HBO Max is adding another high-octane drama to its library with a 2025 spy thriller starring Oscar winner Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) and Emmy winners Laurence Fishburne (Miss Evers’ Boys) and Jon Bernthal (The Bear). The film sees Malek, a desk-guy working with the CIA, anxious to exact some vigilante revenge when his wife is killed during a terrorist attack. Given he’s not necessarily qualified to be a kick-a** agent in the field, his revenge quest isn’t exactly smooth, but he’s a brilliant guy who knows how to pivot and utilize a plan B. So what’s the movie? Enter The Amateur.
‘The Amateur’ is Now on HBO Max
20th Century Studios.
Co-written by Ken Nolan (writer behind Black Hawk Down) and Gary Spinelli, and directed by James Hawes, The Amateur is based on a novel written by former journalist Robert Littell. When the movie premiered in theaters on April 11, 2025, it performed pretty well at the box office. On an estimated budget of $60 million, it brought in over $96 million worldwide. Again starring Malek, Fishburne, and Bernthal, here is an official synopsis of the film, followed by the trailer:
“Charlie Heller (Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge. The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan, Caitríona Balfe, Jon Bernthal, Michael Stuhlbarg, Holt McCallany, Julianne Nicholson, Adrian Martinez, Danny Sapani, and Laurence Fishburne. “The Amateur” is directed by James Hawes. The screenplay is by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli based on the novel by Robert Littell.”
“A Juicy, Stunt-Fueled CIA Cat-and-Mouser”
Now the reviews for The Amateur are somewhat of a mixed bag. As of publication, the Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes is 61%. Thelma Adams of AARP Movies for Grownups said of the movie, “A Juicy, Stunt-Fueled CIA Cat-and-Mouser,” while The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney noted, “Rami Malek transforms from CIA desk jockey into ace field agent in preposterous but entertaining vengeance thriller.”
That being said, a number of outlets panned The Amateur. Odie Henderson’s Boston Globe called The Amateur, “A rather dull affair,” and A.A. Doud wrote for Rolling Stone, “Only a hair overlong at two hours, this is the kind of disposable airport spy thriller that Hollywood rarely makes anymore, and which generally plays fine, maybe best, on cable over a lazy Saturday afternoon.”
You can see for yourself how you feel about The Amateur by watching it now on HBO Max.
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