The Instigators

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2:21

The Instigators

R

2024

1h 41m

Action

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

41%

Tomatometer

158 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to rob a corrupt politician's ill-gained earnings. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory's therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture -- or worse.

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Critics Consensus

The alchemy of Casey Affleck and Matt Damon's knucklehead rapport provides some charm, but this laidback caper unravels due to a lack of intrigue and pulse.

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Robert Levin

Newsday

No matter how much heft the Actors Equity team brings to the project on both sides of the camera, there's simply no evading the fact that the movie plays as so inconsequential, so free of meaning and purpose, that it offers nothing to grab onto.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 13, 2024

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

It should be pulpy fun powered by car chases and zippy repartee, but The Instigators is a dispiriting and predictable drag of a movie.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 12, 2024

Full Review

Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

Certainly, all the ingredients are here for a fun night in, from the absolutely killer cast to the familiar Damon/Affleck stomping grounds of Boston. But nothing quite clicks in this tale of charming low-life thieves.

Aug 12, 2024

Full Review

Marta Medina

mundoCine

A heist that goes just as badly as the film itself. [Full Review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/5

Aug 15, 2025

Full Review

Patrick Beatty

ABC4 Utah

This is a film you can have playing in the background and still be entertained.

Aug 12, 2025

Full Review

Ross Anthony

Hollywood Report Card

Also, has anyone been saying what a great actor Casey Affleck is? His performances are powerful, emotional, real, purposely un-showey. His low-key retorts in this film are sharp, edgy, and hard-hitting despite their carefully understated delivery.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 9, 2025

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Yusuf N

Casey Affleck is a gem and his deadpan lines were just delightfully droll!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

dsh

Plot was ridiculous and implausible, script was terrible and the language was foul - constant f-bombs.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

Full Review

JimPalmer

It was interesting but its language was distracting and unnecessary. Have to wonder if the actors children are allowed to see this movie. No need for sentences of profanity.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/04/24

Full Review

Vince Q.

Hong Chau and Matt Damon (Downsizing) team up in this green screen robbery gone wrong action picture. Lots of stunt composites and car replacement footage makes this film a Best Visual Effects long list contender. Casey Affleck steals the show with his dead pan.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

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Jwairiya S

absolute gem favourite movie of the year actors are stunning. Better than movies like Day shift

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

Full Review

Claire M

We enjoyed this movie, and I am not sure why it got such bad reviews. It was a bit of a silly ride but Casey Affleck and Matt Damon are enjoyable together and make it a fun watch. Liked it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

Full Review

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Doug Liman

Director

Matt Damon

Rory

Casey Affleck

Cobby

Hong Chau

Actor

Michael Stuhlbarg

Actor

Paul Walter Hauser

Actor

The Instigators: Exclusive Movie Clip - Car Chase

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The Instigators: Trailer 1

2:21

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Synopsis

Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to rob a corrupt politician's ill-gained earnings. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory's therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture -- or worse.

Director: Doug Liman
Producer: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Kevin J. Walsh
Screenwriter: Chuck MacLean
Distributor: Apple TV+
Production Co: The Walsh Company, Apple TV+, Studio 8, Apple Studios, Apple Original Films, Artists Equity
Rating: R (Some Violence|Pervasive Language)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 9, 2024
Runtime: 1h 41m

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