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Action thriller

The Bricklayer (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Bricklayer (2024) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
48%
worldwide gross
$899.7K
Echo Score
36
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The Bricklayer (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 50m (110 min)
Director
Renny Harlin
Genres
Action , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$23.9M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

Ratings

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).

36 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

The Bricklayer Box Office & Budget

The Bricklayer grossed $899,683 worldwide on a $23.9 million budget.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$899.7K

International
$899.7K
Budget
$23.9M
Videos

The Bricklayer Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
Quiz

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

  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

What profession does Steve Vail take up after leaving the CIA?

Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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