The Amateur

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7 / 10

1 Review

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7 Based on 1 Votes

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Overview

After his life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a brilliant but introverted CIA decoder takes matters into his own hands when his supervisors refuse to take action.

Media

The Amateur | Official Trailer

Cast

Michael Stuhlbarg

Laurence Fishburne

Director:

James Hawes

Writer:

Robert Littell, Ken Nolan, Gary Spinelli

Release Date:

2025-04-09

Run Time:

123m

Tagline:

Don't underestimate him.

Genres:

Action Thriller

Keywords:

agent based on novel or book blackmail central intelligence agency (cia) computer hacker death of wife enthusiastic escape government assassin government conspiracy government cover-up revenge spy thriller suspenseful

Financials and Popularity

Budget: 60,000,000.00$

Revenue: 96,000,836.00$

Vote Average: 6.9/10

Vote Count: 1575 Votes

Movie Popularity: 23.0923

Spoken Languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 01 May 2026 at 8:07 am

7 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10 THE SUMMARY Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant but quiet CIA cryptographer whose world is shattered when his wife is killed in a senseless terrorist attack in London. When his superiors refuse to take action due to internal politics, Heller decides to take matters into his own hands. Lacking the field experience of a typical agent, he blackmails the agency into training him so he can hunt down those responsible himself. It’s a gritty, pained journey of a man who isn't a natural killer but is forced to become one, using his intellect as much as his weapon to navigate a deadly global conspiracy. THE PROS This is a win for anyone who likes their spy thrillers with a bit more brain than brawn. It hits a 7 because Rami Malek is an absolute banger in this role; he brings a sincere, socially awkward grit to Heller that makes his transformation feel honest rather than like a superhero origin. The film feels grounded—Heller isn't suddenly a parkour expert; he’s a man making mistakes and using his pained determination to survive. The tension is maintained through clever tradecraft and psychological games, making it a fair shout for fans of the 'Bourne' series who want something a bit more methodical. THE CONS It stays at a 7 because the middle act can feel a touch sluggish as the training sequences and bureaucratic subplots take up a lot of screen time. It misses a higher mark because some of the plot twists regarding the CIA’s "real" motivations feel a bit like a "head scratcher" if you look at them too closely, leaning into some fairly standard genre tropes. While the action is gritty, there are a few moments where the transition from "desk geek" to "field operative" feels a bit rushed, pushing the limits of what an honest viewer might believe. THE VERDICT 7/10. A gritty, intelligent, and well-acted thriller that prioritizes tension over explosions. It’s an epic showcase for Malek and an honest look at what happens when a "normal" person is pushed to the edge. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • The film is a remake of the 1981 thriller of the same name, which was based on the novel by Robert Littell, a master of the Cold War espionage genre.• Rami Malek worked with actual intelligence consultants to understand the mindset of a cryptographer, ensuring the technical aspects of his character's "day job" felt authentic.• To maintain a realistic feel, the production filmed on location in various European cities, utilizing the natural, gray-toned grit of the urban landscapes to reflect Heller's internal state. THE VIBE Like a cold cup of coffee and a loaded laptop. It smells of old paper, damp pavement, and the metallic tang of a cold pistol slide.

Videos

The Amateur | Official Trailer

Cast

Michael Stuhlbarg

Laurence Fishburne

Caitríona Balfe

Rachel Brosnahan

Julianne Nicholson

Adrian Martinez

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The Amateur

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 1 May 2026 at 9:07 AM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 7/10
THE SUMMARY
Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant but quiet CIA cryptographer whose world is shattered when his wife is killed in a senseless terrorist attack in London. When his superiors refuse to take action due to internal politics, Heller decides to take matters into his own hands. Lacking the field experience of a typical agent, he blackmails the agency into training him so he can hunt down those responsible himself. It’s a gritty, pained journey of a man who isn’t a natural killer but is forced to become one, using his intellect as much as his weapon to navigate a deadly global conspiracy.
THE PROS
This is a win for anyone who likes their spy thrillers with a bit more brain than brawn. It hits a 7 because Rami Malek is an absolute banger in this role; he brings a sincere, socially awkward grit to Heller that makes his transformation feel honest rather than like a superhero origin. The film feels grounded—Heller isn’t suddenly a parkour expert; he’s a man making mistakes and using his pained determination to survive. The tension is maintained through clever tradecraft and psychological games, making it a fair shout for fans of the ‘Bourne’ series who want something a bit more methodical.
THE CONS
It stays at a 7 because the middle act can feel a touch sluggish as the training sequences and bureaucratic subplots take up a lot of screen time. It misses a higher mark because some of the plot twists regarding the CIA’s “real” motivations feel a bit like a “head scratcher” if you look at them too closely, leaning into some fairly standard genre tropes. While the action is gritty, there are a few moments where the transition from “desk geek” to “field operative” feels a bit rushed, pushing the limits of what an honest viewer might believe.
THE VERDICT
7/10. A gritty, intelligent, and well-acted thriller that prioritizes tension over explosions. It’s an epic showcase for Malek and an honest look at what happens when a “normal” person is pushed to the edge.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• The film is a remake of the 1981 thriller of the same name, which was based on the novel by Robert Littell, a master of the Cold War espionage genre.
• Rami Malek worked with actual intelligence consultants to understand the mindset of a cryptographer, ensuring the technical aspects of his character’s “day job” felt authentic.
• To maintain a realistic feel, the production filmed on location in various European cities, utilizing the natural, gray-toned grit of the urban landscapes to reflect Heller’s internal state.
THE VIBE
Like a cold cup of coffee and a loaded laptop. It smells of old paper, damp pavement, and the metallic tang of a cold pistol slide.

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