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Photographer Nick finds himself drawn into a passionate and tumultuous relationship with the alluring Tessa, navigating a world of intense desire and hidden secrets. As their bond deepens, Tessa's provocative nature pushes Nick to his limits, leading to a dangerous spiral of revelations and escalating conflict. Their love affair devolves into a toxic cycle of revenge, forcing them to confront difficult moral choices and question the boundaries of devotion.

Photographer Nick finds himself drawn into a passionate and tumultuous relationship with the alluring Tessa, navigating a world of intense desire and hidden secrets. As their bond deepens, Tessa's provocative nature pushes Nick to his limits, leading to a dangerous spiral of revelations and escalating conflict. Their love affair devolves into a toxic cycle of revenge, forcing them to confront difficult moral choices and question the boundaries of devotion.

Does No Way Out have end credit scenes?

No!

No Way Out does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of No Way Out

Explore the complete cast of No Way Out, 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.


Ratings and Reviews for No Way Out

See how No Way Out is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where No Way Out stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

77

Metascore

7.6

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

20%

TOMATOMETER

review

33%

User Score

TMDB

69

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate No Way Out Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of No Way Out 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.


No Way Out Quiz: Test your knowledge about the thrilling plot and characters of 'No Way Out'.

Who plays the role of U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for No Way Out

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Read the complete plot summary of No Way Out, 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.


At a lavish ball, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell, portrayed by Kevin Costner, encounters a captivating young woman named Susan Atwell. Despite her being involved with another man, their connection ignites a passionate affair. During a subsequent Naval deployment, Farrell showcases his bravery by rescuing a fellow sailor during a fierce storm, earning him hero status. His commendable actions lead him back to Washington where he is assigned to work at The Pentagon under Secretary of Defense David Brice, played by Gene Hackman. Brice, with a determined agenda to cancel a costly Navy project that holds substantial political backing, decides Farrell should serve as a direct liaison to the CIA, tasked with uncovering whether the Soviets are working on a comparable initiative.

The intrigue deepens as Farrell uncovers the shocking truth: the other figure in Susan’s life is none other than Secretary Brice himself. The tension escalates as Brice discovers Susan’s infidelity and, in a fit of jealousy, violently confronts her, resulting in her tragic death after she falls from an indoor balcony. Faced with the moral burden of his actions, Brice is swayed by his advisor, Scott Pritchard, an old friend of Farrell’s, to orchestrate a cover-up, scapegoating an elusive figure known only as “Yuri”, an alleged KGB sleeper agent long suspected but never definitively identified.

As events unfold, CIA Director Marshall dismisses the very notion of “Yuri”, doubting Pritchard’s connections with Susan, based on his presumption regarding Pritchard’s sexual orientation. Interestingly, despite this dismissal, Brice appoints Farrell to lead the investigation into Susan’s death, placing him in a paradoxical position where he must find evidence that could ultimately implicate him. The only forensic lead in the case arises from a Polaroid negative discovered at Susan’s residence, which requires extensive processing to reveal any conclusive evidence. There’s also a reference to forensic evidence of semen, but given the era’s limitations—the lack of prevalent DNA testing—this avenue is not pursued further.

In a desperate attempt, Farrell seeks the assistance of Sam Hesselman, an old friend and systems analyst, coaxing him to extend the processing time on the Polaroid evidence while divulging the truth about Susan and Brice. However, peril looms as Pritchard menaces Nina Beka, another of Susan’s close friends, threatening her with deportation to South Africa, and facilitates covert operations to eliminate her. In a dramatic turn, Farrell intervenes just in time to save Nina.

The plot thickens when Sam, suspicious of Pritchard’s intentions, discusses his concerns with him, leading to his untimely demise as Pritchard, fearing exposure, murders him. In a climactic moment, Farrell manages to secure the printout of crucial evidence before it becomes visible, presenting it to Brice, who artfully shifts blame onto Pritchard. In a tragic conclusion, Pritchard—overwhelmed by guilt and despair—takes his own life, falsely labeled as “Yuri” by Brice, who intends to evade responsibility for Susan’s death. Freed from suspicion, Farrell finally departs from the intense atmosphere of the Pentagon.

As Farrell sits mournfully by Susan’s grave, the narrative takes a startling twist—two plainclothes officers arrive to detain him for questioning. In a shocking revelation, one of the interrogators is actually Farrell’s landlord, who speaks to him in Russian. As it unfurls, it becomes clear that Farrell is, in fact, the genuine “Yuri”, a KGB agent who has been embedded in the U.S. since his teenage years. His mission? To seduce Susan, the mistress of the Secretary of Defense, and extract invaluable intelligence. Despite orders to return to the Soviet Union, he defiantly refuses, illustrating the complexities of loyalty and identity with a chilling quip from his KGB handler: “He will return. Where else does he have to go?”

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

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for No Way Out

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from No Way Out. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Sean Young: No Way Out Trailer (1987)

Tom Saves His Crewmate From Falling Overboard

Meeting David Brice

Pritchard Hatches A Plan

Tom Finds Himself in an Intense Foot Pursuit

Cars Featured in No Way Out

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Explore all cars featured in No Way Out, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Alfa

1986

Romeo 2000 Spider

Cadillac

1985

Fleetwood

Cadillac

Fleetwood Brougham Stretched Limousine

Cadillac

1979

Sedan DeVille

Cadillac

1980

Sedan DeVille

Cadillac

1980

Seville

Checker

1968

Taxicab

Chevrolet

1985

Astro

Chevrolet

1974

Camaro

Chevrolet

1986

Caprice

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.


neo noirmurderaccidental killingmistresssecretary of defenseinvestigationrussian spypentagonsex scenelustbreastsadulterysoviet agentmilitary liaisonconspiracynaval officerinterrogationpantiesvoyeurattempted murderframed for murderbetrayalbloodfemale rear nudityspypoliticianu.s. navysleeper agentundercoverassassinlove trianglepolitical conspiracyextramarital affaircleavagerace against timefoot chaseintelligence officerdeath of lovercrime of passionsex in a carfemme fataleparanoiacold warfalling from heightwashington d.c.remakefemale nuditykissing while having sexfemale frontal nuditysurprise ending

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