It Was Just an Accident

Play trailer

1:55

It Was Just an Accident

PG-13

2025

1h 45m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

214 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

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

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Wenlei Ma

The Nightly (AU)

Feb 10

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.

Go to Full Review

Jake Wilson

Sydney Morning Herald

Jan 28

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.

Go to Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR Podcast)

Jan 27

It is absolutely a political thriller. It is absolutely a character study. It is also hilarious.

Go to Full Review

Ryan Syrek

The Reader (Omaha, NE)

4d

A

It is a firecracker of a movie that will have you anxiously watching its lit fuse grow shorter.

Go to Full Review

Monita Roy Mohan

Stereo Geeks (Podcast)

Mar 14

It Was Just An Accident is stark and funny and dark...The performances so natural... The cinematography and editing are stunning. You’re not watching a film—you’re in the backseat of a van negotiating an argument with a bride and a madman.

Go to Full Review

Marlon Wallace

The M Report (WBOC.com)

Mar 9

There are slight comedic elements but the film becomes a literal vehicle to express what political prisoners experienced or what communal trauma might look like.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Advait

Jan 13

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

See more

Donald T

Nov 15

Great film. Brilliant.

See more

Starla C

Nov 14

didn't enjoy the story at all...

See more

roya

Nov 11

An excellent movie full of meaning and connotations!

See more

CA voter

Nov 10

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

See more

John D

Nov 2

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

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Jafar Panahi

Director

Vahid Mobasseri

Vahid

Ebrahim Azizi

Eghbal

Mariam Afshari

Shiva

Hadis Pakbaten

Golrokh

Majid Panahi

Le marié

Monster

97%

90%

Monster

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Monster

Last Breath

79%

91%

Last Breath

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Last Breath

Dark Waters

89%

95%

Dark Waters

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Dark Waters

The Salesman

96%

84%

The Salesman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Salesman

The Eternal Daughter

95%

45%

The Eternal Daughter

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Eternal Daughter

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

'It Was Just an Accident' Director Jafar Panahi Recommends Favorite Films

0:52

'It Was Just an Accident' Director Jafar Panahi on Social Filmmaking and the Future

1:09

It Was Just an Accident: Trailer 1

1:55

View more videos

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now