It Was Just an Accident

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It Was Just an Accident

PG-13

2025

1h 45m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

220 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences.

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Critics Consensus

Perhaps the most bluntly political film by Jafar Panahi yet, It Was Just an Accident is a defiant rebuke of authoritarianism that still delivers the entertainment value of a gripping thriller.

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Jared Richards

The Age (Australia)

Aug 3, 2026

5/5

How do you make something this visually arresting, well-paced and acted under constant threat of imprisonment? Without context, this is a remarkable film; with it, it’s awe-inspiring.

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Wenlei Ma

The Nightly (AU)

Feb 10, 2026

4/5

The magnificent It Was Just An Accident's willingness to ask questions about the very nature of justice and revenge comes from a place of great generosity and humanity – and no one would have blamed Jafar Panahi if he was lacking in either.

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Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

Jan 28, 2026

4/5

While Panahi doesn’t presume to say when forgiveness is preferable to justice, he takes the question seriously – and while the ending isn’t exactly reassuring, some degree of hope is implied in the way he allows his characters freedom to make the choice.

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André Didyme-Dôme

Rolling Stone en Español

Sep 12, 2026

Panahi never resorts to sensationalism, and his dark comedy never loses sight of what's at stake. [Full review in Spanish]

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Luke Goodsell

The Saturday Paper

Jul 15, 2026

At what point does forgiveness cease to be an option in the face of tyranny? Jafar Panahi's film turns over the ethical dimensions of the question.

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Lexi Amoriello

Movie Recs by Lex

Jul 10, 2026

Panahi injects a surprising amount of levity into a story that’s both dark and devastating, striking a pitch-perfect balance that keeps the audience laughing, engaged, and unsettled in equal measure.

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Advait

Jan 13, 2026

Brilliant movie about the dissidents of the Iranian regime and what they had to go through,many thanks to the director

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Donald T

Nov 15, 2025

Great film. Brilliant.

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Starla C

Nov 14, 2025

didn't enjoy the story at all...

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roya

Nov 11, 2025

An excellent movie full of meaning and connotations!

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CA voter

Nov 10, 2025

Storyline twisted to reveal Iranian history - the ensemble actors all well cast

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John D

Nov 2, 2025

Movie was crazy well acted and paced. Long shots were long without seeming show-y or film school-y

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Vahid

Ebrahim Azizi

Eghbal

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It Was Just an Accident: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences.

Director: Jafar Panahi
Producer: Jafar Panahi
Screenwriter: Jafar Panahi
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Les Films Pelléas
Rating: PG-13 (Strong Language|Smoking|Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 16, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.8M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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