The Art of Self-Defense

About The Art of Self-Defense

Casey is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman fighting for her place in it.

The Art of Self-Defense is a 2019 comedy mystery film directed by Riley Stearns. Its themes are cult, masculinity, sexism, and misogyny.

Jesse Eisenberg stars as Casey, Alessandro Nivola as Sensei, Imogen Poots as Anna, and Steve Terada as Thomas. It runs 104 minutes and was released in July 2019.

The screenplay is by Riley Stearns. Produced by End Cue.

The Last Supper, A Clockwork Orange, and American Psycho make useful companions to The Art of Self-Defense, all filed under dark comedy, murder, and satire. TMDB voters put it at 6.6 out of 10 across 873 votes and it carries a R rating.