Review: The Accountant 2 - Is the Sequel Worth It?

The Accountant 2 is an American film that premiered in theaters on April 24, 2025, and was released on Prime Video on June 5. A sequel to the 2016 film, it was directed by Gavin O'Connor, written by Bill Dubuque, and produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Lynette Howell Taylor, Mark Williams, and Jade Healy.

The film was distributed by Warner Bros. (for theaters) and Amazon Studios (for streaming). It stars Ben Affleck (Christian Wolff), Jon Bernthal (Brax), J.K. Simmons (Raymond King), and Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Marybeth Medina).

Marybeth Medina's former boss is brutally murdered. Faced with this tragedy, she seeks the help of Christian Wolff, the enigmatic accountant with extraordinary skills and a mysterious past. Together, they are drawn into a dangerous conspiracy that forces them to use their unique talents to uncover the truth behind the crime and face the threats they encounter along the way, with the help of Wolff’s brother, Brax.

Official Trailer

The original film was a box office success, earning over $155 million worldwide on a budget of approximately $44 million. Its blend of action, suspense, and the portrayal of an autistic character with extraordinary abilities captivated both critics and audiences.

Synopsis: The movie follows Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), a brilliant accountant with Autism Spectrum Disorder, whose exceptional mathematical skills come with challenges in social interactions. Christian operates a small-town accounting office as a cover while secretly working as an accountant for the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations.

When the U.S. Treasury Department, led by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), begins closing in on his activities, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a cutting-edge robotics company. Here, accounting assistant Dana Cummings (Anna Kendrick) uncovers a multimillion-dollar discrepancy in the financial records. As Christian delves deeper into the company's books to solve the mystery, he becomes entangled in a dangerous web of conspiracy, with the stakes—and body count—escalating swiftly.

When I first heard about the release of The Accountant 2, I decided to watch the 2016 movie. I had never seen it before, although it had always been on my long list of films to watch. After finally seeing it, I loved it! The movie offers a sensitive and authentic portrayal of autism and its interactions with the world, while also delivering plenty of action and comedic moments, which I truly appreciate.

With that in mind, I approached the sequel with some hesitation, as sequels often struggle to match the original. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would say it’s just as good as the first film. It stays true to its core essence while focusing on the reconnecting relationship between the two brothers, who are very different from one another. Christian (Ben) and Brax (Jon) take center stage in this sequel.

After not seeing each other for more than eight years, and given their difficult childhood, both brothers carry unresolved issues that are explored and addressed as the movie progresses. The chemistry and skill of Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal, who portray the brothers, are remarkable. Whether in introspective or lightly comedic scenes, or during intense action moments, their performances shine.

The Accountant 2 also offers insight into Savant Syndrome, a rare condition in which individuals with developmental disorders, including autism, display extraordinary abilities in specific areas such as memory, mathematics, art, or music. This stands in contrast to significant challenges in social communication or interaction.

It’s refreshing to see a story that highlights neurodivergent individuals, portraying them as capable, important, and as protagonists of their own narratives.

The specialized critics’ reception has ranged from mixed to positive, with most reviewers pointing out how the sequel differs from the first film by emphasizing action and focusing on the chemistry between its lead characters.

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% approval from 206 critic reviews and 92% from over 5,000 audience reviews.

IMDB: 6.7/10 based on 74,000 reviews.

Letterboxd: 3.1/5 (stars) from 162,000 ratings.

CinemaScore: Grade A- from post-screening audience surveys.

The Accountant 2 is an exceptional sequel that dares to shift its tone, delivering more action and humor. The film’s standout feature is the synergy between Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal. For viewers who appreciate strong character chemistry and want a fun yet profound action movie, this is a great choice.

Every bit as good as the original, the film offers an outstanding experience to its audience. Since its release on streaming, it has consistently ranked in Prime Video's Top 10 films. So if you missed it in theaters, now is the perfect time to watch it at home. Until next time!