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The Courier 2021

During the height of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, British businessman Greville Wynne is recruited by MI-6 and the CIA for a dangerous mission. He is tasked with establishing contact with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky to gather vital intelligence. Wynne finds himself in a tense and precarious situation as he develops an unlikely partnership with Penkovsky, risking everything to avert a potential nuclear conflict and navigate the complexities of international espionage.

During the height of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, British businessman Greville Wynne is recruited by MI-6 and the CIA for a dangerous mission. He is tasked with establishing contact with Soviet officer Oleg Penkovsky to gather vital intelligence. Wynne finds himself in a tense and precarious situation as he develops an unlikely partnership with Penkovsky, risking everything to avert a potential nuclear conflict and navigate the complexities of international espionage.

Does The Courier have end credit scenes?

No!

The Courier does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Ratings and Reviews for The Courier

See how The Courier is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Courier stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

78

The Courier offers a compelling blend of strong performances and measured pacing, though its conventional narrative and intermittent tension may limit engagement. Acting and character relationships receive consistent praise across reviews, and the production design and cinematography are noted for creating an immersive Cold War atmosphere. The storyline follows familiar spy thriller conventions, leading some viewers to find the pacing slow in the first half. Despite these reservations, the film’s thoughtful direction and emotional core leave a generally positive impression.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for The Courier

83
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of art and craft, The Courier demonstrates solid production design and thoughtful cinematography that anchor the Cold War setting. Reviews frequently point to deep shadow use and period-accurate costumes as elements that enhance immersion. The measured editing choices support the narrative flow without drawing undue attention. Overall, the film’s visual construction effectively sustains its tone.

90
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character and emotion, the film benefits from nuanced performances that convey both personal stakes and ideological conflict. Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of the courier receives frequent mention for its balance of restraint and conviction. Supporting characters contribute credible relationships without overshadowing the central pair. Ultimately, the ensemble’s depth reinforces the story’s human dimension.

72
Echo Score

Story & Flow

In terms of story and flow, the narrative adheres to familiar spy thriller conventions with a measured pacing that some viewers find deliberate. The plot maintains coherence and gradually builds suspense, but the first half may feel subdued compared to the more intense finale. Overall, the storyline offers reliable engagement with modest originality.

75
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers a restrained yet effective audio-visual presentation. The score underlines key moments without overwhelming the dialogue, while sound design emphasizes ambient tension. Visually, the cohesive color palette and framing choices accentuate the era’s mood. In sum, the sensory elements support the narrative without drawing excessive attention.

60
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s deliberate pacing and restrained structure may limit its repeat viewing appeal for some audiences. However, the layered performances and period detail invite closer examination on subsequent viewings. The familiar narrative contours might reduce surprises, but engaged viewers can still appreciate nuanced character dynamics. Overall, rewatch value is moderate.

Metacritic

65

Metascore

7.0

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

85%

TOMATOMETER

review

95%

User Score

IMDb

4.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

71

%

User Score

Letterboxd

3.4

From 34 fan ratings

Movie Insider

4.53/5

From 19 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Courier Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Courier 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.


The Courier Quiz: Test your knowledge about the thrilling events of 'The Courier' and its characters.

Who is the billionaire contractor facing corruption charges?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Courier

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Read the complete plot summary of The Courier, 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.


Ezekiel Mannings, portrayed by Gary Oldman, is a New York billionaire contractor who finds himself entangled in a web of corruption charges that have led him to a trial. His daughter, Alys Mannings, played by Calli Taylor, is well aware of her father’s dubious activities. Their relationship is put to the test during a church meeting where Ezekiel reassures Alys that all is well, just before he is apprehended by the NYPD right on the church grounds.

As Ezekiel faces an impending house arrest enforced by FBI agent Bryant, played by William Moseley, Alys is left with the arduous task of securing her father’s release. They communicate through Alys’s encrypted mobile phone, as Ezekiel seeks to orchestrate his defense from behind the confines of his enforced isolation. Believing her father to be a visionary, Alys sees the FBI’s case against Ezekiel as nothing more than a witch hunt, a sentiment that complicates their relationship further as the stakes continue to rise.

In London, Nick Murch, portrayed by Amit Shah, is set to testify against Ezekiel via video link. Agent Simmonds, played by Alicia Agneson, of Interpol has taken the witness into a secure room within a courthouse, unaware that the enigmatic Courier, played by Olga Kurylenko, is on a mission to alter the course of events drastically. The Courier’s mission becomes a high-stakes game as she unknowingly delivers a cyanide delivery system to Simmonds, which she intends to use against the witnesses.

As chaos erupts within the secure room when the cyanide delivery is triggered, Nick experiences a close call, narrowly escaping after locking himself in a bathroom. In the midst of this mayhem, Simmonds attempts to shoot the Courier but mistakenly underestimates her, leading to a desperate confrontation. The Courier, equipped with a gas mask, manages to escape with Nick, who is hesitant to trust his savior.

As they strategize their next move, Bryant, desperate to control the situation, locks down the building, methodically cutting off all escape routes. His efforts to pressure the Courier into surrendering Nick escalate tensions between them. On the home front, Ezekiel’s lawyers are pushing the judge to dismiss the charges, but the court grants an extension, demanding the prosecution secure their witness.

Meanwhile, the Courier showcases her combat prowess by strategically eliminating mercenaries one by one, but the situation becomes trickier as their firearms are encoded to their prints. In a moment of vulnerability, she offers Nick her tactical vest for protection, revealing her military past and deep-rooted grief over the loss of her brother.

As time dwindles, the Courier adopts a tactical approach to survive against Bryant’s forces, using makeshift explosives made from fuel in parked vehicles as she evades capture. During a frantic encounter, Nick reveals he witnessed one of Ezekiel’s heinous acts, making him the key witness in the unfolding scandal.

But as they fight their way to the rooftop, Nick suffers a gunshot wound, compelling the Courier to create distractions to evade capture. An outnumbered battle ensues as Bryant attempts to leverage the situation by offering the Courier a substantial payout to relinquish Nick, an offer she dismisses by plunging the building into darkness.

The thrilling confrontation culminates in a brutal fight where the Courier’s cunning ultimately leads her to triumph. After subduing her enemies, she takes Nick to safety, but the impending repercussions for Ezekiel loom large. The following day, Agent Roberts, played by Dermot Mulroney, arrests Ezekiel, and as the plot thickens, Roberts reveals his allegiance to Ezekiel’s interests, leading to a tense standoff between him and the resilient Courier.

In a climactic twist, the stakes escalate even further, culminating in a showdown that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, illustrating a tale interwoven with betrayal, survival, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

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

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Courier

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Courier. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

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Official Spot: Service

Official Spot: Spies Cutdown

Cars Featured in The Courier

See 15 more

Explore all cars featured in The Courier, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Austin

FX4

Bedford

1969

J2 SZ10

GAZ

1959

M-13 Chaika

GAZ

1962

M-21 Volga

GAZ

1962

M-21 Volga

Humber

1955

Hawk Mk.VI

Jaguar

1960

Mk.II

Jaguar

1966

Mk.X XJ5

Lancia

1956

Appia

Morris

1957

Minor 1000 Convertible

The Courier 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.


courierlondon englandpackagegas maskgunfightshootoutgun battlestreet shootoutfistfightfighthand to hand combatpunched in the facepunched in the chestkicked in the facekicked in the stomachbeatingbeaten to deathhead buttfight to the deathshowdownfinal showdownwoman fights a manwoman punches a manaction heroineone woman armytough girlfemale warriorunlikely heroinedark pasttragic pasttragic eventhaunted by the pastdark heroineexploding carexplosionstabbed in the neckstabbed in the throatstabbed in the shoulderstabbed in the armstabbed in the cheststabbed in the backstabbed in the legstabbed to deathneck breakingthroat slitstrangulationimprovised weapontoolkitshot in the headshot in the forehead
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