8.5/10
168,336
203 user 126 critic

Boardwalk Empire 

Trailer
1:02 | Trailer
An Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era.

Creator:

Terence Winter
Reviews
Popularity
306 ( 14)

Episodes

Seasons


Years



5   4   3   2   1  
2014   2013   2012   2011   2010  
Top Rated TV #178 | Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 62 wins & 184 nominations. See more awards »

Videos

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Cast

Series cast summary:
Steve Buscemi ...  Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson 57 episodes, 2010-2014
Kelly Macdonald ...  Margaret Thompson / ... 56 episodes, 2010-2014
Michael Shannon ...  Nelson Van Alden / ... 56 episodes, 2010-2014
Shea Whigham ...  Elias 'Eli' Thompson 56 episodes, 2010-2014
Stephen Graham ...  Al Capone 57 episodes, 2010-2014
Vincent Piazza ...  Lucky Luciano 57 episodes, 2010-2014
Michael Kenneth Williams ...  Chalky White 56 episodes, 2010-2014
Paul Sparks ...  Mickey Doyle 56 episodes, 2010-2014
Gretchen Mol ...  Gillian Darmody 53 episodes, 2010-2014
Michael Stuhlbarg ...  Arnold Rothstein 48 episodes, 2010-2013
Anthony Laciura ...  Eddie Kessler 48 episodes, 2010-2013
Jack Huston ...  Richard Harrow 41 episodes, 2010-2013
Anatol Yusef ...  Meyer Lansky 31 episodes, 2010-2014
Brady Noon ...  Tommy Darmody 30 episodes, 2010-2013
Connor Noon ...  Tommy Darmody 30 episodes, 2010-2013
Lucy Gallina ...  Emily Schroeder 29 episodes, 2010-2013
Josie Gallina ...  Emily Schroeder 29 episodes, 2010-2013
Declan McTigue Declan McTigue ...  Teddy Schroeder / ... 28 episodes, 2010-2013
Rory McTigue Rory McTigue ...  Teddy Schroeder / ... 28 episodes, 2010-2013
Michael Pitt ...  James 'Jimmy' Darmody 25 episodes, 2010-2012
Aleksa Palladino ...  Angela Darmody 24 episodes, 2010-2011
Paz de la Huerta ...  Lucy Danziger 24 episodes, 2010-2011
Dabney Coleman ...  Commodore Louis Kaestner 24 episodes, 2010-2011
Charlie Cox ...  Owen Sleater 23 episodes, 2011-2012
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Storyline

Set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s Boardwalk Empire is the story of Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, the treasurer of Atlantic County, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Due to his relationships with mobsters as well as political contacts, the Federal Government start to take an interest in him. His lavish lifestyle seems at odds with his position, and as well as his connections, there is prolific bootlegging in the area. Written by WellardRockard

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Atlantic City, 1920. When alcohol was outlawed, outlaws became kings. See more »

Genres:

Crime | Drama | History

Certificate:

18A | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the 54th Grammy Awards. See more »

Goofs

Al Capone's son, Sonny, is portrayed as being entirely deaf at the age of two. In real life Sonny contracted an infection that left him only partially deaf and only at age seven. However, this series is intended to be fictional, not based on real life events. Factual inaccuracies are therefore not considered goofs. See more »

Quotes

Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson: What's 'Motherfucker' mean?
See more »

Connections

Referenced in 500 Questions: Episode #1.7 (2015) See more »

Soundtracks

Straight Up and Down
(Opening Theme)
Written and performed by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
See more »

User Reviews

 
TV's best drama that's compelling and informative it shows the early days of America's Playground as it ran with politics, corruption, greed and power struggle!
9 November 2010 | by blanbrnSee all my reviews

HBO has once again done it, they are simply the best at putting out provocative, and compelling interesting original series and this time period piece drama "Boardwalk Empire" is clearly a big knockout winner. It's filled with enough drama, intrigue, suspense and complex emotions to make a viewer hooked and addicted to me it's like an early version of "The Sopranos" as producer and creator Terence Winter does a crafty and great job with this new work just the way he did when he wrote for "The Sopranos".

As long before the days of slot machines, Donald Trump, Chinese massage places, street walking hookers, and rundown buildings this period piece shows the real and early days of Atlantic City. Set in 1920's Atlantic City, NJ when Prohibition has just gone into effect this series shows how the city's kings became outlaws. Dealing with the real life Nucky Johnson, yet the series changes the name to Nucky Thompson(played brilliant by veteran Steve Buscemi)who is A.C.'s treasurer and as with any central character Nucky is a complex man. He's a good politician standing for what he believes in, still he's quickly amoral by doing favors and bribes overseeing criminal enterprises and money from booze that's imported with the help of his brother the sheriff. Still Nucky has a soft heart for people in need especially for that of a local lady Margaret Schroeder(played wonderful by Kelly MacDonald)who captures Nucky's fancy with her loving care, a big difference from the hot steamy passion that Nucky has with hot spirited flame Lucy(Paz De la Huerta).

Aside from that a good supporting turn for the series and Nucky is that of hot young buck sidekick and want to be leader Jimmy Darmody(Michael Pitt)who's an aggressive loose cannon kick butt kind of guy. As he skates in the business of battling rivals while trying to impress Nucky with scores and he even brushes in business for Nucky in Chicago and New York as this series even shows the early start of legends Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. As Jimmy's the great wild card of the series a hot headed war war I vet who couldn't be tamed at home by his sexy wife Angela(Aleksa Palladino)as this boy is just a little complex from having a showgirl for a mom Gillian(Gretchen Mol).

And with any early mob drama it's only fitting to have a good guy trying to sort out the mess and bring corruption down well enter federal agent Nelson Van Alden(played with toughness and zeal from Michael Shannon)an intense by the book lawman who's determined as it's always interesting to watch him follow Nucky's dealings and travels.

Overall this now is the best show on TV and only the best in the business HBO could have done it. "Boardwalk Empire" shows the roaring twenties as vibrant and classic meanwhile the life of this place is a violent underworld that had to be in a time of social prosperity and progress that was upstaged by corruption and booze debauchery in the Prohibition era. It's such a historical drama that it's educational really as it shows with it's central character Nucky Thompson life is complex and always temptation will override playing by the book as easy money is the way to live, still when dealing with money, booze, and sex it's tough and violent. Still "Boardwalk Empire" does all of this in such a classic way that's exciting and exhilarating as it's dazzling make it a must see for yourself and toast up and drink up to this it should last a little bit.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 September 2010 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Boardwalk Empire See more »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD
See full technical specs »

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