Trivia

Matthias Schoenaerts was cast after starring opposite Marion Cotillard (who is the partner of director Guillaume Canet) in Rust and Bone (2012). Canet has said that he chose Schoenaerts after hearing Cotillard praising his acting several times. Schoenaerts and Canet had met up briefly on the set of "Rust and Bone", when Canet went to visit Cotillard.

English-language adaptation of Jacques Maillot's French thriller Les liens du sang (2008), which starred Guillaume Canet, the director of Blood Ties, in the role that was played by Billy Crudup in this movie.

James Gray helped Guillaume Canet to translate the dialogue from French to fluent New Yorkese.

Mark Wahlberg was originally cast in the lead role, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

Alfonso Cuarón convinced Clive Owen to read the film's script. Cuarón is thanked in the credits.