The Amateur Reviews & Rotten Tomatoes Score Are Positive

While The Amateur is fast approaching its theatrical release date, the film has already drawn its first reviews through early screenings. Helmed by James Hawes, the movie features Rami Malek in the lead, with Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, and Evan Milton, among others, rounding up the supporting cast. The 123-minute spy-thriller has received mostly positive reviews from critics, leading to a decent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Amateur reviews please many, but not all critics

The Amateur’s first reviews have praised Rami Malek for his committed performance, all the while levying some criticism on the film’s plot. The movie follows the journey of Charlie Heller, an impeccable CIA decoder who tragically loses his wife during a terrorist attack in London. When his agency refuses to provide assistance on the matter, Heller decides to embark on a perilous mission to exact revenge on the perpetrators.

Jonathan Sim of ComingSoon defined the film as a “successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out.” However, the veteran critic also remarked that The Amateur “may not appeal to everyone” in his review.

Leigh Paatsch of Herald Sun (Australia) lauded Malek’s portrayal of the troubled CIA operative despite labeling the film’s plot as a “semi-silly storyline.” In the review for The Amateur, Paatsch noted, “The under-rated Malek toils away admirably, wisely choosing to underplay his unlikely character.”

Meanwhile, Empire Magazine‘s Amon Warmann gave The Amateur a middling review, stating, “This revenge flick exchanges fists for brains with only decent results.”

The Amateur gets a middling Rotten Tomatoes score

Prior to its official release, The Amateur has garnered somewhat average reviews from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The project has clocked 66% on the popular review-aggregation website from a total of 61 critic reviews. However, The Amateur presently has a much more favorable audience score, with the Popcornmeter reading an impressive 87% rating.

The movie is scheduled to come out on April 11, 2025, in the U.S.