The Rhythm Section (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
The Rhythm Section is a 2020 action thriller directed by Reed Morano, starring Blake Lively as Stephanie Patrick, Matilda Ziegler and David Duggan. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $6 million worldwide on a $50 million budget. Critics gave it 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 45 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Stream it on Starz, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Reed Morano
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- Budget
- $50M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Rhythm Section About?
The premise of The Rhythm Section without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Following a devastating family tragedy, Stephanie Patrick's life is shattered. As she investigates the circumstances of the plane crash that killed her loved ones, she discovers a disturbing truth and undergoes a dramatic transformation, becoming a skilled and relentless agent of vengeance. Partnering with an experienced CIA operative, Stephanie embarks on a dangerous mission to uncover those responsible, navigating a complex world where morality is constantly tested.
The Rhythm Section Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- revenge
- female assassin
- terrorism
- female protagonist
- dead family
- death of family
- sex scene
- bombmaker
- car chase
- hand to hand combat
- target practice
- loss of family
+38 more Show fewer
- master of disguise
- interracial kiss
- down and out
- self justice
- vigilante justice
- female vigilante
- vigilante
- traumatized protagonist
- vendetta
- revenge motive
- revenge plot
- revenge killing
- revenge murder
- passionate kiss
- three word title
- suspense
- subjective camera
- character's point of view camera shot
- strong female lead
- f rated
- title directed by female
- scene during opening credits
- scene before opening credits
- nonlinear timeline
- shootout
- gunfight
- explosion
- exploding car
- exploding bus
- suicide bomber
- car bomb
- assassination
- assassination attempt
- attempted murder
- near death experience
- murder
- death
- violence
Where to Watch The Rhythm Section
Stream it on Starz, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 1
The Rhythm Section Cast & Characters
Blake Lively leads the cast as Stephanie Patrick, with Matilda Ziegler as Monica Patrick and David Duggan as David Patrick. Directed by Reed Morano; 23 actors are credited in all.
- Director Reed Morano
-
Blake Lively as Stephanie Patrick - Matilda Ziegler as Monica Patrick
- David Duggan as David Patrick
- Bill O'Connell as Andrew Patrick
Also Starring in The Rhythm Section
· 19 more- Elly Curtis Sarah Patrick
- Raza Jaffrey Keith Proctor
- Tawfeek Barhom Reza Mohammed
- Jude Law Iain Boyd
- Nasser Memarzia Suleman Kaif
- Amira Ghazalla Alia Kaif
- Sterling K. Brown Mark Serra
- Richard Brake Eric Lehmans
- Daniel Mays
- Max Casella
- Jade Anouka
- Jack McEvoy Reza's Friend
- Geoff Bell Green
- Shane Whisker
- Ivana Basic Oksana
- Una Carroll
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
The Rhythm Section Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Rhythm Section 28% on Rotten Tomatoes and 45 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in character & emotion (65) and weakest in rewatch factor (40).
The Rhythm Section Echo Score Breakdown
The Rhythm Section delivers a mixture of competent performances and thematic ambition offset by uneven pacing and familiarity. Reviews commend Blake Lively’s committed portrayal and the director’s attempts to subvert genre conventions, particularly in framing and character vulnerability. Yet the narrative frequently stalls with predictable twists and sluggish momentum. Overall, the film makes intermittent strides but ultimately struggles to maintain engagement across its runtime.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
In terms of direction and visual design, the film illustrates a clear artistic ambition through measured compositions and an understated color palette. Critics highlight inventive framing choices that aim to complicate the genre’s female gaze. However, verbose exposition and uneven editing occasionally undermine these strengths. Overall, the art direction feels promising but remains inconsistent.
- Character & Emotion 65
Regarding acting and emotional resonance, Blake Lively’s performance anchors the film with evident commitment and nuanced vulnerability. Supporting cast members provide solid contributions, lending moments of genuine chemistry and intensity. At the same time, some viewers note occasional miscasting and limited character depth in the script’s portrayal of trauma. Ultimately, the character work is the film’s most reliable asset.
- Story & Flow 45
Plot coherence and pacing emerge as principal weaknesses, with multiple accounts of sluggish opening sequences and predictable twists. The narrative’s extended focus on grief allows brief thematic depth but often stalls the forward momentum expected of a thriller. Attempts at originality in structure are undercut by derivative spy tropes. In sum, the story feels uneven and fails to sustain narrative engagement.
- Sensory Experience 50
When it comes to score and sound design, the film offers intermittent moments of visceral impact through measured musical cues and restrained sound effects. A handful of action sequences benefit from crisp editing and atmospheric audio. Yet these highlights are too sporadic, and the overall sensory cohesion feels muted rather than fully immersive. Consequently, the sensory experience remains middling.
- Rewatch Factor 40
The film’s replay value is limited by its familiar narrative beats and uneven pacing, which many viewers find difficult to revisit. Occasional strengths in performance and thematic nuance may attract selective repeat viewing. However, overall momentum issues and predictability diminish lasting appeal. As a result, the rewatch factor remains relatively low for most audiences.
-
IMDb 5.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 28% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 44%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 45 Metascore
User score 4.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 55% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.4 /5
2 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 2.6 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Rhythm Section Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Rhythm Section 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 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Three years after her family’s tragic death in a plane crash, Stephanie Patrick, portrayed by Blake Lively, finds herself lost in a world of addiction and despair, becoming a drug-dependent sex worker in London. Her life takes an unexpected turn when journalist Keith Proctor, played by Raza Jaffrey, approaches her with a theory that the crash was no accident but a terrorist act hidden by the government.
Full summary
The whole story of The Rhythm Section, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Rhythm Section Box Office & Budget
The Rhythm Section grossed $6 million worldwide on a $50 million budget, 12% of what it cost. $5.4 million came from the US and Canada and $551,612 (9%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$6M
12% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $5.4M
- International
- $551.6K
- Budget
- $50M
The Rhythm Section Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Rhythm Section.
How Well Do You Know The Rhythm Section?
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 personal loss does Stephanie Patrick cope with throughout the film?
Cars in The Rhythm Section
49 cars on screen, including the 1983 Mercedes-Benz 190 W201 and the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205.
-
1983 Mercedes-Benz 190 W201 Important role -
2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W205 Important role -
2015 Chevrolet Suburban Minor role -
2017 Dacia Lodgy Minor role
The Rhythm Section Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “리듬 섹션” and “復仇謎奏”.
- Also known as
-
- 리듬 섹션
- 復仇謎奏
- 复仇谜奏
- Le Rythme de la vengeance
- El ritmo de la venganza
- Ритъм секция
- 리듬 오브 리벤지
- Ритм-секция
- La section rythmique
- O Ritmo da Vingança
- Rytmická sekce
- Ritim Bölümü
+17 more Show fewer
- Ритм-секція
- Ритам секција
- リズム・セクション
- Ritmusszekció
- The Rhythm Section - Zeit der Rache
- Sekcja Rytmiczna
- 节奏组
- מדור הקצב
- โคตรสาวมือพระกาฬ
- Ritmul răzbunării
- Phần Nhịp Điệu, რიტმ-სექცია
- بخش ریتم
- Rytmická sekcia
- Ritmo skyrius
- قسم الإيقاع
- 韻律真相
- El ritme de la venjança
Seen The Rhythm Section?
Movies Like The Rhythm Section
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Momentum, Peppermint and The Specialist.
The Rhythm Section FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Rhythm Section, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Rhythm Section?
The Rhythm Section runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was The Rhythm Section released?
The Rhythm Section was released on January 31, 2020.
Who directed The Rhythm Section?
The Rhythm Section was directed by Reed Morano.
More films by Reed Morano Who is in the cast of The Rhythm Section?
The Rhythm Section stars Blake Lively as Stephanie Patrick, Matilda Ziegler as Monica Patrick and David Duggan as David Patrick, among 23 credited actors.
Where can I watch The Rhythm Section?
In the US, The Rhythm Section is streaming on Starz and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did The Rhythm Section make at the box office?
The Rhythm Section grossed $6 million worldwide ($5.4 million domestic, $551,612 international) on a budget of $50 million.
How is The Rhythm Section rated?
The Rhythm Section has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 28% on Rotten Tomatoes, 45 on Metacritic and 55% on TMDB.
Does The Rhythm Section have a post-credit scene?
No. The Rhythm Section has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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