Argo

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2:25

Argo

R

2012

2h 0m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Biography

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

360 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew.

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Critics Consensus

Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Affleck continues to impress audiences with his keen eye for direction, knowing just when to fall back and allow this top-notch cast the freedom to interpret the events in a way that will most compel viewers.

Rated: A

Sep 7, 2017

Full Review

Jonathan Robbins

Film Comment Magazine

Affleck is still building up his chops as a director, but the intelligence and ambition he brings to filmmaking are particularly apparent in Argo.

Jan 13, 2015

Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

The old saw "truth is stranger than fiction" has had its teeth properly sharpened in the superb thriller Argo, a blend of political history and Hollywood hijinks that goes right for the jugular.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 13, 2015

Full Review

Anushka Halve

Film Companion

Mendez orchestrates the audacious plan to hoodwink Iranian authorities by posing as a film crew, ingeniously paving the way for the American diplomats to secure safe passage out of the country.

Dec 12, 2023

Full Review

Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Lines of historic moments are blurred in Ben Affleck’s dramatization of the rescue of diplomats during the Tehran hostage crisis of 1979. But who’s complaining? (Argo) is an extremely rewatchable movie.

Jun 27, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Affleck has not only reminded us that his best performances come when he’s in control, but that he’s also a considerable force behind the camera.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

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Kirsten W

I loved this movie. But one thing, the beginning details about what America had done to that country made me not want to root for the captives. It makes sense if it's the real story but I wasn't rooting for America the way that I wanted to. I guess the point was that country politics are complicated. Well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

Full Review

André Ferreira F

Um ótimo filme que peca, apenas, por algumas inconsistências históricas. (avaliação: 8.5/10)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/17/25

Full Review

AJ L

Great great film, but Affleck being cast as a latin american man is a huge missed opportunity. Unfortunately not surprised the film earned industry acclaim regardless

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/04/25

Full Review

Sachin E

USA overthrows foreign governments with coups funded by CIA and later cries about how Americans have suffered because of this. Good thriller tho.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/26/25

Full Review

Ian R

Very good film. However, I personally found it difficult to care about the American hostages. The 20 th century history of Iran and the manipulation of its government by the US is sickening. Otherwise this is a very well made film. Affleck is good in his role and directed it well enough to allow the fine cast to get the job done without the need for a heavy hand.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

Full Review

Jerod S

the 70s vibe was so hard. Loved the intensity of the whole film.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/08/25

Full Review

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Argo: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew.

Director: Ben Affleck
Producer: Grant Heslov, George Clooney
Screenwriter: Chris Terrio
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Smokehouse Pictures, Warner Bros., GK Films, Smoke House
Rating: R (Some Violent Images|Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 3, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $136.0M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat

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