Bridge of Spies

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Bridge of Spies

PG-13

2015

2h 21m

History

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

312 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

Critics Consensus

Bridge of Spies finds new life in Hollywood's classic Cold War espionage thriller formula, thanks to reliably outstanding work from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.

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Olly Richards

The Times (UK)

07/11/2022

There are no directing bells and whistles here, just a grown-up story expertly told.

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Claudia Puig

The Asahi Shimbun GLOBE (Japan)

12/19/2016

3.5/4

Director Steven Spielberg gives audiences a meticulously composed espionage thriller, which establishes a tense atmosphere from the start and keeps the viewer engaged throughout. [Full review in Japanese]

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

05/03/2016

This is a filmmaker with a lifetime of skill and experience, crafting his vintage pictures with style and grace, and we're all better off for it.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

07/21/2024

Hanks... carries the film as a kind of Cold War Atticus Finch, a husband and father and an American idealist who refuses to betray his client simply because he’s a Soviet spy, and he portrays Donovan’s essential integrity and loyalty without sentiment.

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Ankit Ojha

Cinema Elite

07/09/2024

4.5/5

Boasting a deliberate and measured direction of tack-sharp screenplay, it smoothly coasts through themes of privilege, rights, and repute, balancing each in its subtext without making them feel like incomplete lip-service throwaways.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

02/18/2024

3/5

As an expertly crafted historical drama of intrigue and high character, there's not a thing wrong with it, but not everything Spielberg puts out can be a timeless instant classic.

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Harrison C

@QwopEX Jul 2

Amazing film based on true events. A little drawn out, but still very moving.

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Thyaagu C

@Thyaagu May 28

A calm thriller. What a smooth ride! Cold War politics aside, the visuals completely pulled me in. The lighting, the shadows, that color palette - everything had this calm yet tense atmosphere that made every frame feel mesmerizing. Such a classy and beautifully crafted film.

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Matthew D

@OceanSage Apr 6

A fascinating espionage film. Steven Spielberg directs one of his finest films with this relevant espionage historical drama. The idea that all people deserve rights and legal representation is more relevant than ever before. The direction is immaculately crafted with beautiful long panning shots and careful visual storytelling. We witness U.S., Russian, and German diplomacy during the Cold War. The Coen Brothers wrote a very thoughtful and fair script that depicts all countries honestly, while also entertaining the audience with jokes and knowledge. Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance lead the charge with their complex portrayals of historical figures Donovan and Abel. Hanks plays it straight with some humor to humanize his lawyer. He captures Donovan's dedication to the law, justice, and decency. Meanwhile, Rylance plays Abel with a cold poker face and a knowing somber tone. In all, Bridge of Spies is an important movie for Spielberg to recount a moment in history.

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christopher s

@RT31591822 Feb 3

Not just a movie but a real story about real people. Tom Hanks at his usual best. A must watch for people interested in stories from the Cold War.

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L S

@LS253 Dec 22

As noble and situationally excited as one might feel about the premise, it absolutely has none if the grit one would expect. And on the conceit, I just didn't care enough for it to hit me the way Speilberg was trying so hard to wring out of me. Meh.

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Jennifer P

@Parvuski Dec 18

I thought it was a terrible movie with one really awesome message. "Aren't you worried?" "Would that help?"

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Tom Hanks

James Donovan

Mark Rylance

Rudolf Abel

Alan Alda

Thomas Watters

Amy Ryan

Mary Donovan

Eve Hewson

Carol Donovan

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Bridge of Spies: Behind the Scenes - Discovering Donovan's Story

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Bridge of Spies: Trailer 2

1:43

Bridge of Spies: International Trailer 1

2:44

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Synopsis

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks), recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance), the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Producer: Steven Spielberg, Marc Platt, Kristie Macosko Krieger
Screenwriter: Matt Charman, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Distributor: Walt Disney
Production Co: Studio Babelsberg Independents [de], Afterworks Limited
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Brief Strong Language)
Genre: History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $72.3M
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital