What is The Accountant 2?
The Accountant 2 is a sequel to the 2016 film The Accountant, starring Ben Affleck as a neurodivergent assassin/accountant. Like the 2016 film, The Accountant 2 is directed by Gavin O’Connor and written by Bill Dubuque. Ben Affleck returns as Math Man the accountant, Christian Wolff, and Jon Bernthal is back as his brother and fellow assassin, Braxton. The film also stars Cynthia Addai-Robinson, JK Simmons, Daniella Pineda, and Allison Robertson.
What is The Accountant 2 about?
The Accountant 2 is about Christian Wolff solving the murder of Raymond King (JK Simmons) while dismantling a human trafficking ring and reconnecting with his estranged brother and trying to get a date. It’s also about Ben Affleck looking like a NERD and Jon Bernthal looking like a HOT NEUROTIC. There is also an orange cat.
Wow, sounds like a lot.
10/10 plot, no notes.
How much accounting does the accountant do in The Accountant 2?
Sadly, very little. There are no math montages this time. Though Christian does use someone’s tax return in a, er, enhanced interrogation.
Torture via tax return? How does that even work?
Have you SEEN the US tax code?
Point taken. The Accountant was well-intentioned in its depiction of neurodivergence, though it still traded in very Hollywood stereotypes of neurodivergence as a kind of superpower. How does The Accountant 2 approach neurodivergence this time around?
These films are clearly loaded with good intentions, but the second time around, they absolutely double down on the “autism = superpowers” thing. For instance, a new assassin with a traumatic brain injury experiences acquired savant syndrome, a rare phenomenon in which people with TBI can develop new skills, such as being able to quickly learn new languages, or masterfully play instruments they’ve never played before. There are also a bunch of autistic tween superhackers aiding Christian in his shady business. The neuroscience center where he spent some of his childhood is now just Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
But however silly these plot points are, a LOT of care goes into the depiction of neurodivergence. It’s not just Affleck’s sympathetic performance—they take the time to show Christian trying to make connections and repair relationships—there are depictions of different kinds of neurodivergence, too. And this time, the filmmakers made an effort to cast neurodivergent actors, including Allison Robertson, who makes her feature film debut playing Christian’s sidekick, Justine. So while The Accountant 2 is frequently silly and not free from all stereotypes, it’s doing a better job than many other depictions of neurodivergence in Hollywood.
Autistic tween superhackers? I assume there’s a lot of worldbuilding in the sequel.
There is a sequel expansion pack, yes. Besides Christian and Justine turning the kids who live at the neuroscience center into the X-Men, we also learn that Christian’s brother, Braxton, isn’t just a regular assassin, no, he works for a mysterious Eastern European crime boss who manages a global cabal of killers.
Sounds like John Wick.
It’s not NOT like John Wick. Also, nothing about The Accountant 2 suggests it isn’t taking place in the same universe as The Beekeeper. So the whole time the movie is happening, we can assume the Beekeeper is keeping the hive safe, too.
Speaking of Braxton, what’s going on with Jon Bernthal in this thing?
I’m SO glad you asked. Jon Bernthal gets a much bigger role this time, no doubt because nine years later, he’s a much bigger star. He also gets to have fun in this movie, which you can feel in his performance. He brings EXTREME LITTLE BROTHER and BIG TOUGH SOFTIE energy to this role. Also, Gavin O’Connor is a man of Taste And Refinement and gives us an entire scene of Jon Bernthal talking to himself wearing nothing but boxer-briefs and socks.
That’s a very specific image.
The Accountant 2 is a film loaded with very specific imagery. This one is for the hyperfixation girlies, there is something for everyone to hyperfixate on.
Such as?
Black socks
Dad shoes
Tough guys who like soft experiences
Line dancing
Orange cats
The shininess of unblemished Airstream trailers
Blunt bobs
Speedometers
Weights of fish
Volumes of pizza
Tax returns
How does line dancing fit into an assassin movie…?
Linearly.
The Accountant 2 will play exclusively in theaters from April 25, 2025.
