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American Assassin

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for American Assassin R 2017 1h 51m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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34% Tomatometer 179 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When Cold War veteran Stan Hurley takes CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp under his wing, they receive an assignment to investigate a wave of random attacks on both military and civilian targets. After discovering a pattern of violence, Hurley and Rapp join forces with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative who wants to start a global war.
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American Assassin

American Assassin

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Critics Consensus

American Assassin hits a few easy targets, but without enough style or wit to truly bring its characters to life -- or stand out in a crowded field of more compelling spy thrillers.

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Critics Reviews

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh Metro Newspaper (UK) 10/11/2017
2/5
With a generic title like American Assassin, this sounds like a Chuck Norris straight-to-DVD action flick. It's only a slight upgrade. Go to Full Review
Tara Brady Irish Times 09/22/2017
2/5
There are 15 more novels in the Mitch Rapp series. Who will save us from American Assassin 2? Go to Full Review
Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle 09/21/2017
2/5
Director Michael Cuesta adds little of notice to the proceedings. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 12/19/2022
3/4
...an above-average thriller that does, at times, feel like a throwback to the 1990s’ similar-themed fare. Go to Full Review
Dara Khan Mediaversity Reviews 09/17/2021
F
American Assassin uses Islam as a convenient shorthand for terrorism and evil, yet it's conspicuously absent in 'good' characters from Iran. Go to Full Review
Leo Brady AMovieGuy.com 06/08/2021
2/4
In American Assassin I was seeing all of the ingredients on the screen that could entertain, but what it amounts to is a missed opportunity. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lou S. @Frenchpan 4d American Assassin delivers exactly what fans of the spy-action genre hope for: a compelling origin story, a believable character arc, and a fast-moving narrative that rarely loses momentum. What makes this film particularly effective is how clearly it establishes the protagonist’s motivation. After losing his fiancée in a terrorist attack, he transforms from an ordinary civilian into a highly trained operative driven by purpose, pain, and focus. This emotional foundation gives weight to the action and makes his evolution feel earned rather than forced. One of the film’s strongest qualities is its structural discipline. The training sequences, operational missions, and psychological development of the main character are all presented in a way that feels logical and cohesive. For viewers who appreciate spy novels or grounded espionage films, the progression from trauma to transformation is especially satisfying. The film avoids major plot holes and maintains internal consistency, which helps sustain immersion throughout. The action itself is intense and frequent, but it never feels meaningless. Each sequence contributes to the protagonist’s development and reinforces the stakes. The pacing is another standout element; the story moves forward continuously without unnecessary detours, which is difficult to achieve in a genre that can often become bloated. That said, the film does miss an opportunity with a potential love interest. While her presence suggests emotional complexity and a chance to explore the protagonist’s humanity, the relationship never develops into something impactful. This subplot feels underutilized and could have added another meaningful layer to the story. Despite mixed critical reception, American Assassin succeeds where it matters most for fans of the genre. It presents a clear, emotionally driven character arc, maintains strong pacing, and delivers engaging action without sacrificing narrative clarity. For viewers who value coherent storytelling and character motivation over spectacle alone, this film stands as an enjoyable and worthwhile entry into the modern spy thriller category. See more Nick B @NickB13 Feb 2 Great movie, its a shame it didn’t do good at the box office. Awesome movie and really impressed by Dylan O Brien. See more Shastri A @FilmProfHorrorFan Jan 30 Like with a lot of horror films and some (as in this case) action films, I leaned here towards the audience reviews and not the critical reviews. It’s a well-plotted film and Dylan O’Brien is a total star and a treat. Time to switch the tomoatometer to reflect the audience score imho, at least for some genres See more Elisa B @ElisaBrogren Jan 9 I have no idea why this movie hasn't got better ratings! It's action-packed, exciting and Dylan O'Brien is fantastic (as always)! Such a waste that we didn't get more than a single movie. See more Tyler L @Tlemasters Jan 1 When I first saw it I loved it. Then I saw the ratings and thought I missed something. I mean how could everyone think it was so bad. So I rewatched it. Still good, the people are wrong See more Jay 0 @Jaybird009 Dec 26 This film is so much better than the average reviews it gets. I have no idea what more you could possibly be expecting. Excellent movie. 👍 See more Read all reviews
American Assassin

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Cold War veteran Stan Hurley takes CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp under his wing, they receive an assignment to investigate a wave of random attacks on both military and civilian targets. After discovering a pattern of violence, Hurley and Rapp join forces with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative who wants to start a global war.
Director
Michael Cuesta
Producer
Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Nick Wechsler
Screenwriter
Stephen Schiff, Michael Finch, Edward Zwick, Marshall Herskovitz
Distributor
Lionsgate Films, CBS Films
Production Co
Lionsgate, Nick Wechsler, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, CBS Films
Rating
R (Language|Brief Nudity|Some Torture|Strong Violence Throughout)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 15, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$36.2M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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