View source for A History of Violence

{{short description|2005 film directed by David Cronenberg}}
{{Other uses|A History of Violence (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = A History of Violence
| image          = History of violence.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[David Cronenberg]]
| producer       = [[Chris Bender (film producer)|Chris Bender]]<br />[[J. C. Spink]]
| screenplay     = [[Josh Olson]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[A History of Violence (comics)|A History of Violence]]''||[[John Wagner]]|[[Vince Locke]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Viggo Mortensen]]
* [[Maria Bello]]
* [[William Hurt]]
* [[Ed Harris]]
}}
| music          = [[Howard Shore]]
| cinematography = [[Peter Suschitzky]]
| editing        = [[Ronald Sanders (film editor)|Ronald Sanders]]
| studio         = {{plainlist|
* [[BenderSpink]]
* Media I! Filmproduktion München & Company
}}
| distributor    = {{plainlist|
* [[New Line Cinema]] (United States)
* [[Cineplex Odeon Films|Odeon Films]] (Canada)<ref>{{cite web|title=A History of Violence|website=[[Library and Archives Canada]]|date=May 12, 2015|access-date=4 May 2022|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/canadian-feature-film-database/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4310&DotsIdNumber=|archive-date=May 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531140145/https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/canadian-feature-film-database/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=4310&DotsIdNumber=|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] (Germany)<ref>{{cite web|title=A History of Violence|website=[[filmportal.de]]|access-date=4 May 2022|url=https://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/a-history-of-violence_8179f4b690230bd3e040007f01006410|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414173139/https://www.filmportal.de/en/movie/a-history-of-violence_8179f4b690230bd3e040007f01006410|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2005|5|16|[[2005 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2005|9|23|United States}}
| runtime        = 96 minutes
| country        = {{plainlist|
* United States
* Canada<ref>{{Cite web|title=A History of Violence (2005)|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54474|access-date=2022-02-01|website=catalog.afi.com|archive-date=March 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329030845/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/54474|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Germany<ref>{{Cite web|title=A History of Violence (2005)|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8b04e56b|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811130234/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8b04e56b|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2016|access-date=2022-02-01|website=BFI|language=en}}</ref>  
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = $32 million<ref name="bom"/>
| gross          = $61.4 million<ref name="bom"/>
}}

'''''A History of Violence''''' is a 2005 [[action thriller film]] directed by [[David Cronenberg]] and written by [[Josh Olson]]. It is an adaptation of the 1997 [[DC Comics|DC]] [[A History of Violence (comics)|graphic novel]] by [[John Wagner]] and [[Vince Locke]]. The film stars [[Viggo Mortensen]], [[Maria Bello]], [[Ed Harris]], and [[William Hurt]]. In the film, a diner owner becomes a local hero after he foils an attempted robbery, but has to face his past enemies to protect his family.

''A History of Violence'' was in the main competition for the 2005 [[Palme d'Or]] and was put into a limited release in the United States on September 23, 2005, followed by a wide release on September 30, 2005. It has been described as one of the greatest films of the 2000s and has been named on various greatest of all time lists. The film was praised for its performances, screenwriting and atmosphere. William Hurt was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]], and Olson was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]. Mortensen himself praised it as "one of the best movies [he's] ever been in, if not the best".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marrakech-fest-viggo-mortensen-honored-754740|title=Marrakech Fest: Viggo Mortensen Honored, Praises David Cronenberg|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=December 8, 2014|access-date=December 20, 2014|archive-date=February 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207021132/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/marrakech-fest-viggo-mortensen-honored-754740|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also notable as being one of the last, if not the last, major Hollywood films to be released on [[VHS]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-dec-22-et-vhs-tapes22-story.html|title=VHS era is winding down|work=L.A. Times|date=December 22, 2008|access-date=October 4, 2013|archive-date=August 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811123127/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/22/entertainment/et-vhs-tapes22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>https://thehill.com/homenews/wire/3508514-what-was-the-last-movie-released-on-vhs/amp/</ref>

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries should be between 400 and 700 words -->
Tom Stall is a diner owner who lives in the rural town of Millbrook, [[Indiana]], with wife Edie, teenage son Jack, and daughter Sarah. One night, two [[spree killer]]s attempt to rob the restaurant. When a waitress is threatened, Tom deftly kills both robbers with skill and precision. He is hailed as a hero and the story is picked up the national [[news media]]. Soon after, Tom is visited by [[Philadelphia]]-based [[mobster]] Carl Fogarty, who alleges that Tom is actually a former mob [[hitman]] named Joey Cusack. Tom vehemently denies this, but Carl remains persistent and begins to stalk the Stall family. Under pressure from Carl and his newfound fame, Tom's relationships with his family becomes strained.

Following an argument with Tom over the use of violence on a bully at his school, Jack runs away. He is caught by Carl, who, with Jack as his hostage, goes with his henchmen to the Stall house and demands that "Joey" return to Philadelphia with them. After the gangsters release Jack, Tom efficiently kills one of the two henchmen and severely injures the other, but Carl shoots and incapacitates Tom. Tom finally admits he is Joey. Before Carl can shoot Tom, Jack kills him. 

At the hospital, Edie confronts Tom who admits to being Joey Cusack. He tells Edie that he ran away from Philadelphia to escape his criminal past. This admission deepens the tensions in their marriage.

After Tom gets out of the hospital, Sam, the local sheriff, expresses his concern and suspicions. As Tom is about to confess, Edie lies to Sam and convinces him to leave. Edie and Tom then get into a [[domestic dispute]], culminating in violent sex. Afterward, Edie and Jack continue to further distance themselves from Tom, leaving him isolated.

Tom's brother, [[crime boss]] Richie Cusack, calls him and demands his return to Philadelphia, threatening to come to Indiana if he does not. In Philadelphia, Tom learns that the mobsters he offended took out their frustrations on Richie, penalizing him financially and delaying his advancement in the organization. Tom offers to make peace, but Richie orders his men to kill his brother. Tom manages to kill most of the gangsters and escapes. As Richie and his last henchman are hunting for him, Tom kills the henchman, takes his gun, and confronts Richie outside. Tom kills him with a single gunshot to the head.

Tom returns home, where the atmosphere is tense and silent as the family sits around the dinner table. His young daughter eventually hands him a dinner plate. Some moments later, his son offers him a communal plate of food and Edie looks at Tom with tears in her eyes.

==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Viggo Mortensen]] as Joey Cusack / Tom Stall
* [[Maria Bello]] as Edie Stall
* [[Ed Harris]] as Carl Fogarty
* [[William Hurt]] as Richie Cusack
* [[Ashton Holmes]] as Jack Stall
* [[Peter MacNeill]] as Sheriff Sam Carney
* [[Stephen McHattie]] as Leland Jones
* [[Greg Bryk]] as Billy Orser
* [[R. D. Reid]] as Pat
* Sumela Kay as Judy
* Gerry Quigley as Mick
* Deborah Drakeford as Charlotte
* Heidi Hayes as Sarah Stall
* [[Aidan Devine]] as Charlie Roarke
* Bill McDonald as Frank Mulligan
* Michelle McCree as Jenny Wyeth
* Ian Matthews as Ruben
* [[Morgan Kelly]] as Buddy
* [[Kyle Schmid]] as Bobby
}}

==Production==
The film is loosely based on the original graphic novel. Screenwriter Josh Olson intended from the beginning to use the original story as a springboard to explore the themes that interested him.

Mortensen read Olson's original version of the script and "was quite disappointed. It was 120-odd pages of just mayhem; kind of senseless, really." He only agreed to do the movie after meeting with Cronenberg, who (according to Mortensen) reworked the script.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robey |first1=Tim |title=Viggo Mortensen interview: Peter Jackson sacrificed subtlety for CGI |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10826867/Viggo-Mortensen-interview-Peter-Jackson-sacrificed-subtlety-for-CGI.html |website=telegraph.co.uk |date=May 14, 2014 |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=13 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212023255/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10826867/Viggo-Mortensen-interview-Peter-Jackson-sacrificed-subtlety-for-CGI.html |archive-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref>

Most of the film was shot in [[Millbrook, Ontario]]. The shopping centre scene was shot in [[Tottenham, Ontario]], and the climactic scene was shot at the historic [[Eaton Hall (King City)|Eaton Hall]] Mansion, located in [[King City, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2006/06/c3359.html |title=Toronto Film Studios begins construction of FILMPORT film/media complex |date=September 6, 2006 |publisher=CNW Group |agency=Newswire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012210840/http://newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2006/06/c3359.html |archive-date=October 12, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Harrison Ford]] turned down the role of Tom Stall.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0WwTQewI4cC&pg=PA158|title=The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies: Featuring the 100 Greatest Gangster Films of All Time|isbn=9780762441549|last1=Anastasia|first1=George|last2=MacNow|first2=Glen|date=27 September 2011|publisher=Running Press |access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=November 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125072830/https://books.google.com/books?id=p0WwTQewI4cC&pg=PA158#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Cronenberg stated that "I think it took three weeks to edit".{{sfn|Cronenberg|2006|p=179}}

===Alternate versions===
The U.S. and European versions differ on only two fight scenes - one where Tom breaks the nose of one of Fogarty's thugs and one where he stomps on the throat of one of Richie Cusack's thugs. Both scenes display more blood flowing or gushing out of the victims in the European version. In addition, a more pronounced bone-crushing sound effect is used when Tom stomps on the thug's throat.<ref>''A History of Violence'' DVD Extra: U.S. vs. European.</ref>

A deleted scene, known as "Scene 44", features a [[dream sequence]] in the diner, where Fogarty tells Tom he will kill his family and him, to which Tom responds by shooting him with his shotgun at close range. He then approaches Fogarty's mangled body, which raises a gun and shoots him. In behind the scenes footage, Cronenberg expressed apprehension about the scene's similarity to his previous work. He even suggested a desire to have Fogarty retrieve the gun from his chest cavity had the action not been too similar to a scene from ''[[Videodrome]]''.<ref>''A History of Violence'' DVD Extra: Scene 44.</ref>

===Interpretation===
The film's title plays on multiple levels of meaning. Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] stated that Cronenberg refers to three possibilities:

{{blockquote|... (1) a suspect with a long history of violence; (2) the historical use of violence as a means of settling disputes, and (3) the innate violence of Darwinian evolution, in which better-adapted organisms replace those less able to cope. "I am a complete Darwinian", says Cronenberg, whose new film is in many ways about the survival of the fittest—at all costs.<ref name="ebert"/>}}

Cronenberg himself described the film as a meditation on the human body and its relationship to violence:

<blockquote>For me the first fact of human existence is the human body. I'm not an atheist, but for me to turn away from any aspect of the human body to me is a philosophical betrayal. And there's a lot of art and religion whose whole purpose is to turn away from the human body. I feel in my art that my mandate is to not do that. So whether it's beautiful things—the sexuality part, or the violent part or the gooey part—it's just body fluids. It's when Elliott in ''Dead Ringer'' (''sic'') says, "Why are there no beauty contests for the insides of bodies?" It's a thought that disturbs me. How can we be disgusted by our own bodies? That really doesn't make any human sense. It makes some animal sense but it doesn't make human sense so I'm always discussing that in my movies and in this movie in particular. I don't ever feel that I've been exploitive in a crude, vulgar way, or just doing it to get attention. It's always got a purpose which I can be very articulate about. In this movie, we've got an audience that's definitely going to applaud these acts of violence and they do because it's set up that these acts are justifiable and almost heroic at times. But I'm saying, "Okay, if you can applaud that, can you applaud this?" because this is the result of that gunshot in the head. It's not nice. And even if the violence is justifiable, the consequences of the violence are exactly the same. The body does not know what was the morality of that act. So I'm asking the audience to see if they can contain the whole experience of this violent act instead of just the heroic/dramatic one. I'm saying "Here's the really nasty effects on these nasty guys but still, the effects are very nasty." And that's the paradox and conundrum."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cinephiliabeyond.org/a-history-of-violence/ |title='A History of Violence': David Cronenberg's Superb Study of the Basic Impulses that Drive Humanity |first=Sven |last=Mikulec |date=October 20, 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125202707/https://cinephiliabeyond.org/a-history-of-violence/ |url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

==Music==
The soundtrack to ''A History of Violence'' was released on October 11, 2005.

==Release==
===Theatrical===
''A History of Violence'' premiered at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] on May 16, 2005,{{sfn|Mathijs|2008|p=233}} and was released in the United States on September 30 following a limited release on September 23, 2005.

===Home media===
The film was released on [[DVD]] and VHS formats on March 14, 2006, and was reported by the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' as being the last major Hollywood film to be released on [[VHS]], excluding limited promotional releases.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/zap-dvd-ahistoryofviolence-story.html|title=A History of Violence|first=Daniel|last=Fienberg|publisher=Morning Call|date=2006-03-14|access-date=2019-11-02|archive-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102113804/https://www.mcall.com/zap-dvd-ahistoryofviolence-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
The film started with a limited release in 14 theaters and grossed $515,992 at the box office, averaging $36,856 per theater. A week later, it went on a wide release in 1,340 theaters and grossed $8.1 million over the weekend. During its entire theatrical run, the film grossed $31.5 million in the United States and a total of $61.4 million worldwide.<ref name="bom">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=historyofviolence.htm|title=A History of Violence (2005)|access-date=March 7, 2010|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|archive-date=June 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607152715/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=historyofviolence.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|88|7.90|216|''A History of Violence'' raises compelling and thoughtful questions about the nature of violence, while representing a return to form for director David Cronenberg in one of his more uncharacteristic pieces.|ref=yes|access-date=May 11, 2023}} {{Metacritic film prose|82|37|ref=yes|access-date=May 11, 2023}} Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C+" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemascore.com/|title=Find CinemaScore|format=Type "History of Violence, A" in the search box|publisher=[[CinemaScore]]|access-date=April 7, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809062201/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' critic [[Peter Travers]] gave the film four stars, highlighting its "explosive power and subversive wit", and lauded David Cronenberg as a "world-class director, at the top of his startlingly creative form".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/a-history-of-violence-20050930|title=A History of Violence Review|access-date=March 10, 2011|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 30, 2005|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610000016/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/a-history-of-violence-20050930|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' reviewer [[Lisa Schwarzbaum]] gave the film an A, concluding that "David Cronenberg's brilliant movie" was "without a doubt one of the very best of the year".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1110769,00.html|title=A History of Violence|access-date=January 22, 2010|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=September 28, 2005|archive-date=December 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203170755/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1110769,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Manohla Dargis]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called the film a "mindblower", and noted Cronenberg's "refusal to let us indulge in movie violence without paying a price".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/movies/23viol.html|title=Movie Review - A History of Violence|access-date=January 22, 2010|work=The New York Times|first=Manohla|last=Dargis|date=September 23, 2005|archive-date=June 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601183716/http://movies.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/movies/23viol.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] also gave the film a positive review, observing, "''A History of Violence'' seems deceptively straightforward, coming from a director with Cronenberg's quirky complexity, but think again. This is not a movie about plot, but about character." He gave it three and a half out of four stars.<ref name="ebert">{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/REVIEWS/50919002/1023|title=A History of Violence|access-date=January 22, 2010|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|archive-date=November 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119100233/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/REVIEWS/50919002/1023|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It was ranked the best film of 2005 in the [[Village Voice Film Poll]].<ref>[http://www.villagevoice.com/take/seven.php?page=winners&category=1 > take 7 film critics' poll], ''Village Voice'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128201426/http://www.villagevoice.com/take/seven.php?page=winners&category=1 |date=January 28, 2008 }}</ref>

In December 2005, it was named to the [[Toronto International Film Festival]]'s annual Canada's top-ten list of the year's best Canadian films.<ref>"Topping the list: Canada's cinematic achievements". ''[[National Post]]'', December 14, 2005.</ref>

[[BBC]] film critic [[Mark Kermode]] named the film the best of 2005.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

===Retrospective lists===

In 2010, ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' named the film the 448th-greatest film of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |url=http://www.empireonline.com/500/10.asp  |access-date=October 9, 2010 |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116014925/https://www.empireonline.com/500/10.asp |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The French film magazine ''[[Cahiers du Cinéma]]'' ranked the film as fifth place in its list of best films of the decade, 2000–2009.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Palmarez 2000 |trans-title=Awards 2000 |magazine=[[Cahiers du Cinéma]] |url=http://www.cahiersducinema./PALMARES-2000.html |access-date=2013-12-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104210317/http://www.cahiersducinema.com/PALMARES-2000.html |archive-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref>

In his list of best films of the decade, [[Peter Travers]] named this number four, praising director David Cronenberg:

<blockquote>
Is Canadian director David Cronenberg the most unsung maverick artist in movies? Bet on it&nbsp;... Cronenberg knows violence is wired into our DNA. His film showed how we secretly crave what we publicly condemn. This is potent poison for a thriller, and unadulterated, unforgettable Cronenberg.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/10-best-movies-of-the-decade-19691231/a-history-of-violence-19691231|title=A History of Violence (2005)|access-date=March 10, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 3, 2010|archive-date=January 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114030632/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/10-best-movies-of-the-decade-19691231/a-history-of-violence-19691231|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>

In 2016, the film was ranked among [[BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century|the 100 greatest films since 2000]] in an international critics' poll by 177 critics around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films|access-date=18 April 2017|work=BBC|archive-date=August 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823034303/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Accolades for ''A History of Violence''
|-
!scope="col"| Award
!scope="col"| Category
!scope="col"| Nominee(s)
!scope="col"| Result
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[78th Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]<ref name="Oscars2006">{{Cite news|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2006 |title=The 78th Academy Awards (2006) Nominees and Winners |access-date=November 20, 2011 |publisher=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] (AMPAS) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109220946/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2006 |archive-date=November 9, 2014 }}</ref>
| [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[William Hurt]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| [[Josh Olson]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[American Film Institute Awards#2005|American Film Institute Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Awards 2005|url=https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2005/|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|date=|accessdate=January 19, 2022|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018022840/https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2005/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Top 10 Movie of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Austin Film Critics Association Awards 2005|Austin Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://austinfilmcritics.org/2005-awards-3401cdabc9e6 |title=2005 Austin Film Critics Association Awards |website=[[Austin Film Critics Association]] |access-date=December 6, 2016 |archive-date=December 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204144748/http://austinfilmcritics.org/awards/2005-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| Awards Circuit Community Awards
| Best Director
| [[David Cronenberg]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| [[Maria Bello]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Josh Olson
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| Best Cinematography
| [[Peter Suschitzky]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Original Score
| [[Howard Shore]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Belgian Film Critics Association|Belgian Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/article/261348/kim-ki-duk-grand-prix-de-l-ucc.html|title=Kim Ki-duk, Grand Prix de l'UCC|work=[[La Libre Belgique]]|date=January 9, 2006|access-date=October 26, 2012|language=fr|archive-date=August 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822031348/https://www.lalibre.be/culture/cinema/2006/01/09/kim-ki-duk-grand-prix-de-lucc-RK3DXPNONNCFFFLCU5TJTETFEU/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| [[Grand Prix (Belgian Film Critics Association)|Grand Prix]]
| rowspan="2"| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[59th Bodil Awards|Bodil Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinemaonline.dk/Anmeldelse/aarets_bodil_nomineringer___2006.1738.html |title=Årets Bodil-nomineringer – 2006 |publisher=AOK |access-date=2013-03-25 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202231108/http://cinemaonline.dk/Anmeldelse/aarets_bodil_nomineringer___2006.1738.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[Bodil Award for Best American Film|Best American Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[59th British Academy Film Awards|British Academy Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/film |title=BAFTA Awards: Film in 2006 |website=[[BAFTA]] |year=2006 |access-date=16 September 2016 |ref={{harvid|BAFTA|2006}} |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305144619/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2006/film |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists|Cahiers du Cinéma]] {{small|(2005)}}
| Top 10 Film
| rowspan="3"| David Cronenberg
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
|-
| [[Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists|Cahiers du Cinéma]] {{small|(2010)}}
| Best Film of the 2000s
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| [[2005 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]]<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4277356/year/2005.html |title=Festival de Cannes: A History of Violence |access-date=December 5, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=December 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204132042/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4277356/year/2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[Palme d'Or]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cofca.org/awards-2005/ |title=4th Annual Central Ohio Film Critics Association Awards |website=Central Ohio Film Critics Association |access-date=January 15, 2006 |archive-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603184801/https://cofca.org/awards-2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Best Film
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| [[31st César Awards|César Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.academie-cinema.org/evenements/ceremonie-des-cesar-2006/ |title=The 2006 Caesars Ceremony |publisher=[[César Awards]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920222506/https://www.academie-cinema.org/evenements/ceremonie-des-cesar-2006/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2005|Chicago Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives |title=1988-2013 Award Winner Archives |website=[[Chicago Film Critics Association]] |date=January 2013 |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410183233/https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[11th Critics' Choice Awards|Critics' Choice Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2005.php |title=The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 2005 |publisher=[[Critics Choice Association|Broadcast Film Critics Association]] |access-date=August 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629073908/http://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2005.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2012}}</ref>
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards 2005|Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Picture]]
| {{draw|8th Place}}
|-
| [[David di Donatello|David di Donatello Awards]]
| [[David di Donatello for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[Directors Guild of Canada|Directors Guild of Canada Awards]]<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/david-cronenberg-sweeps-director-s-guild-of-canada-awards-1.593632 "David Cronenberg sweeps Directors<!-- "Director's" in original --> Guild of Canada awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929041710/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/david-cronenberg-sweeps-director-s-guild-of-canada-awards-1.593632 |date=September 29, 2022 }}. [[CBC Arts]], October 15, 2006.</ref>
| colspan="2"| Outstanding Feature Film
| {{won}}
|-
| [[DGC Award for Best Direction in a Feature Film|Outstanding Direction – Feature Film]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Picture Editing – Feature Film
| [[Ronald Sanders (film editor)|Ronald Sanders]]
| {{won}}
|-
| Outstanding Production Design – Feature Film
| [[Carol Spier]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Outstanding Sound Editing – Feature Film
| Alastair Gray and Michael O'Farrell
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Edgar Awards|Edgar Allan Poe Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edgarawards.com/category-list-best-motion-picture/ |title=Category List – Best Motion Picture |website=[[Edgar Awards]] |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129092724/https://edgarawards.com/category-list-best-motion-picture/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[List of Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay winners|Best Motion Picture Screenplay]]
| Josh Olson {{small|(screenplay)}};<br />[[John Wagner]] and [[Vince Locke]] {{small|([[A History of Violence (comics)|graphic novel]])}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[11th Empire Awards|Empire Awards]]
| colspan="2"| [[Empire Award for Best Thriller|Best Thriller]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Empire Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Viggo Mortensen]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Awards 2006|French Syndicate of Cinema Critics Awards]]
| Best Foreign Film
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[Gold Derby|Gold Derby Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldderby.com/2005-goldderby-film-awards/ |title=2005 Gold Derby Film Awards |website=[[Gold Derby]] |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2016 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421024050/https://www.goldderby.com/2005-goldderby-film-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Best Motion Picture
| [[Chris Bender (film producer)|Chris Bender]], David Cronenberg and [[J.C. Spink]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[63rd Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/history-violence |title=A History of Violence – Golden Globes |website=[[HFPA]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |ref={{harvid|HFPA|2006}} |archive-date=June 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614035139/https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/history-violence |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama|Best Motion Picture – Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama|Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]]
| rowspan="2"| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[JoBlo.com#2005 Awards|Golden Schmoes Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |title=GOLDEN SCHMOES WINNERS AND NOMINEES (2005) |url=http://www.joblo.com/goldenschmoes/results/golden-schmoes-winners-and-nominees-2005/ |website=JoBlo.com |accessdate=2021-12-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226195139/http://www.joblo.com/goldenschmoes/results/golden-schmoes-winners-and-nominees-2005/ |archivedate=2013-02-26 |language=en}}</ref>
| Best Supporting Actress of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Gotham Independent Film Awards 2005|Gotham Independent Film Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2005 Winners and nominees|url=http://gotham.ifp.org/flash/Timeline/2005.html|publisher=Gotham Independent Film Awards|accessdate=November 9, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219125955/http://gotham.ifp.org/flash/Timeline/2005.html|archivedate=February 19, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
| [[Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature|Best Feature]]
| David Cronenberg, Chris Bender and J.C. Spink
| {{nom}}
|-
| Hollywood Legacy Awards
| Writer of the Year
| Josh Olson
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[International Cinephile Society|International Cinephile Society Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://icsfilm.org/our-yearly-awards/2006-ics-award-winners/ |title=2006 ICS Award Winners |website=[[International Cinephile Society]] |date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=June 14, 2010 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122094230/https://icsfilm.org/our-yearly-awards/2006-ics-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Top 10 Films of the Year
| {{draw|3rd Place}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg 
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Josh Olson
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[International Film Music Critics Association|International Film Music Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2005-ifmca-awards/ |title=2005 IFMCA Awards |author=[[International Film Music Critics Association|IFMCA]] |date=2006 |website=IFMCA |accessdate=May 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029071922/https://filmmusiccritics.org/awards-archive/2005-ifmca-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[International Film Music Critics Association Award for Best Original Score for a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror Film|Best Original Score for a Horror/Thriller Film]]
| Howard Shore
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| International Online Cinema Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Picture
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg 
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Actor
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Italian Online Movie Awards
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg 
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| rowspan="2"| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-2000-09/ |title=KCFCC Award Winners – 2000-09 |date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140318131739/http://kcfcc.org/kcfcc-award-winners-2000-09/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{won}}
|-
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lvfcs.org/sierra-award-winners.html |title=Previous Sierra Award Winners |website=lvfcs.org |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225035112/http://www.lvfcs.org/sierra-award-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Best Picture
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| [[London Film Critics Circle Awards 2005|London Film Critics Circle Awards]]<ref name="London Critics Circle nominations announced">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/news/827/london-critics-circle-nominations-announced.html |title=London Critics Circle nominations announced |publisher=Time Out London |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625093902/http://www.timeout.com/film/news/827/london-critics-circle-nominations-announced.html |archivedate=25 June 2012 }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Film of the Year|Film of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Director of the Year|Director of the Year]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year|Actor of the Year]]
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actress of the Year|Actress of the Year]]
| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[2005 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards|Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lafca.net/Years/2005.php |title=The 31st Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards |website=[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=July 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711060611/http://www.lafca.net/Years/2005.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| William Hurt
| {{won}}
|-
| [[National Board of Review Awards 2005|National Board of Review Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/2005/ |title=2005 Award Winners |website=[[National Board of Review]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=August 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814171105/https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[National Board of Review: Top Ten Films|Top Ten Films]]
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[2005 National Society of Film Critics Awards|National Society of Film Critics Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/ |title=Past Awards |website=[[National Society of Film Critics]] |date=December 19, 2009 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729100021/https://nationalsocietyoffilmcritics.com/about-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{draw|2nd Place}}
|-
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| [[National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Ed Harris]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="5"| [[2005 New York Film Critics Circle Awards|New York Film Critics Circle Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nyfcc.com/awards/?awardyear=2005 |title=2005 New York Film Critics Circle Awards |website=[[New York Film Critics Circle]] |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418203500/https://www.nyfcc.com/awards/?awardyear=2005 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| William Hurt
| {{won}}
|-
| [[New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| North Texas Film Critics Association Awards
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="9"| Online Film & Television Association Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oftaawards.com/film-awards/10th-annual-film-awards-2005/ |title=10th Annual Film Awards (2005) |website=Online Film & Television Association |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025410/http://www.oftaawards.com/film-awards/10th-annual-film-awards-2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Best Picture
| Chris Bender, David Cronenberg and J.C. Spink
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Adapted Screenplay
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Film Editing
| Ronald Sanders
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Casting
| Mark Bennett and Deirdre Brown
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Cinematic Moment
| Stair Scene
| {{nom}}
|-
| colspan="2"| Best Official Film Website
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="6"| [[Online Film Critics Society Awards 2005|Online Film Critics Society Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ofcs.org/awards/2005-awards-9th-annual/ |title=9th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards (2005) |website=[[Online Film Critics Society]] |date=January 3, 2012 |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=August 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810103554/https://ofcs.org/awards/2005-awards-9th-annual/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| William Hurt
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress]]
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| Josh Olson
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| rowspan="2"| Ronald Sanders
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2005|San Diego Film Critics Society Awards]]
| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Editing|Best Editing]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Sant Jordi Awards]]
| Best Foreign Film
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[10th Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards {{small|(2005)}}]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2005/ |title=2005 Satellite Awards |website=[[Satellite Awards]] |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414172854/https://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Satellite Award for Best Film|Best Motion Picture – Drama]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture|Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama]]
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture|Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama]]
| Maria Bello
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[11th Satellite Awards|Satellite Awards {{small|(2006)}}]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2006/ |title=2006 Satellite Awards |website=[[Satellite Awards]] |access-date=August 24, 2021 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330020539/http://www.pressacademy.com/award_cat/2006/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Satellite Award for Outstanding Overall Blu-Ray/DVD|Outstanding Overall DVD]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[32nd Saturn Awards|Saturn Awards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Past Saturn Awards |work=[[Saturn Awards]].org |access-date=May 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914184217/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=September 14, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Action or Adventure Film|Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| William Hurt
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[2006 Scream Awards|Scream Awards]]
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| Most Heroic Performance
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{nom}}
|-
| The "Holy Sh!t"/"Jump-From-Your-Seat" Award
| The diner shootout
| {{nom}}
|-
| SESC Film Festival
| Best Foreign Film (Audience Award)
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sefca.net/winners#/2005 |title=2005 SEFA Awards |website=sefca.net |access-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213034215/https://www.sefca.net/winners#/2005 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Best Picture
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| [[St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards 2005|St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards]]
| [[St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| [[Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2005|Toronto Film Critics Association Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://torontofilmcritics.com/past-award-winners/ |title=Past Award Winners |website=[[Toronto Film Critics Association]] |date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223152030/https://torontofilmcritics.com/past-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| colspan="2"| [[Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
| colspan="2"| [[Rogers Best Canadian Film Award|Best Canadian Film]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Turkish Film Critics Association|Turkish Film Critics Association Awards]]
| colspan="2"| Best Foreign Film
| {{draw|3rd Place}}
|-
| colspan="2"| [[USC Scripter Award]]s<ref>{{cite web |url=https://libraries.usc.edu/scripter/past-scripter-awards |title=Past Scripter Awards |website=[[USC Scripter Awards]] |access-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-date=February 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222132728/https://libraries.usc.edu/scripter/past-scripter-awards |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Josh Olson {{small|(screenwriter)}};<br />John Wagner and Vince Locke {{small|(authors)}}
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| Utah Film Critics Association Awards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://utahfilmcritics.com/awards/2005-2/ |title=2005 Utah Film Critics Association Awards |website=Utah Film Critics Association |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=April 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414172853/http://utahfilmcritics.com/awards/2005-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Best Actress
| Maria Bello
| {{Runner-up}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| William Hurt
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2005|Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2006/02/07/6th-annual-award-winners/ |title=6th Annual VFCC Award Winners |website=Utah Film Critics Association |date=February 7, 2006 |access-date=February 7, 2006 |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227123737/https://vancouverfilmcritics.com/2006/02/07/6th-annual-award-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| David Cronenberg
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="7"| [[Village Voice Film Poll]]
| colspan="2"| Best Film
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Director
| David Cronenberg
| {{won}}
|-
| Best Lead Performance
| Viggo Mortensen
| {{draw|7th Place}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| Best Supporting Performance
| Maria Bello
| {{won}}
|-
| Ed Harris
| {{draw|8th Place}}
|-
| William Hurt
| {{draw|5th Place}}
|-
| Best Screenplay
| rowspan="2"| Josh Olson
| {{draw|3rd Place}}
|-
| [[58th Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Awards]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551 |title=Awards Winners |date= |work=wga.org |publisher=Writers Guild of America |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551 |archive-date=December 5, 2012 |access-date=2010-06-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[27th Young Artist Awards|Young Artist Awards]]<ref name="Young Artist Awards 3">{{cite web|url=http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms27.htm |title=27th Annual Young Artist Awards |access-date=2011-03-31 |work=YoungArtistAwards.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704071111/http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms27.htm |archive-date=2010-07-04 }}</ref>
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actress Age Ten or Younger
| Heidi Hayes
| {{nom}}
|}

==Indian adaptation==
[[Leo (2023 Indian film)|''Leo'']], a 2023 Indian Tamil language film co-written and directed by [[Lokesh Kanagaraj]], is an adaptation of ''A History of Violence''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abrams |first=Simon |title=Leo movie review & film summary (2023) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/leo-movie-review-2023 |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022170656/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/leo-movie-review-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lokesh said that ''Leo'' is his tribute to David Cronenberg's ''A History of Violence''. According to Lokesh, "it inspired me to write ''Leo''. ''A History of Violence'' left its mark on me and from that this movie was born. ''Leo'' is my tribute".<ref name="2005movie">{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=‘Leo: Bloody Sweet’ Director Lokesh Kanagaraj on Vijay-Starring Hit: ‘It Is My Tribute to David Cronenberg’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/asia/vijay-leo-lokesh-kanagaraj-1235782089/ |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=1 November 2024 |date=7 November 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Works cited==
* {{cite book|last=Cronenberg |first=David |author-link=David Cronenberg |title=David Cronenberg: Interviews with Serge Grünberg |publisher=Plexus Publishing |date=2006 |url=https://archive.org/details/davidcronenbergi0000cron |isbn=0859653765}}
* {{cite book|last=Mathijs |first=Ernest |author-link=Ernest Mathijs |title=The Cinema of David Cronenberg: From Baron of Blood to Cultural Hero |publisher=[[Columbia University Press|Wallflower Press]] |date=2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/cinemaofdavidcro0000math |isbn=9781905674657}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|A History of Violence}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0399146}}
* {{AllMovie title|308382}}
* {{Mojo title|historyofviolence}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|history_of_violence}}
* [https://archive.org/download/a-history-of-violence-paradox-1997-pudgy/A%20History%20Of%20Violence%20%28Paradox%29%20%281997%29%20%28Pudgy%29.pdf Graphic novel preview]

{{David Cronenberg}}
{{DC Comics films}}
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|title = Awards for ''A History of Violence''
|list =
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Canadian Film}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Film}}}}
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