Kill the Messenger

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Kill the Messenger

R,

2014,

1h 52m,

Drama/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

76%

130 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

10,000+ Ratings

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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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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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 1, 2017

C-

Come for the acting, but not much else.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Mar 8, 2015

2/5

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.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Mar 6, 2015

3/5

[Renner gives] is a rousing performance but the film is a little one-dimensional in its portrayal of Webb as a result.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

B-

Though deceptively straightforward in its telling, it's the aftermath of Michael Cuesta's film that should matter most.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Apr 2, 2024

4.5/5

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.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 12, 2023

3/4

...compelling subject matter that’s employed to predominantly engaging (albeit somewhat forgettable) effect by Michael Cuesta...

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Luke M

Jan 10, 2019

Wow. I never knew about this. True story about how the American gov't brought in $1.2 billion of crack cocaine from South America, to raise money for their Contra army.

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Hermione S

Dec 17, 2018

didn't care about this movie

Albus M

Jul 8, 2018

Could have been better, but this was a different take on the drug war of the 80s. The opposition he received from other news outlets was unnerving.

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Han L

Jun 27, 2018

great story that brings truth to light in CIA cover-ups, based on a true story

Anakin R

Feb 10, 2018

Another great performance from Jeremy Renner, based on real events the story sometimes crumbles upon itself as it gives more spotlight to the main character than the story itself. Lacks something to make it great, so it's just good.

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Kylo W

Jan 25, 2018

(4.0 out of 6) When we see doors open for us when we are handed a story that changes how we see our government. What When we see being a reporter we need to be open to various sources and perspectives to tell the open truth of what people ought to see. When we see it inspires others to be open and honest when we don't always see or know what we need to see. When we blew open a large headline story that made people question what is happening to their communities to show what we don't know is the truth. When being a reporter we can remain silent to what we see to only break open our silence in what we see for all of our career is the truth that risking many things is hard, but being told that what we do as a reporter is false is even harder when we are passionate in what we do. When we see that what stories and headlines used to be open, remained closed when other stories opened up to overlook our story. When other stories opened up for us to be the story we see our case remains open for justice to find the true criminal.

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Michael Cuesta

Director

Jeremy Renner

Gary Webb

Rosemarie DeWitt

Sue Webb

Ray Liotta

John Cullen

Tim Blake Nelson

Alan Fenster

Barry Pepper

Russell Dodson

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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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