Can a star-studded cast save a film when the script lacks a compelling soul?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sidney Lumet’s 1989 film Family Business brought together Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman, and Matthew Broderick as three generations of criminals. Despite the immense talent, the movie struggled to convince audiences of its central premise, ultimately failing to balance its caper ambitions with the weight of a family drama.

Released on December 15, 1989, Family Business was directed by Sidney Lumet and based on a 1985 novel by Vincent Patrick. The narrative follows Jessie McMullen, a proud career criminal who emigrated to New York in 1946, and his strained relationship with his son, Vito, who abandoned the life of crime. The conflict intensifies when Vito’s college-aged son, Adam, drops out to pursue a heist, idolizing his grandfather’s illicit history.

The film’s production faced immediate scrutiny regarding its casting choices. Critics noted that the three leads—Connery, Hoffman, and Broderick—shared little physical resemblance, and that Hoffman was actually seven years younger than Connery, who played his father. Reviewers argued that these casting decisions required a strong, compelling script to justify the oddity, yet the screenplay provided only half-baked ideas that failed to ignite the dramatic potential of the premise.

Critical reception was largely negative, with the film holding a 35% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 54 out of 100 on Metacritic. The New York Times criticized the film for its wasted space and lack of narrative focus, while Roger Ebert noted that the movie struggled to decide whether it wanted to be a heist film or a family drama, leaving plot details hanging by the final act. Ultimately, the film grossed $12.1 million, debuting at number six at the box office before finding more modest success in the home video rental market.

Despite the professional disappointment, the story concludes with a thematic reconciliation. After Jessie dies in prison following a botched heist and a failed attempt to profit from fake research, Vito and Adam find common ground. They eventually scatter Jessie’s ashes from the roof of the home where Vito grew up, marking a final, quiet resolution to the generational friction that defined their lives.

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