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Drama thriller

Crisis (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Crisis (2021) movie poster

Crisis is a 2021 drama thriller directed by Nicholas Jarecki, starring Gary Oldman as Dr. Tyrone Brower, Indira Varma and Luke Evans. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Critics gave it 66% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.

IMDb rating
6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
66%
worldwide gross
$1.1M
Echo Score
68
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Crisis (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
Nicholas Jarecki
Genres
Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Crisis About?

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

As the opioid crisis intensifies, the lives of three individuals become intertwined in a suspenseful narrative. A dangerous trafficker manages a network for distributing fentanyl, while an architect investigates her son's struggle with addiction and uncovers unsettling truths. Simultaneously, a professor’s vital research is exploited by a pharmaceutical company, exposing hidden agendas and difficult moral dilemmas with far-reaching consequences.

Crisis Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • opioid crisis
  • opioid epidemic
  • opioid addiction
  • opioid withdrawal
  • drug addiction
  • undercover operation
  • undercover informant
  • fda approval
  • whistle blower
  • revenge murder
  • fentanyl
  • animal testing
+38 more
  • lab rat
  • directed by writer
  • montreal quebec canada
  • drug smuggling
  • murder made to look like suicide
  • detroit michigan
  • recovering drug addict
  • drug company
  • big pharma
  • pill mill
  • architect
  • pain killer
  • university professor
  • medical research laboratory
  • dea drug enforcement agency
  • oxycontin
  • addiction
  • armenian
  • gangster
  • crime boss
  • race against time
  • confidentiality agreement
  • conspiracy
  • message film
  • anti drug
  • pill addiction
  • surveillance
  • drug deal gone wrong
  • male private investigator
  • illegal drug lab
  • man shot in the head
  • shot in the neck
  • blood pool
  • blood splatter
  • death of sister
  • rcmp royal canadian mounted police
  • seaplane
  • staged murder scene
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Cast & crew

Crisis Cast & Characters

Gary Oldman leads the cast as Dr. Tyrone Brower, with Indira Varma as Madira Brower and Luke Evans as Dr. Bill Simons. Directed by Nicholas Jarecki; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Crisis

· 9 more
From the director

More from Nicholas Jarecki

More films directed by Nicholas Jarecki, best-rated first: The Outsider and Arbitrage.

Full filmography
Ratings

Crisis Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Crisis 66% on Rotten Tomatoes and 41 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in character & emotion (75) and weakest in sensory experience (60).

68 /100

Crisis Echo Score Breakdown

While Crisis addresses its timely subject matter with a committed ensemble and moments of narrative clarity, it suffers from uneven execution in direction and pacing. The film’s thematic ambition earns praise for offering insight into opioid addiction, though its script occasionally drifts, diminishing engagement. Performances generally elevate thin character arcs, and the visual presentation remains serviceable. Ultimately, Crisis leaves a modest impression, balancing informative content with episodic storytelling gaps.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    In terms of direction and production quality, Crisis delivers competent craft but lacks distinctive flair. Critics note moments of skilled staging alongside instances of unremarkable camera work and editing. The film maintains a cohesive visual tone, yet its technical design seldom elevates the material. Overall, the art direction feels adequate but rarely inspiring.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to acting and emotional depth, Crisis benefits from committed performances that imbue sparse material with feeling. Lead portrayals convey authentic urgency, though some roles suffer from underdeveloped arcs. While the ensemble generates moments of genuine resonance, the uneven character construction limits sustained empathy. In sum, the character work is strong yet constrained.

  • Story & Flow 65

    Plot coherence and pacing form a central challenge in Crisis, where intersecting narratives provide thematic depth but occasionally falter in unity. Reviewers highlight the film’s commitment to exploring multiple perspectives on opioid addiction, yet point to uneven momentum and a script that can lose focus. The film’s topical relevance sustains engagement, though the structural execution leaves parts of the narrative feeling disjointed.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    The sensory design of Crisis remains functional without making a marked impact. The soundscape supports dramatic tension in key sequences, and the score underscores emotional beats with subdued energy. Visually, the film adheres to a restrained palette that aligns with its subject matter, yet it seldom explores bold stylistic choices. Overall, the sensory experience stays serviceable.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    The rewatch appeal of Crisis hinges on its informational depth rather than pure entertainment value. Viewers may revisit the film to examine its thematic layers and character intersections, appreciating additional nuances in its depiction of the opioid issue. However, the uneven pacing and episodic structure may limit repeated enjoyment. On balance, the film offers moderate replay value.

Plot

Crisis Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Crisis from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Teenage drug runner Cedric Beauville finds himself in a perilous situation when he is caught by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at the Canada-United States border while carrying a significant quantity of illicit Fentanyl pills. In a parallel narrative, Dr. Tyrone Brower (Gary Oldman), a research scientist from Everett University, is hired by Northlight Pharmaceuticals to conduct a study on their upcoming product, Klaralon. This new drug is being heralded as a revolutionary, non-addictive painkiller, meant to replace Oxycodone. However, Brower’s research unveils troubling findings: while Klaralon may appear non-addictive during its initial week of use, it dramatically increases in addictiveness thereafter, nearly tripling its potential compared to Oxycodone.

Full summary

The whole story of Crisis, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Crisis Box Office

Crisis grossed $1.1 million worldwide. $404,738 came from the US and Canada and $694,688 (63%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.1M

US & Canada
$404.7K
International
$694.7K
US & Canada 37% Rest of the world 63%
Videos

Crisis Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Crisis.

CRISIS | Official U.S Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Crisis?

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

Who is the teenage drug runner apprehended at the Canada-US border?

Cars

Cars in Crisis

54 cars on screen, including the 2015 Chrysler 300 and the 2013 Ford Fusion.

All 54 cars
  • 2015 Chrysler 300 in Crisis 2015 Chrysler 300 Main role
  • 2013 Ford Fusion in Crisis 2013 Ford Fusion Main role
  • 2019 Volvo S60 in Crisis 2019 Volvo S60 Main role
  • 2017 Chevrolet Cruze in Crisis 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Important role
Details

Crisis Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Dreamland” and “Rüya Ülkesi”.

Also known as
  • Dreamland
  • Rüya Ülkesi
  • 危机
  • Криза
  • 药命交错
  • Dreamland - Tödliche Geschäfte
  • Свят на опиати
  • Трафик
  • Crise
  • 크라이시스
  • 藥命交錯
  • Трафiк
+10 more
  • Válság
  • משבר
  • Confini e dipendenze
  • أزمة
  • Krizė
  • V krizi
  • クライシス
  • Criza
  • Kriza
  • क्राइसिस

Seen Crisis?

FAQ

Crisis FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Crisis?

Crisis runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was Crisis released?

Crisis was released on February 26, 2021.

Who directed Crisis?

Crisis was directed by Nicholas Jarecki.

More films by Nicholas Jarecki

Who is in the cast of Crisis?

Crisis stars Gary Oldman as Dr. Tyrone Brower, Indira Varma as Madira Brower and Luke Evans as Dr. Bill Simons, among 13 credited actors.

How much did Crisis make at the box office?

Crisis grossed $1.1 million worldwide ($404,738 domestic, $694,688 international).

How is Crisis rated?

Crisis has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 66% on Rotten Tomatoes, 41 on Metacritic and 63% on TMDB.

Does Crisis have a post-credit scene?

No. Crisis has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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