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Kill the Messenger

Play trailer Poster for Kill the Messenger R Released Oct 10, 2014 1h 52m Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 130 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 Come for the acting, but not much else. Rated: C- Sep 1, 2017 Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) 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. Rated: 2/5 Mar 8, 2015 Full Review Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK) [Renner gives] is a rousing performance but the film is a little one-dimensional in its portrayal of Webb as a result. Rated: 3/5 Mar 6, 2015 Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times 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. Rated: 4.5/5 Apr 2, 2024 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...compelling subject matter that’s employed to predominantly engaging (albeit somewhat forgettable) effect by Michael Cuesta... Rated: 3/4 Nov 12, 2023 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 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. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 18, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jonas S 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!” Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/17/24 Full Review Gareth v 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. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Georgan G 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Jelisije J Based on a true story of a reporter who risks everything to expose the truth. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review steve d Fine film, but does nothing you haven't seen a million times before. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review isla s This is a biographic crime drama film set in the murky world of drug trafficking. The fact it's based on a true story interested me and seeing how different people of varying authorities respond to what's discovered is interesting but it isn't by any means a fast-paced action type film. I suppose its fairly thoughtful. It's interesting to see who opens up to the journalist working on the story and how people attempt to manipulate things. The performances are pretty decent, with Jeremy Renner playing the main role of Gary Webb. This is a competent film, one that felt more poignant toward the end, hence my rating. I would recommend it, yes. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Kill the Messenger

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Cast & Crew

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 - "Freeway" Ricky Ross Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - "Freeway" Ricky Ross 1:34 Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Shades of Grey Kill the Messenger: Official Clip - Shades of Grey 3:01 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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