Relay

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2:18

Relay

R

2025

1h 47m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

146 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250+ Verified Ratings

In RELAY, Riz Ahmed plays a world class "fixer" who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client (Lily James), needing his protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change.

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Critics Consensus

A brainy thriller that harkens back to the gritty verisimilitude of classic conspiracy cinema, Relay might have one reversal too many but finishes the race with aplomb.

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Audience Says

Steadily led by Lily James and Riz Ahmed, Relay is a fast-paced, engaging thriller that feels effortlessly and refreshingly original.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

Nov 4

It is pretty gripping stuff.

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

Nov 4

4/5

Away from the relay scenes, the film is rather conventional, but when Sarah and Ash — or rather his proxies — are on the blower, it’s enthralling stuff.

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Nov 3

3/5

Even if it does eventually crumble to pieces, it’s a really strong thriller for the large majority of its runtime.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

6d

4.5/5

Screenwriter Justin Piasecki’s debut is a brilliantly wrought story of subterfuge and misdirection that both Alfred Hitchcock and David Mamet would be proud of.

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Ryan Syrek

The Reader (Omaha, NE)

Dec 26

B+

I am a full-throated advocate for seeing movies in theaters, but this also plays phenomenally at home. It is something you can spin with your dad, and it’s that or discussing tariffs.

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John Serba

Decider

Dec 23

The film’s first 90 minutes are intricate and engrossing, with enjoyable dramatic developments and payoffs nestled in the psychology of surveillance, paranoia and human connection/disconnection.

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Pamila

Oct 13

Really well done. Twist thrown in at the end did surprise. Main character is very affecting.

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Brent

Sep 14

Absolute thriller, with a plot you can't understand how anyone could write 🤘

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Google

Sep 13

Excellent movie,I absolutely loved it..

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June

Sep 7

The plot was interesting and I really like the main character. Sometimes the characters would do stupid things and it was really hard to watch. Also some of the side characters were really annoying. Cinematically it was great and it was entertaining to watch.

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First

Sep 6

Great movie, and even better experience… great margarita!

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Rod D

Sep 5

good a very surprising ending

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David Mackenzie

Director

Riz Ahmed

Tom

Lily James

Sarah

Sam Worthington

Dawson

Willa Fitzgerald

Rosetti

Jared Abrahamson

Ryan

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Synopsis

In RELAY, Riz Ahmed plays a world class "fixer" who specializes in brokering lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten their ruin. He keeps his identity a secret through meticulous planning and always follows an exacting set of rules. But when a message arrives one day from a potential client (Lily James), needing his protection just to stay alive, the rules quickly start to change.

Director: David Mackenzie
Producer: Basil Iwanyk, Gillian Berrie, David Mackenzie, Teddy Schwarzman
Screenwriter: Justin Piasecki
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Production Co: Black Bear, Thunder Road Pictures, Sigma Films
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2025
Runtime: 1h 47m

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