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The Courier

  • 2020
  • PG-13
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
67K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,333
332
Merab Ninidze, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessie Buckley, and Rachel Brosnahan in The Courier (2020)
Cold War spy Greville Wynne and his Russian source try to put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Play trailer0:31
22 Videos
67 Photos
DramaHistoryThriller

Businessman Greville Wynne is asked by a Russian source to try to help put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.Businessman Greville Wynne is asked by a Russian source to try to help put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.Businessman Greville Wynne is asked by a Russian source to try to help put an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

  • Director
    • Dominic Cooke
  • Writer
    • Tom O'Connor
  • Stars
    • Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Merab Ninidze
    • Rachel Brosnahan
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    67K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,333
    332
    • Director
      • Dominic Cooke
    • Writer
      • Tom O'Connor
    • Stars
      • Benedict Cumberbatch
      • Merab Ninidze
      • Rachel Brosnahan
    • 373User reviews
    • 166Critic reviews
    • 65Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos22

    In Theaters March 19th
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch In Theaters March 19th
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Courier
    Trailer 2:20
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Trailer 2:24
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Trailer 2:26
    Watch The Courier
    Samberg Sets 69 Cent Sundance Record
    Clip 3:31
    Watch Samberg Sets 69 Cent Sundance Record
    Why 'Ironbark' Star Rachel Brosnahan Is All About the Period Piece
    Clip 10:01
    Watch Why 'Ironbark' Star Rachel Brosnahan Is All About the Period Piece
    The Courier
    Clip 0:37
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Clip 0:30
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Clip 0:47
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Clip 0:35
    Watch The Courier
    The Courier
    Clip 0:49
    Watch The Courier

    Photos67

    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Courier (2020)
    Merab Ninidze and Benedict Cumberbatch in The Courier (2020)
    Tom O'Connor at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Ben Pugh at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Dominic Cooke at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Dominic Cooke at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Dominic Cooke at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan, Dominic Cooke, and Tom O'Connor at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Rachel Brosnahan at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Tom O'Connor at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Rachel Brosnahan at an event for The Courier (2020)
    Anthony Rapp, Adam Ackland, Ben Pugh, and Rory Aitken at an event for The Courier (2020)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    Benedict Cumberbatch
    • Greville Wynne
    Merab Ninidze
    Merab Ninidze
    • Oleg Penkovsky
    Rachel Brosnahan
    Rachel Brosnahan
    • Emily Donovan
    Vladimir Chuprikov
    Vladimir Chuprikov
    • Nikita Khrushchev
    James Schofield
    James Schofield
    • Cox
    Fred Haig
    Fred Haig
    • Lee
    Emma Penzina
    • Nina
    Mariya Mironova
    • Vera
    • (as Maria Mironova)
    Anton Lesser
    Anton Lesser
    • Bertrand
    Angus Wright
    Angus Wright
    • Dickie Franks
    David Bark-Jones
    David Bark-Jones
    • Golf Exec
    • (as David Bark Jones)
    Miles Richardson
    Miles Richardson
    • Golf Exec
    Keir Hills
    Keir Hills
    • Andrew Wynne
    Jessie Buckley
    Jessie Buckley
    • Sheila
    Kirill Pirogov
    Kirill Pirogov
    • Gribanov
    Petr Klimes
    Petr Klimes
    • Popov
    Benny Maslov
    • Russian Interpreter
    Harry Carr
    Harry Carr
    • Young Bureaucrat
    • Director
      • Dominic Cooke
    • Writer
      • Tom O'Connor
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Screenwriter Tom O'Connor found out as much as he could about Greville Wynne and Oleg Penkovsky. Their relationship is mentioned in several books but only in fragments. "There's enough to understand the basics," stated O'Connor. "A lot of the events were and remain classified, and so sometimes, finding out what exactly happened was a challenge because there is active misinformation being put out by both sides. People don't necessarily want everything on-the-record."
    • Goofs
      In a panoramic shot of Moscow, Wynne walks along the embankment opposite the building of the Ministry of Defense. Although it was built in 1951, a late 2014 annex with two-headed eagles on the friezes is visible. In Soviet times, two-headed eagles were a symbol of czarism and under no circumstances could they appear on an official building in the center of Moscow.
    • Quotes

      Oleg Penkovsky: Greville, we are only two people. But this is how things change.

    • Crazy credits
      Vintage news footage of the real Greville Wynne is shown.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best Movies of 2021 (So Far) (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      Cheers
      Composed by Roger Webb

      Published by de Wolfe Ltd

      Courtesy of de Wolfe Ltd

    User reviews373

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Engrossing
    There is always a main reason for me to watch any film or anything for that matter. In this case, it was Benedict Cumberbatch, have been a big admirer of his ever since 'Sherlock' and he has never stopped growing as an actor. The trailer also looked interesting and the true story reading up on it after (went into the film actually not knowing what the story was) fascinates and really worth reading up on. It is also the sort of film that engrosses me.

    Something that 'The Courier' did and very well. It may not be one of the best films of its genre and a couple of aspects could have been done a little better, or more like more could have been done with a couple of them. There is also a huge amount to like, which outweigh the things that could have been improved on, and the good things in fact are great (such as the acting). On the most part, the subject is done very compellingly and none of it bored me at all.

    Beginning with talking about the good things, 'The Courier' is wonderfully acted. Cumberbatch is especially powerful in the final third and his character is worth rooting for despite what he is made to do. Merab Nanidze also excels with authoritative ease as Penkovsky, who for me was actually the more interesting character and it was his subplot where a lot of the tension comes from. The chemistry between them is very naturalistic, especially in their quite emotional scene in the prison. It is a handsome and atmospheric looking film, especially the photography. The post war setting is also evocatively and lovingly recreated.

    Music has a haunting edge and doesn't come over as too sentimental. The Shostakovich-like waltz music particularly comes off memorably, and there is effective use of 'Swan Lake' in one scene where the emotions did feel real. Being someone who has always felt similar emotions watching or listening to 'Swan Lake'. It is also confidently directed, has thought probing scripting that doesn't come over as too talky and there is plenty of intrigue and slow burning tension in the story. The prison scenes are truly harrowing.

    A few things could have been done better. Would have liked more of Penkovsky's storyline, as that was more compelling and had the most suspense.

    Did feel that Jessie Buckley was on the bland side in an underwritten role. Also found the ending ever so slightly overwrought.

    On the whole, very well done. 8/10.
    helpful•11
    1
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Jun 24, 2022

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    FAQ1

    • how Greville Wynne actor become so thin at the end? computer graphics or diet?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 19, 2021 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site (Germany)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Ironbark
    • Filming locations
      • Prague, Czech Republic(USSR scenes)
    • Production companies
      • 42
      • FilmNation Entertainment
      • SunnyMarch
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,613,432
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,885,829
      • Mar 21, 2021
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,001,227
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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