Following on from the success of the film on its Irish platform, Netflix has added Irish box-office hit ‘Cardboard Gangsters’ to the streaming site's US & Australian platforms.
Independently made, ‘Cardboard Gangsters’ became the biggest Irish film of 2017. The gritty crime drama finished its cinema run with a box-office total of €550,000 from Irish cinemas.
Speaking with IFTN about the Netflix announcement, actor John Connors said:
“I'm delighted that our little film continues to surprise us all. I think the Americans in particular need a bit of gritty realism. Excited to see the reaction to it.”
Directed by Mark O'Connor and starring John Connors ('Love/Hate', ‘King of the Travellers’), Fionn Walton (‘Out of Here’, ‘What Richard Did’), Ryan Lincoln (‘Michael Inside’, ‘Kissing Candice’) and Kierston Wareing (‘Fish Tank’, 'East Enders'), ‘Cardboard Gangsters’ follows a group of wannabe gangsters as they attempt to gain control of the drug trade in Darndale, chasing the glorified lifestyle of money, power and sex. Jay Connolly (Connors) is a part-time DJ and low-level drug dealer. When his welfare is cut off, he decides it is time for him and his gang to enter the big leagues. This attracts the attention of the local King Pin and sets Jay down a violent and bloody path.
The film received several IFTA nominations at the 2018 IFTA Awards and saw leading actor John Connors receive the IFTA for Best Actor.
The film was produced by Stalker Films and Five Knight Films in association with Filmbase and with the support of the BAI, Egg Post Production and TV3 and was distributed theatrically by Wildcard Distribution, with the DVD being distributed by Precision Pictures.