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Action thriller

American Made (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

American Made (2017) movie poster

American Made is a 2017 action thriller directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise as Barry Seal, Sarah Wright and Domhnall Gleeson. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $134.9 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10.

IMDb rating
7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
worldwide gross
$134.9M
Echo Score
72
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American Made (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 55m (115 min)
Director
Doug Liman
Genres
Action , Biography , Drama , History
Original language
English
Budget
$50M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is American Made About?

The premise of American Made without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A charismatic pilot is drawn into a covert CIA operation in the 1980s, tasked with gathering intelligence in Central America. He becomes entangled in a complex web of espionage and drug trafficking, unknowingly aiding the rise of the Medellin cartel while jeopardizing the Reagan administration. His daring flights and involvement in this massive undertaking lead him down a dangerous path, blurring the lines between patriot and criminal.

American Made Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • based on real person
  • year 1978
  • colombia
  • 1980s
  • airplane pilot
  • twa
  • sex scene
  • helicopter
  • pablo escobar
  • reference to pablo escobar
  • money
  • fireworks
+38 more
  • arrest
  • exploding car
  • trial
  • jewels
  • telephone call
  • videotape
  • what happened to epilogue
  • death of protagonist
  • drugs
  • pilot
  • iran contra
  • mena
  • latin america
  • dea agent
  • cocaine
  • airplane
  • hiding money
  • explosion
  • money laundering
  • bag of money
  • american abroad
  • aviator sunglasses
  • landing an airplane on a city street
  • medellin cartel
  • cult film
  • quaalude
  • central america
  • drug smuggling
  • based on true story
  • ass
  • butt
  • police arrest
  • george w. bush character
  • nicaragua
  • counter revolutionary
  • f word
  • reference to ibm
  • no opening credits
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Cast & crew

American Made Cast & Characters

Tom Cruise leads the cast as Barry Seal, with Sarah Wright as Lucy Seal and Domhnall Gleeson as Monty 'Schafer'. Directed by Doug Liman; 16 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Doug Liman

More films directed by Doug Liman, best-rated first: The Bourne Identity, Go, Swingers and Fair Game.

Full filmography
Ratings

American Made Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave American Made 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.1/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).

72 /100

American Made Echo Score Breakdown

In overall terms, the film balances energetic execution and strong performances against a narrative that feels familiar and occasionally uneven. The visual style and sound design deliver a polished, engaging atmosphere, while Tom Cruise’s dynamic presence and supporting cast elevate the emotional engagement. Critics and audiences noted brisk pacing and comedic highlights but cited a lack of originality and depth in the plotting. Consequently, the film presents a largely entertaining experience that is slightly held back by its derivative story elements.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in delivering a polished visual style but shows occasional evidence of formulaic direction. Several critics noted the slick cinematography and consistent production design that support the narrative’s pace. However, some found the direction uneven and occasionally hackneyed. Overall, the technical execution remains a net positive despite moments of derivativeness.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    In terms of character and emotion, performances receive notable praise for energy and charm, though emotional depth is inconsistent. Reviewers highlighted Tom Cruise’s dynamic portrayal and enjoyable chemistry among the leads. Criticisms centered on shallow exploration of personal motivations and limited resonance in key relationships. Consequently, acting strength coexists with uneven character development across the film.

  • Story & Flow 65

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative maintains a brisk pace but suffers from familiar and uneven plotting. Critics and audiences alike noted its engaging comedic moments and sharp set pieces, yet pointed out a lack of originality and occasional narrative patches. The film’s structure delivers steady momentum while leaving the plot coherence and depth somewhat underdeveloped.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    In terms of sensory experience, the film presents a cohesive visual style and energetic sound design that enhance engagement. Observers praised its polished cinematography, dynamic editing, and a soundtrack that complements the tone. Some criticism arose over an overly slick finish that undercuts the intended grit. Overall, the audiovisual elements consistently support the film’s tone and pacing.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    In terms of rewatch factor, the film offers sufficient entertainment value for repeat viewing, thanks to its lively moments and charismatic lead performance. Reviewers cited the film’s humor and action sequences as highlights that can endure over multiple viewings. However, its familiarity and uneven narrative depth may limit long-term appeal. Overall, enjoyment on subsequent viewings remains positive yet tempered.

Plot

American Made Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in American Made from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the late 1970s, Barry Seal (Tom Cruise), a commercial airline pilot for TWA, finds himself amidst a thrilling yet dangerous web of espionage when he’s approached by CIA case officer Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson). Schafer enlists Seal’s help in flying covert reconnaissance missions over Central America, using the cutting-edge Piper Smith Aerostar 600, a state-of-the-art twin-engine plane equipped with sophisticated aerial surveillance technology. Although Seal is ostensibly still working with TWA, he reassures his wife Lucy (Sarah Wright) that he’s merely launching a logistical support company.

Full summary

The whole story of American Made, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

American Made Box Office & Budget

American Made grossed $134.9 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, 2.7 times what it cost. $51.3 million came from the US and Canada and $83.5 million (62%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$134.9M

2.7× its budget

US & Canada
$51.3M
International
$83.5M
Budget
$50M
US & Canada 38% Rest of the world 62%
Videos

American Made Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.

Official Trailer
  • Clip Tom Cruise and the DEA Set up the Culprits
  • Clip Tom Cruise is Found by the CIA - Extended Preview
  • Clip Barry’s Wild Suburban Landing
Quiz

How Well Do You Know American Made?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What year does the movie 'American Made' begin?

Cars

Cars in American Made

30 cars on screen, including the 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the 1972 AMC Gremlin.

All 30 cars
  • 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille in American Made 1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille Main role
  • 1972 AMC Gremlin in American Made 1972 AMC Gremlin Important role
  • 1987 Cadillac Brougham in American Made 1987 Cadillac Brougham Important role
  • 1981 Cadillac Seville in American Made 1981 Cadillac Seville Important role
Details

American Made Also Known As

38 alternative titles, including “American Made: O Sonho Americano” and “아메리칸 메이드”.

Also known as
  • American Made: O Sonho Americano
  • 아메리칸 메이드
  • Mena
  • Сделано в Америке
  • Barry Seal: El traficante
  • Barry Seal: American Traffic
  • Barry Seal: Only in America
  • バリー・シール/アメリカをはめた男
  • 美國製造
  • Barry Seal - Drogen für Amerika
  • Barry Seal: Król Przemytu
  • バリー・シール/アメリカをはめた男:2017
+26 more
  • 巴利薛爾:飛常任務
  • Barry Seal - American Traffic
  • Barry Seal - Una storia americana
  • Бари Сийл: Наркотрафикантът
  • Feito na América
  • Barry Seal - Only in America
  • Баррі Сіл: Король контрабанди
  • Barry Seal: A beszállító
  • Barry Seal: Nebeský gauner
  • Barry Seal: Traficante Americano
  • Бери Сил - Амерички оригинал
  • תוצרת אמריקה
  • Barry Seal: Kaçakçı
  • Barry Seal: Sólo en América
  • 美国行动
  • Fabriqué en amérique
  • Baris Sylas: Amerikos sukčius
  • Barijs Sīls: Īstens amerikānis
  • อเมริกัน เมด
  • Barry Seal - Američki original
  • バリー・シール/アメリカをはめた男
  • Barry Seal: Trafic în stil American
  • Barry Seal: Tihotapec
  • Barry Seal: Lách Luật Kiểu Mỹ
  • أمريكي الصنع
  • Barry Seal: El traficant

Seen American Made?

FAQ

American Made FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of American Made, each answered in a sentence.

How long is American Made?

American Made runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).

When was American Made released?

American Made was released on September 29, 2017.

Who directed American Made?

American Made was directed by Doug Liman.

More films by Doug Liman

Who is in the cast of American Made?

American Made stars Tom Cruise as Barry Seal, Sarah Wright as Lucy Seal and Domhnall Gleeson as Monty 'Schafer', among 16 credited actors.

How much did American Made make at the box office?

American Made grossed $134.9 million worldwide ($51.3 million domestic, $83.5 million international) on a budget of $50 million.

How is American Made rated?

American Made has 7.1/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Does American Made have a post-credit scene?

No. American Made has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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