‘The Amateur’ First Reactions Praise Rami Malek’s Unique Action Thriller

becomes the unlikeliest of action heroes in this month’s thriller, The Amateur. And the first reactions to the revenge spy movie have now emerged. While only a handful of early reviews are available currently, they tease an intriguing and unique action outing that could result in one of the best examples of the genre in years.

Directed by James Hawes and written by Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, The Amateur is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell and finds Rami Malek leading the way as a mild-mannered CIA cryptographer who goes vigilante and wages a one-man war after his wife is murdered. Alongside Malek, The Amateur boasts an all-star cast that includes Rachel Brosnahan (Superman), Caitríona Balfe (Belfast, Outlander), Jon Bernthal (The Punisher, Daredevil: Born Again), Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me by Your Name), Holt McCallany (Mindhunter), Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County), Adrian Martinez (Focus), Danny Sapani (Trance, Black Panther), and Laurence Fishburne (John Wick: Chapter 4, The Matrix).

Related

The Best Spy Thrillers of the Century to Date

Here’s a list of the most diverse spy stories where threats are unpredictable and stakes are high, and where one wrong move means the game is over.

The Amateur is due to land in theaters later this month on April 11, 2025, courtesy of 20th Century Studios. You can check out the early reactions and official synopsis for the action thriller below.

“Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA working out of a basement office at headquarters in Langley whose life is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, he takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.”

‘The Amateur’ Finds Rami Malek Starring as an Unexpected Action Hero

20th Century Studios

Discussing Film critic @filmwithyas attended the recent European premiere of The Amateur, and was surprised with how “invested and entertained” they were in this tale of Rami Malek’s unassuming action hero.

“THE AMATEUR surprised me. In all honesty, I didn’t expect to be as invested and entertained as I was. I do wish it leaned even more into the slightly more dark comedic moments, as those are what made this story unique.”

Fellow attendee @thejasvalentine, meanwhile, couldn’t help but compare The Amateur to the critically acclaimed Killing Eve before heaping praise on beloved actor Laurence Fishburne.

“So #TheAmateur is a slow-burn, but a satisfying one! Think Killing Eve style cat-and-mouse. Laurence Fishburne proving why he is the OG at all times.”

Rami Malek recently reflected on taking on action hero duty, revealing that The Amateur will tackle the stereotypes of the genre and present an all-new, more grounded genre lead. He said, via The Times of India, “This role was an opportunity to explore the complexities of an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances. I wanted to play a character that felt grounded, who wasn’t the stereotypical action hero, but who could still do something extraordinary in his own way”.

Source: The Times of India

The Amateur

Release Date

April 9, 2025

Director

James Hawes

Writers

Gary Spinelli

You can view the original article HERE.