The film received very positive reviews from most critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 94% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 7.80/10. The site's consensus states: "Impassioned and meticulously observed, In the Name of the Father mines rousing drama from a factual miscarriage of justice, aided by scorching performances and director Jim Sheridan's humanist focus."[6] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 84 out of 100 based on 16 reviews.[7] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.[8]
The film was the second highest-grossing ever in Ireland (behind Jurassic Park), and the highest-grossing Irish film, beating the record set by The Commitments in 1991, with a gross of IR£2.91 million ($4.5 million).[9][10]
Year-end lists
- 2nd – James Berardinelli, ReelViews[11]
- Top 10 (not ranked) – Dennis King, Tulsa World[12]
- Honorable mention – Dan Craft, The Pantagraph[13]
Accolades
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Foreign Film | Jim Sheridan | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Nominated | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Terry George | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Pete Postlethwaite | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Emma Thompson | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Gerry Hambling | Nominated | |
| ACE Eddie | Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic | Nominated | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Jim Sheridan | Nominated |
| Terry George | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | Nominated | |
| Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear[14] | Jim Sheridan | Won |
| BSFC Award | Best Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | Won |
| DFWFCA Award | Best Film | Nominated | |
| David di Donatello Awards | Best Foreign Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | Nominated |
| Best Foreign Film | Jim Sheridan | Won | |
| European Film Award | European Film of the Year | Nominated | |
| Evening Standard British Film Award | Best Film | Jim Sheridan | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
| Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Daniel Day-Lewis | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Emma Thompson | Nominated | |
| Best Original Song("You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart") | Bono | Nominated | |
| Gavin Friday | Nominated | ||
| Maurice Seezer | Nominated | ||
| Humanitas Prize | Feature Film Category | Terry George | Nominated |
| Jim Sheridan | Nominated | ||
| Nastro d'Argento | European Silver Ribbon | Nominated | |
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Emma Thompson | Won |
| LAFCA Award | Best Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | 2nd place |
| NBR Award | Top Ten Films | Won | |
| NSFC Award | Best Actor | Daniel Day-Lewis | 2nd place |
| NYFCC Award | Best Actor | 3rd place | |
| PGA Award | Best Theatrical Motion Picture | Jim Sheridan | Nominated |
| PFS Award | Exposé | Won | |
| Human Rights | Nominated | ||
| Peace | Nominated | ||
| WGA Award | Best Adapted Screenplay | Jim Sheridan | Nominated |
| Terry George | Nominated |
