The Amateur

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2:16

The Amateur

R

1981

1h 52m

Mystery & Thriller

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5 Reviews

52%

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100+ Ratings

When the wife of CIA agent Charles Heller (John Savage) is killed by a group of terrorists in Munich, Germany, he decides to hunt down the escaped killers. However, he is only a code specialist without combat expertise, and he does not have agency permission. Using classified information, Heller blackmails the CIA into training him and sending him into Czechoslovakia, where the killers are currently located. Once he arrives, Heller discovers that he may be their target after all.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

After earning our attention with its understated, powerful opening, the movie develops into a routine, even laughable, spy thriller.

Rated: 2/4

May 8, 2019

Full Review

Jana Monji

Age of the Geek

This film benefited from some contemporary events, but the script is more tell than show. In 2025, a remake is much better. Still, you might want to compare the technology from 1981 to now.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 11, 2025

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…rather more plausible than the usual techno-thriller mechanics, The Amateur makes a virtue of its savvy view of dirty black ops…does a professional wet job that probably should have made more of a cultural imprint than it did, but a reboot might help...

Rated: 3/5

Jul 22, 2021

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

A slick and suspenseful espionage thriller.

Rated: 3/4

May 27, 2020

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Diego Galán

El Pais (Spain)

The Amateur has an effective narrative that is superior to other similar movies. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 22, 2019

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Audience Member

This was a decent movie for it’s time. While the story is essentially the same, this version had a much slower pace. It lacked the same level of excitement that I felt the 2025 version had. There also wasn’t the same level of agent in to the relationship between the couple, which made me less invested as to what happened.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Patricia C

Awesome film! Not one second hit a lull - actors amazing. It had splintered humor and kept me watching and I’m not an action type of film goer. It was incredible! AA great watch!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/03/25

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Audience Member

Considering the fact that I never heard of this movie I chose to give it a shot on cable today. I did'nt think it was any good. It was too boring, slow and uninteresting. I turned it off part way into it. It was'nt worth it at all.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Audience Member

Ordinary man blackmails CIA to send him to Czecheslovakia to avenge terrorists who executed his girlfriend, only to be targeted by CIA after crossing enemy lines. Top notch Canadian cinema. Nominated for 10 Genie Awards, winning zero.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Very good espionage film. Intelligent and has an honest feel throughout.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

I enjoyed the plot and the film had some interesting twists and turns but an incredibly lazy ending brought the whole film down several notches. Too bad...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

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Charles Jarrott

Director

John Savage

Charles Heller

Christopher Plummer

Professor Lakos

Marthe Keller

Elisabeth

Arthur Hill

Brewer

Nicholas Campbell

Schraeger

The Amateur: Trailer 1

2:16

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Synopsis

When the wife of CIA agent Charles Heller (John Savage) is killed by a group of terrorists in Munich, Germany, he decides to hunt down the escaped killers. However, he is only a code specialist without combat expertise, and he does not have agency permission. Using classified information, Heller blackmails the CIA into training him and sending him into Czechoslovakia, where the killers are currently located. Once he arrives, Heller discovers that he may be their target after all.

Director: Charles Jarrott
Producer: Garth H. Drabinsky, Joel B. Michaels
Screenwriter: Diana Maddox, Robert Littell
Production Co: Balkan Productions, Tiberius Film Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 52m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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