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Kill the Messenger

Play trailer Poster for Kill the Messenger R 2014 1h 52m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 129 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) happens upon a story that not only leads to the origins of America's crack epidemic but also alleges that the CIA was well-aware of the dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and using the profits to arm Nicaraguan rebels. Despite warnings to halt his investigation, Webb keeps digging and uncovers a conspiracy with explosive implications. As a result of his findings, Webb's career, family and life come under threat.
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Kill the Messenger

Kill the Messenger

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Critics Consensus

Kill the Messenger's potent fury over the tale of its real-life subject overrides its factual inaccuracies and occasional narrative stumbles.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/01/2017
C-
Come for the acting, but not much else. Go to Full Review
Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 03/08/2015
2/5
It's sporadically gripping but ultimately rather frustrating fare, leaving us intrigued enough by the conspiracy-theory backstory to want hard documentary evidence rather than mere dramatic licence. Go to Full Review
Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) 03/06/2015
3/5
[Renner gives] is a rousing performance but the film is a little one-dimensional in its portrayal of Webb as a result. Go to Full Review
Michael Clark Epoch Times 04/02/2024
4.5/5
The title of this movie couldn’t be more fitting. What happened to Webb was disgraceful, and went far in turning investigative journalists into a dying breed no amount of bloggers or slipshod Internet trolls could ever replace. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/12/2023
3/4
...compelling subject matter that’s employed to predominantly engaging (albeit somewhat forgettable) effect by Michael Cuesta... Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 07/18/2022
2.5/4
The fine technical merits of Cuesta's film, along with the standout performances by the cast, fail to create a sense of urgency about a subject that should have been a much larger scandal. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Faiz D May 13 Whoa! Man, Jeremy Renner can act. See more Jonas S 08/17/2024 I think overall it’s a good telling of events but it also is kind of boring at parts. To quote a family member “there’s no action!” See more Gareth v 06/20/2023 An interesting story here but the way in which it is told a lot of the dramatic and emotional pull in should have on it's viewers is lost. See more Georgan G 02/12/2023 The content of the plot is very memorable to those of us living through the era, but vital for younger people to know what our government has stooped to. The extent of the backlash from the feds continued until "the messenger" committed suicide. See more Jelisije J 02/03/2023 Based on a true story of a reporter who risks everything to expose the truth. See more steve d 12/08/2022 Fine film, but does nothing you haven't seen a million times before. See more Read all reviews
Kill the Messenger

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Kill the Messenger

Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - What Happened in Cleveland Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - What Happened in Cleveland 2:45 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Home Invasion Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Home Invasion 2:58 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - The Ends Justify the Means Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - The Ends Justify the Means 2:50 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Shades of Grey Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Shades of Grey 3:01 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - "Freeway" Ricky Ross Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - "Freeway" Ricky Ross 1:34 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Have You Seen a Bike? Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Have You Seen a Bike? 2:28 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Too True to Tell Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Too True to Tell 2:53 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - This Is About You Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - This Is About You 2:08 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Interrogating Blandon Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Interrogating Blandon 3:13 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - My Job Was To Tell the Truth Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - My Job Was To Tell the Truth 3:20 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) happens upon a story that not only leads to the origins of America's crack epidemic but also alleges that the CIA was well-aware of the dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and using the profits to arm Nicaraguan rebels. Despite warnings to halt his investigation, Webb keeps digging and uncovers a conspiracy with explosive implications. As a result of his findings, Webb's career, family and life come under threat.
Director
Michael Cuesta
Producer
Scott Stuber, Naomi Despres, Jeremy Renner
Screenwriter
Peter Landesman
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
Bluegrass Films
Rating
R (Language|Drug Content)
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 10, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.4M
Runtime
1h 52m
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