Uncut Gems trivia: 59 facts about the new Safdie Brothers film

Uncut Gems is a new film by the Safdie Brothers, starring Adam Sandler. The film has gained critical acclaim, especially for Sandler’s performance!

So let’s dive into some trivia and facts about the film.

1. Uncut Gems is a 2019 American crime thriller film
2. It is directed by Josh and Benny Safdie
3. They co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bronstein
4. The film stars Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Julia Fox, The Weeknd, and Eric Bogosian
5. The plot follows Howard Ratner, a gambling addict in New York City’s Diamond District, who gets in over his head with loansharks and must retrieve an expensive gem he purchased in order to pay off his debts
6. Filming for the project took place from September to November of 2018
7. Uncut Gems had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019
8. It was theatrically released on December 13, 2019 by A24
9. The film received critical acclaim
10. With its screenplay, direction, Sandler’s performance and Darius Khondji’s cinematography receiving much of the praise
11. It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 2019
12. With Sandler also winning Best Actor
13. In May 2016, it was announced Josh and Benny Safdie would direct the film
14. From a screenplay they wrote alongside Ronald Bronstein
15. The film was executive produced by Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Martin Scorsese
16. With Elara Pictures and RT Features producing the film
17. In May 2017, Jonah Hill joined the cast of the film, with Scott Rudin, Eli Bush, Sebastian Bear-McClard joining as producers
18. And A24 distributing
19. In April 2018, Adam Sandler joined the cast of the film, replacing Hill
20. He was the original choice to star in the film
21. Being approached for the role in 2009
22. The Safdies came up with the film in 2009
23. However, at the time, he declined the role
24. In August 2018, Eric Bogosian and Judd Hirsch joined the cast of the film
25. In September 2018, Lakeith Stanfield and Idina Menzel joined the cast of the film
26. With Netflix acquiring international distribution rights to the film
27. In October 2018, it was revealed that The Weeknd, Trinidad James and Pom Klementieff had joined the cast of the film
28. In November 2018, Kevin Garnett joined the cast
29. Amar’e Stoudemire and Joel Embiid were also considered for the role
30. Principal photography began in September 2018, in New York City
31. Production concluded on November 15, 2018
32. The film was shot by Darius Khondji on 35 mm film
33. Daniel Lopatin (aka Oneohtrix Point Never) composed the score for the film
34. He also recorded several songs with The Weeknd for the film
35. But they were eventually left out
36. The score was released on December 13, 2019, on CD and vinyl, and digital streaming services
37. Songs not included on the score but used in the film include “Some Type of Way” by Rich Homie Quan, “The Morning” by The Weeknd and “Swimming Pools (Drank)” by Kendrick Lamar
38. The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019
39. It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2019
40. It was released in the United States on December 13, 2019
41. And is scheduled for a nationwide release on December 25, 2019
42. It will be released worldwide excluding America on Netflix on January 31, 2020
43. In its limited opening weekend the film made $525,498 from five theaters
44. For a per-venue average of $105,099
45. This is the highest-ever for A24
46. And the second-best total of 2019
47. It then made $241,431 in its second weekend
48. The film made $1.1 million from previews on Christmas Eve
49. And then $5.9 million on the first day of wide release
50. Making it the highest single-day gross in A24’s history
51. On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 93%
52. Based on 189 reviews
53. With an average rating of 8.42/10
54. The site’s critical consensus reads: “Uncut Gems reaffirms the Safdies as masters of anxiety-inducing cinema—and proves Adam Sandler remains a formidable dramatic actor when given the right material”
55. Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 89 out of 100
56. Based on 45 critics
57. Indicating “universal acclaim”
58. Audiences polled by CinemaScore during the film’s limited release gave it an average grade of “A–” on an A+ to F scale
59. But it then earned a “C+” upon going wide