of 100 from 31 reviewers, reflecting "mixed or average" critiques. Viewer responses collected by CinemaScore awarded the film a "B+" grade, while PostTrak recorded an overall positive rating of 83%.