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Action thriller

Panama (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Panama (2022) movie poster

Panama is a 2022 action thriller directed by Mark Neveldine, starring Cole Hauser as Becker, Mel Gibson and Mauricio Hénao. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $366,785 worldwide. Critics gave it 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.5/10.

IMDb rating
3.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
8%
worldwide gross
$366.8K
Echo Score
22
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Panama (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Director
Mark Neveldine
Genres
Action , Thriller
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Panama About?

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

In 1989, as Panama faces potential invasion, former marine Becker finds himself embroiled in a dangerous mission for the CIA. He must navigate a world of arms dealers to complete the operation, but his investigation leads him to uncover unsettling truths about political corruption and the abuse of power. Becker is forced to question his own values and confront the dark side of the world around him in this intense action thriller.

Panama Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • female nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • travel
  • fight
  • trip
  • gun
  • sex scene
  • collar
  • hidden
  • light
  • thunder
  • reference to manuel noriega
+18 more
  • country in title
  • year 1989
  • grave
  • reference to brooklyn dodgers
  • casino
  • f word
  • subtitled scene
  • assassin
  • bare chested male
  • chase
  • helicopter
  • money
  • one word title
  • shot to death
  • sniper
  • breasts
  • woman on top sex
  • female topless nudity
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Cast & crew

Panama Cast & Characters

Cole Hauser leads the cast as Becker, with Mel Gibson as Stark and Mauricio Hénao as Enrique Rodriguez. Directed by Mark Neveldine; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Panama

· 8 more
Ratings

Panama Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Panama 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 3.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 22/100, strongest in rewatch factor (30) and weakest in sensory experience (15).

22 /100

Panama Echo Score Breakdown

Panama delivers a largely unsatisfying cinematic experience, hampered by low‑budget production values and uneven technical execution. The film suffers from thin performances and a plot that wanders without clear direction, while its soundtrack and sound design further distract rather than enhance. Although a few moments of visual flair and occasional genre‑specific charm appear, they are insufficient to offset the pervasive shortcomings. Consequently, the movie offers limited appeal and little incentive for repeat viewings.

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

  • Art & Craft 25

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits strained editing and a chaotic visual style that aim for excitement but fall short. Critics note frantic camerawork and low production design, while users point to relentless background music and a disjointed aesthetic. A handful of scenes show inventive set‑pieces, yet the overall execution appears sloppy and under‑resourced, resulting in a markedly weak technical foundation.

  • Character & Emotion 20

    When it comes to character and emotion, performances are widely regarded as shallow and uninspired. Both critics and users describe the lead actors as dull, with limited depth and minimal emotional resonance. Some viewers mention occasional spirited moments from supporting talent, but these are eclipsed by pervasive miscasting and two‑dimensional portrayals, leaving the audience with little connection to the characters.

  • Story & Flow 18

    The story and flow suffer from a lack of coherent narrative structure. Reviewers repeatedly highlight a plot that feels fragmented, with pacing that oscillates between frantic and sluggish. The intended sociopolitical backdrop is underdeveloped, and key events often appear confusing or implausible. While a few viewers found the premise mildly engaging, the overall storytelling is inconsistent and fails to maintain sustained interest.

  • Sensory Experience 15

    Sensory experience is undermined by an incongruous score and problematic sound design. Users report constant background music, poor dubbing, and a soundtrack that clashes with the film's tone. Critics echo these concerns, noting that the audio elements distract rather than support the visuals. Limited visual polish and an overall lack of cohesive auditory identity contribute to a diminished immersive quality.

  • Rewatch Factor 30

    Rewatch factor remains low, as the film offers little new insight or enjoyment on subsequent viewings. While a minority of viewers acknowledge brief moments of novelty or genre‑specific fun, the dominant sentiment is that the movie fails to reward repeat engagement. The combination of weak narrative, flat performances, and jarring sensory elements discourages audiences from returning.

Plot

Panama Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Panama from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Becker, a former marine, is swallowed by guilt and despair after his wife’s tragic death in 1989. His days blur into a haze of alcohol, and he often finds himself passed out by her grave in the backyard. Then a familiar figure from the past, Stark, a defense contractor and Becker’s former associate, appears with a glimmer of hope: a secret mission that could finally pull him out of the darkness. At first, Becker resists, but curiosity and a yearning for purpose win out, and he agrees to take on the challenge.

Full summary

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Panama Box Office

Panama grossed $366,785 worldwide.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$366.8K

International
$366.8K
Videos

Panama Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip Panama Clip - How's Our Boy Scout?
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Panama?

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 former marine haunted by his wife's death?

Details

Panama Also Known As

13 alternative titles, including “Парни под прикрытием” and “Misión Panamá”.

Also known as
  • Парни под прикрытием
  • Misión Panamá
  • 파나마
  • 生死巴拿马
  • Misión explosiva
  • Panamá
  • Επιχείρηση Παναμάς
  • Панама
  • 玩命獵殺
  • بنما
  • ปานามา
  • מבצע פנמה
+1 more
  • Cuộc Chiến Panama

Seen Panama?

FAQ

Panama FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Panama?

Panama runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Panama released?

Panama was released on March 18, 2022.

Who directed Panama?

Panama was directed by Mark Neveldine.

More films by Mark Neveldine

Who is in the cast of Panama?

Panama stars Cole Hauser as Becker, Mel Gibson as Stark and Mauricio Hénao as Enrique Rodriguez, among 12 credited actors.

How much did Panama make at the box office?

Panama grossed $366,785 worldwide.

How is Panama rated?

Panama has 3.5/10 on IMDb, 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, 52% on TMDB and 1.7/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Panama have a post-credit scene?

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

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