The Bricklayer (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Bricklayer is a 2024 action thriller directed by Renny Harlin, starring Aaron Eckhart as Steve Vail, Nina Dobrev and Clifton Collins Jr.. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $899,683 worldwide on a $23.9 million budget. Critics gave it 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Renny Harlin
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Millennium Media
- Budget
- $23.9M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Bricklayer About?
The premise of The Bricklayer without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A former FBI agent is forced out of retirement and drawn back into a dangerous situation when an extortionist targets the agency he used to work for. He finds himself in a perilous game of cat and mouse, confronting his past while trying to outwit a formidable adversary and protect the institution he left behind.
The Bricklayer Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- thessaloniki greece
- shot in the head
- shot to death
- gunshot wound
- bullet wound
- stabbed in the neck
- stabbed to death
- silenced pistol
- view through rifle scope
- tv news
- murdered journalist
- langley virginia
+38 more Show fewer
- cctv footage
- greece
- philadelphia pennsylvania
- listening to jazz music
- building site
- bricklayer
- construction worker
- diner
- flashback
- rain
- reflection in a pair of glasses
- fight in the rain
- rooftop fight
- assassination attempt
- stabbed with a trowel
- falling elevator
- redacted file
- loss of daughter
- hit in the head with a glass
- hit on the head with a bottle
- fistfight
- slow motion shot
- tracking device
- revenge
- extortion
- blackmail
- journalist
- newspaper reporter
- tailing a suspect
- murder
- motorcycle crash
- ex lovers
- cia handler
- widower
- kiss
- held at gunpoint
- assassination
- dead body
The Bricklayer Cast & Characters
Aaron Eckhart leads the cast as Steve Vail, with Nina Dobrev as Kate Bannon and Clifton Collins Jr. as Victor Radek. Directed by Renny Harlin; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Renny Harlin
-
Aaron Eckhart as Steve Vail -
Nina Dobrev as Kate Bannon -
Clifton Collins Jr. as Victor Radek -
Tim Blake Nelson as CIA Director O'Malley
Also Starring in The Bricklayer
· 16 more- Johanna Harlin Lydia Radek
- Anastasia Doumtsis Sylvie Radek
- Oliver Trevena Patricio
- Akis Sakellariou Kostas Leontaris
- Veronica Ferres Greta Becker
- Ori Pfeffer Denis Stefanopoulos
- Ilfenesh Hadera Tye Delson
- Lili Rich
- David Kennedy Foreman
- Konstantin Adaev Triton
- John T. Woods Bertok
- Zachary Willis Finnegan
- Vasilis Kanelopoulos Policeman
- Yuriy Vashurin Assassin #3
- Michael Siriopoulos
- Manos Galanis
The Bricklayer Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Bricklayer 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 5.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 36/100, strongest in art & craft (48) and weakest in rewatch factor (30).
The Bricklayer Echo Score Breakdown
The Bricklayer delivers an uneven experience, with sporadic bursts of competent action offset by pervasive shortcomings in narrative and craft. Critics note the film’s reliance on familiar tropes and lack of originality, while user feedback highlights predictable plotting and poor audio mixing. Although a few praised the set‑piece choreography and occasional energy, the consensus leans toward disappointment. Consequently, the film offers limited appeal beyond a brief, forgettable viewing.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 48
In terms of direction and production design, The Bricklayer shows a mixed level of competence. Reviewers commend the visually striking rooftop brawl and nightclub fight sequences, indicating moments of effective set‑piece execution. Conversely, criticism targets slapdash production elements and a lack of stylistic cohesion. The overall impression is that the film’s artful moments are outweighed by inconsistent craftsmanship.
- Character & Emotion 34
When assessing acting and character depth, feedback is largely unfavorable. Critics acknowledge a surprisingly compatible lead duo, yet describe the performances as hampered by wooden dialogue and a serious tone that undermines potential camp. Users echo this sentiment, noting that the absence of Aaron Eckhart diminishes the film and that the cast fails to convey genuine emotion. Overall, character work is viewed as shallow and ineffective.
- Story & Flow 32
The narrative structure receives consistent criticism for its predictability and lack of originality. Critics label the plot as by‑the‑numbers, calling for a rewrite to inject fresh ideas. User comments reinforce this view, describing the story as zero plot, heavily clichéd, and campy, with the titular bricklaying element feeling irrelevant. While a few mention an entertaining premise, the prevailing assessment is that the story fails to engage.
- Sensory Experience 42
Auditory and visual elements present a split impression. Positive notes highlight the atmospheric rain‑soaked rooftop fight and kinetic nightclub sequences, suggesting effective sound design and visual composition in those moments. However, multiple reviewers criticize the dialogue mix and overall audio quality as subpar, and comment on uneven visual cohesion across the film. Consequently, the sensory experience is perceived as sporadically compelling but generally inconsistent.
- Rewatch Factor 30
Rewatch value is limited given the film’s uneven pacing and lack of lasting intrigue. While some reviewers concede that the action set‑pieces provide momentary excitement for viewers in the right mood, the overall predictability, weak dialogue, and tonal inconsistency reduce incentive for repeat viewings. As a result, the movie is seen as a one‑time, forgettable experience rather than a repeatable entertainment.
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IMDb 5.2 /10
14410 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 48% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 27%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 58% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.2 /5
10903 ratings
See on Letterboxd
The Bricklayer Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Bricklayer 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 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Steve Vail, a jaded CIA field agent, has become a bricklayer. When three international journalists have been murdered within a month, the CIA needs him again. S. intelligence activities across the world, and the CIA is being framed as being responsible. Kate, a highly trained expert agent, scours surveillance footage and discovers former asset Victor Radek is alive and likely responsible. Vail had been his handler and friend. Kate and CIA Director O’Malley fly to Philadelphia to recruit Vail but he declines. They tell him that Radek, who had aligned himself with the CIA to gain asylum, had had his cover blown and his family killed by the Russians. He faked his death and has been on a vengeance-fueled rampage since.
Full summary
The whole story of The Bricklayer, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Bricklayer Box Office & Budget
The Bricklayer grossed $899,683 worldwide on a $23.9 million budget.
Worldwide gross
$899.7K
- International
- $899.7K
- Budget
- $23.9M
The Bricklayer Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Bricklayer?
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 profession does Steve Vail take up after leaving the CIA?
The Bricklayer Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “آجرکار” and “آجرچین”.
- Also known as
-
- آجرکار
- آجرچین
- 브릭레이어
- Agente X: Última misión
- ザ・ブリックレイヤー
- Каменщик
- 叛諜檔案
- Điệp Vụ Cuối Cùng
- The Bricklayer – Tödliche Geheimnisse
- 諜影縱橫
- 谍影追凶
- Зидарят
+14 more Show fewer
- Каменяр
- Zedník
- Αποστολή στην Ελλάδα
- Zidar
- Agente X: A Última Missão
- Ölümcül Sır
- Zidarul, კალატოზი
- הקבלן
- Murarz. Na granicy spisku
- A kőműves
- จารชนคนพันธุ์เดือด
- Murár
- ブリックレイヤー
- Mūrininkas
Seen The Bricklayer?
Movies Like The Bricklayer
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Brick, Brick and Bricks.
The Bricklayer FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Bricklayer, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Bricklayer?
The Bricklayer runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was The Bricklayer released?
The Bricklayer was released on January 5, 2024.
Who directed The Bricklayer?
The Bricklayer was directed by Renny Harlin.
More films by Renny Harlin Who is in the cast of The Bricklayer?
The Bricklayer stars Aaron Eckhart as Steve Vail, Nina Dobrev as Kate Bannon and Clifton Collins Jr. as Victor Radek, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Bricklayer make at the box office?
The Bricklayer grossed $899,683 worldwide on a budget of $23.9 million.
How is The Bricklayer rated?
The Bricklayer has 5.2/10 on IMDb, 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, 58% on TMDB and 2.2/5 on Letterboxd.
Does The Bricklayer have a post-credit scene?
No. The Bricklayer has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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