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Argo 2012

As the Iran hostage crisis ignites on November 4, 1979, six Americans evade capture and find sanctuary behind the closed doors of the Canadian ambassador's Tehran residence. With time running out, CIA operative Tony Mendez concocts a daring scheme to spirit them away, weaving a web of deception that will test the limits of courage and ingenuity in this true-life thriller.

As the Iran hostage crisis ignites on November 4, 1979, six Americans evade capture and find sanctuary behind the closed doors of the Canadian ambassador's Tehran residence. With time running out, CIA operative Tony Mendez concocts a daring scheme to spirit them away, weaving a web of deception that will test the limits of courage and ingenuity in this true-life thriller.

Does Argo have end credit scenes?

No!

Argo does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Argo

Explore the complete cast of Argo, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


No actors found

Ratings and Reviews for Argo

See how Argo is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Argo stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

86

Metascore

7.7

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

96%

TOMATOMETER

review

90%

User Score

IMDb

7.7 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

73

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Argo Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Argo with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Argo Movie Quiz: Test your knowledge on the thrilling events surrounding the rescue operation depicted in the film Argo.

Who directed the movie Argo?

Awards & Nominations for Argo

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by Argo, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how Argo and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


85th Academy Awards 2013

Alan Arkin
Nomination

Actor in a Supporting Role

Alan Arkin
Win

Film Editing

Nomination

Music (Original Score)

Win

Best Picture

Nomination

Sound Editing

Nomination

Sound Mixing

Win

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

66th British Academy Film Awards 2013

Win

Best Film

Ben Affleck
Win

Best Direction

Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Nomination

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Ben Affleck
Alan Arkin
Nomination

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Alan Arkin
Nomination

Best Adapted Screenplay

Win

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Original Music

18th Critics' Choice Awards 2013

Win

Best Picture

Ben Affleck
Win

Best Director

Ben Affleck
Alan Arkin
Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin
Nomination

Best Acting Ensemble

Nomination

Best Adapted Screenplay

Chris Terrio
Nomination

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Score

Alexandre Desplat

19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013

Alan Arkin
Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Alan Arkin
Win

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

65th Directors Guild of America Awards 2013

Ben Affleck
Win

Feature Film

Ben Affleck

28th Artios Award 2013

Win

Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Drama

70th Golden Globe Awards 2013

Win

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Alan Arkin
Nomination

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy

Alan Arkin
Ben Affleck
Win

Best Director

Ben Affleck
Nomination

Best Screenplay

Nomination

Best Original Score

10th Irish Film & Television Academy Awards 2013

Nomination

Best International Actor

2012 Toronto International Film Festival Awards 2012

Ben Affleck
Nomination

People's Choice Award, First Runner Up

Ben Affleck

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Argo

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Read the complete plot summary of Argo, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Iran, once known as the kingdom of Persia, experienced a shift towards democracy in the early 20th century when a reformist prime minister took the initiative to nationalize the country’s oil resources, redistributing the wealth amongst its citizens. However, this effort was undermined by a coup orchestrated by the CIA, which resulted in the Shah of Iran ascending to power. Famous for his extravagant lifestyle—his wife bathed in milk and his lunches were flown in from Paris via Concorde—the Shah ultimately faced a strong backlash. In 1979, the Iranian populace revolted, leading to his deposition and the return of the exiled religious leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

On November 4, 1979, in a dramatic escalation of tensions, militants stormed the United States embassy in Tehran, retaliating for the US harboring the ousted Shah. While over 50 embassy staff members were taken hostage, six managed to escape and found refuge in the home of Canadian ambassador Ken Taylor, portrayed by Victor Garber. Keeping the situation under wraps, the U.S. State Department began to investigate ways to exfiltrate the escapees from Iran.

Enter Tony Mendez, a CIA extraction expert played by Ben Affleck, who criticized the existing proposals on the table. Faced with limited options, his creative epiphany came while watching Battle for the Planet of the Apes with his son. He devised a clever scheme to pass the escapees off as a Canadian film crew scouting exotic locations for a science fiction movie titled “Argo.” Working alongside his boss Jack O’Donnell, portrayed by Bryan Cranston, Mendez sought the help of Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers, played by John Goodman, who had experience creating disguises for the CIA. They then partnered with producer Lester Siegel, played by Alan Arkin, to fabricate a film studio, generate buzz about the project, and bolster their cover story.

As the escapees grew increasingly anxious within the ambassador’s residence, revolutionaries began piecing together documents shredded during the embassy takeover, realizing that some personnel were missing. Despite the overwhelming tension, Mendez journeyed into Iran under the guise of a producer, where he armed the escapees with Canadian passports and fake identities, aiding their preparation for airport security. Although apprehensive about the risky plan, they chose to trust Mendez, aware that he too was placing his life on the line.

A harrowing scouting trip to a local bazaar escalated into chaos, yet their Iranian contact facilitated an escape from a hostile crowd. When Mendez learned that the operation was at risk of cancellation due to a concurrent military rescue attempt, he pressed on, forcing O’Donnell to quickly secure authorization for the mission. The anxiety reached a peak as their flight reservations were confirmed at the last minute, punctuated by a nail-biting moment when a guard attempted to contact the fictitious Hollywood studio just as the group was set to board their flight.

In a heart-pounding finale, as the Iranian guards began to see through their ruse and rushed to stop them, Mendez and the escapees managed to clear the runway, successfully departing Iran. To shield the remaining hostages in Tehran from potential vengeance, all American involvement in the rescue was hidden, and full credit was granted to the Canadian government and its ambassador, who had his own daring escape. Although Mendez earned the Intelligence Star for his courage, he kept the medal classified until details emerged publicly in 1997. All hostages were finally liberated on January 20, 1981, with the film concluding on President Jimmy Carter’s address regarding the Crisis and the remarkable Canadian Caper that unfolded.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Argo

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Argo. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer 1

4K Trailer

Cars Featured in Argo

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Explore all cars featured in Argo, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


AMC

1972

Matador

AMC

1974

Matador

Anadol

1976

A2 SL

BMW

R 69 S

Buick

1976

Electra 225

Cadillac

1977

Eldorado

Cadillac

1972

Fleetwood 60 Special Brougham

Cadillac

1977

Fleetwood Limousine

Cadillac

1962

Series 62

Checker

1970

Marathon

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


hostageislamic revolutionbased on true storyiran1970su.s. embassyescaperevolutionexfiltrationcia agentcover storynarrow escapeprotestcorpse hanging by the neck in publichollywood signfake movie dealpaper shredderyear 1979tehran iranamerican propagandaf wordiraniancanadianambassadorfilm crewpassportgovernmentswissairperilous escapelocation scoutwhat happened to epilogueislamic fundamentalismfictional science fiction filmfake film directorfilm scriptfilm industryassumed identitycover identityends with historical notesintelligence starairline ticketdriving through a crowdvisaistanbul turkeywedding ringmock executionscript readingmovie scriptreassembling a shredded documentgas mask

Articles, Reviews & Explainers About Argo

Stay updated on Argo with in-depth articles, critical reviews, and ending explainers. Explore hidden meanings, major themes, and expert insights into the film’s story and impact.


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