Freelance (2023): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Freelance is a 2023 action comedy directed by Pierre Morel, starring John Cena as Mason Pettits, Alison Brie and Alice Eve. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $10.2 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Critics gave it 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and 26 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Pierre Morel
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- AGC Studios
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Freelance About?
The premise of Freelance without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A former special operative finds a new mission when he agrees to protect a determined journalist. As they work together, he must confront his past while helping her uncover the truth about a dangerous military coup. John Cena portrays a rugged everyman, and Alison Brie embodies a tenacious reporter in this action-packed story about purpose and uncovering hidden agendas.
Freelance Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- fictional country
- jungle
- lawyer
- village
- selfie
- one word title
- running over a person
- shot in the forehead
- handgun
- hand grenade
- golden gun
- female nudity
+38 more Show fewer
- male rear nudity
- coup detat
- journalist
- president
- assassination
- mission
- ambush
- colonel
- dictator
- airplane
- middle finger
- convoy
- exploding car
- rocket launcher
- fight on a bridge
- attack on president
- village chief
- interview
- exclusive interview
- general
- bulletproof
- militant
- grenade explosion
- freelancer
- freelance operative
- bare chested man
- f word
- subtitled scene
- hairy chest
- implied male nudity
- male protagonist
- chase
- car
- fast car
- snowglobe
- reference to steven spielberg
- reference to tim burton
- autograph
Freelance Cast & Characters
John Cena leads the cast as Mason Pettits, with Alison Brie as Claire Wellington and Alice Eve as Jenny Pettits. Directed by Pierre Morel; 11 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Pierre Morel
-
John Cena as Mason Pettits -
Alison Brie as Claire Wellington -
Alice Eve as Jenny Pettits -
Molly McCann as Casey, daughter
Also Starring in Freelance
· 7 more- Christian Slater Sebastian Earle
- Juan Pablo Raba Venegas, President
- Marton Csokas Colonel Jan Koehorst
- Sebastian Eslava Jorge Vásquez
- Roberto Cano Eduardo Lavato
- Julianne Arrieta
- Daniel Toro
Freelance Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Freelance 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and 26 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
Freelance Echo Score Breakdown
Freelance delivers a largely underwhelming experience across most fronts, with few redeeming qualities beyond its visual presentation. The narrative is hampered by predictable plotting and inconsistent tone, while character interactions feel flat and unengaging. Despite occasional bursts of energetic action and stylized cinematography, these moments fail to cohere. The film ultimately leaves a forgettable impression that struggles to justify a single viewing.
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 art and craft, Freelance offers a mixed visual package marked by a sun-bleached palette and crisp color grading. Direction and editing lack precision, leading to jarring cuts and uneven framing. Production design evokes a plausible environment, but the overall aesthetic feels mechanically applied rather than artfully conceived. These elements result in a serviceable but uninspired visual presentation.
- Character & Emotion 30
When it comes to character and emotion, Freelance struggles with shallow portrayals and inconsistent chemistry. Lead performances often feel disengaged, with minimal emotional stakes and few moments of genuine connection. Supporting roles show occasional spark but lack sufficient development. Overall, character arcs are underwritten and fail to elicit lasting empathy from the audience.
- Story & Flow 40
In terms of story and flow, the film adheres to a predictable plot that undermines its adventurous premise. Pacing is inconsistent, with sluggish setups followed by rushed sequences. Originality is limited, resulting in narrative beats that feel recycled from genre conventions. While occasional twists add mild engagement, the overall storyline remains formulaic and lacking in depth.
- Sensory Experience 65
When evaluating the sensory experience, Freelance delivers sporadic excitement through its dynamic action sequences and sun-bleached visuals. The soundtrack offers energetic cues that enhance key moments, though sound design sometimes feels flat amidst explosions. Visual style maintains a consistent tone, but moments of audio imbalance undermine immersion. Overall, the sensory elements are lively yet unevenly executed.
- Rewatch Factor 30
In terms of rewatch factor, Freelance offers limited replay value beyond its brief action highlights. The formulaic narrative and inconsistent tone diminish the incentive to revisit the film, as key plot endpoints feel foreseeable. While some viewers may enjoy its casual entertainment on a single viewing, the overall experience lacks depth or surprise to sustain repeated viewings.
-
IMDb 5.6 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 10% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 78%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 26 Metascore
User score 4.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.2 /5
37399 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Freelance Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Freelance from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Mason Pettits, portrayed by John Cena, reflects on his remarkable transition from aspiring lawyer to esteemed war veteran, it becomes evident that he has consistently challenged the status quo. S. Army epitomizes his yearning for excitement and a sense of belonging. After successfully navigating his training and advancing within the Special Forces, Mason fell passionately in love with Jenny Pettits, played by Alice Eve, and embraced his role as a dedicated father to their daughter, Casey, brought to life by Molly McCann. However, during a critical assignment in South America’s Paldonia, Mason faced a catastrophic turnaround when his unit was devastated, and he endured severe injuries.
Full summary
The whole story of Freelance, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Freelance Box Office & Budget
Freelance grossed $10.2 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 25% of what it cost. $5.3 million came from the US and Canada and $4.9 million (48%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$10.2M
25% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $5.3M
- International
- $4.9M
- Budget
- $40M
Freelance Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 4 trailers.
- Trailer Official Trailer (Greenband)
- Trailer Freelance (2023) Official Trailer - John Cena, Alison Brie, Juan Pablo Raba, Christian Slater
- Trailer UK Trailer
How Well Do You Know Freelance?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What was Mason's profession before enlisting in the U.S. Army?
Cars in Freelance
34 cars on screen, including the 2007 Cadillac Escalade and the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
-
2007 Cadillac Escalade Important role -
2014 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Important role -
2008 Honda Odyssey Important role -
Toyota Land Cruiser Important role
Freelance Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “จ็อบระห่ำ คนถึกระทึกโลก” and “روزنامهنگار آزاد”.
- Also known as
-
- จ็อบระห่ำ คนถึกระทึกโลก
- روزنامهنگار آزاد
- روزنامهنگار مستقل
- Na volné noze
- 超危险保镖
- 自由职业者
- 프리랜스
- Dzsungelhajsza
- Телохранитель на фрилансе
- Фрілансер
- 超危險保鑣
- עצמאי בשטח
+18 more Show fewer
- Operativac
- عمل حر
- Agent libre
- Ελεύθερος Επαγγελματίας
- Frilanser - Cangüdən
- آزادکار
- Bodyguard na volné noze
- Herói por Encomenda
- Laisvai samdomas
- Бодигард под наем
- Đặc Vụ Tự Do
- Tetikçi
- Héroe Por Encargo, შტატგარეშე აგენტი
- Bodyguardul - Misiune in junglă
- 僱傭兵
- Heroi per encàrrec
- Operativec
- ザ・ボディガード ローグ・ミッション
Seen Freelance?
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Freelance FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Freelance, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Freelance?
Freelance runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was Freelance released?
Freelance was released on October 6, 2023.
Who directed Freelance?
Freelance was directed by Pierre Morel.
More films by Pierre Morel Who is in the cast of Freelance?
Freelance stars John Cena as Mason Pettits, Alison Brie as Claire Wellington and Alice Eve as Jenny Pettits, among 11 credited actors.
How much did Freelance make at the box office?
Freelance grossed $10.2 million worldwide ($5.3 million domestic, $4.9 million international) on a budget of $40 million.
How is Freelance rated?
Freelance has 5.6/10 on IMDb, 10% on Rotten Tomatoes, 26 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Does Freelance have a post-credit scene?
No. Freelance has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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