The Courier | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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85%

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214 Reviews

95%

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1,000+ Verified Ratings

THE COURIER is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the behest of the UK's MI-6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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The Courier

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Critics Consensus

The Courier delivers a rousingly effective old-school spy adventure elevated by a thrilling fact-based story and Benedict Cumberbatch's nervy central performance.

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Audience Says

Benedict Cumberbatch is terrific in The Courier, hooking the viewer in while the slow-burning story shifts into gear.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Combines plenty of the ingredients for a first-class espionage thriller but doesn't quite deliver.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 15, 2021

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Linda Marric

The Jewish Chronicle

Intriguing and genuinely heartfelt without ever veering into melodrama or hackneyed spy movie tropes.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2021

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Clarisse Loughrey

Independent (UK)

The Courier may have its moments, but it's also burdened with certain expectations.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 14, 2021

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Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

What could have easily been a boring slog of a film is turned into a daring, intense drama

Jul 26, 2023

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Sean P. Means

The Movie Cricket

Cooke has clearly studied "The Third Man" and John LeCarré's spy novels, and creates an oppressive atmosphere filled with deep shadows from where suspicious eyes may be watching.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 27, 2023

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M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

The Courier has everything you want in a Cold War spy thriller. It’s solidly paced and strikes a nice balance of suspense and moving human drama.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 9, 2022

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Audience Reviews

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Janice M Acting, camera focusing on facial expressions Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/21 Full Review Jean Great story, great acting and great music and cinematography Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/03/21 Full Review denise m Suspenseful, uplifting, true story. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/18/21 Full Review Juan U Good movie. Not great, but good. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/06/21 Full Review AdProf44 Great dramatics Cold War story. A little slow in the start but the intrigue and action intensifies. Worth seeing with great performances by B Cumberbatch and the main cast. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/21 Full Review Kristine A few slow patches but high tension and unexpected denouement. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/29/21 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Dominic Cooke Director Benedict Cumberbatch Greville Wynne Merab Ninidze Oleg Penkovsky Vladimir Chuprikov Nikita Khrushchev James Schofield Cox Rachel Brosnahan Emily Donovan

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The Courier

The Courier: Movie Clip - Just a Salesman

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The Courier: Movie Clip - Use Me

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The Courier

The Courier: Trailer 1

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Synopsis THE COURIER is a true-life spy thriller, the story of an unassuming British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) recruited into one of the greatest international conflicts in history. At the behest of the UK's MI-6 and a CIA operative (Rachel Brosnahan), he forms a covert, dangerous partnership with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky (Merab Ninidze) in an effort to provide crucial intelligence needed to prevent a nuclear confrontation and defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Director: Dominic Cooke
Producer: Adam Ackland, Rory Aitken, Ben Browning, Ben Pugh
Screenwriter: Tom O'Connor
Distributor: Lionsgate - Roadside Attractions
Production Co: 42, SunnyMarch, FilmNation Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Partial Nudity|Brief Strong Language|Smoking Throughout|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2021, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.6M
Runtime: 1h 51m