How far would you go to avenge the love of your life? This is the haunting question at the heart of The Amateur, the new thriller from director James Hawes that takes us on an emotional and suspenseful journey. Starring Rami Malek alongside Rachel Brosnahan and Laurence Fishburne, The Amateur is a profound exploration of loss, resilience, and the limits of human endurance.

Malek, known for his intense and layered performances in “Mr. Robot” and Bohemian Rhapsody, plays Charlie Heller, a reclusive CIA codebreaker whose quiet, methodical life is shattered when his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), tragically dies in a London terrorist attack.

When his supervisors refuse to take action, Heller takes matters into his own hands, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge.

From the moment we’re introduced to Malek’s Heller, there’s an authenticity and vulnerability that sets him apart from your run-of-the-mill action hero. He’s not a highly-trained operative; he’s one of us. He’s just an ordinary man thrown into unimaginable circumstances, armed only with his intelligence and an unrelenting desire for justice.

Malek’s ability to balance Heller’s vulnerability and quiet strength is the driving force behind the film’s success. One memorable scene depicts Heller alone late at night, replaying video footage from a surveillance camera for the hundredth time. Hawes’ camera lingers on his face, and through his small, almost imperceptible movements, Malek conveys an ocean of grief and determination and I felt it. Here’s where many will find fault, yet it’s the biggest reason this whole thing works: he’s not turning into a brute-force action hero; he’s simply relying on his resourcefulness and intellect to push forward, step by step.

The film’s pacing helps keep us in the game as Heller is thrust into a world of international intrigue as we learn that the covert operation is far outside his expertise. Yes, it’s a high-stakes, globe-trotting adventure, but Hawes, who works from a script adaptation from Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli, never allows the spectacle to overshadow the humanity at the story’s core.

The supporting cast adds rich texture to the narrative. Brosnahan gives her Sarah a warmth and vitality that makes her loss all the more heartbreaking, even though she appears mostly in flashbacks. Laurence Fishburne, as a weathered and morally ambiguous CIA mentor, brings gravitas and complexity to the story, forcing us to reflect on the murkiness of institutional trust. Their performances elevate the film beyond a simple revenge arc, grounding it in a deeper conversation about personal and systemic accountability.

Hawes’ direction is taut and purposeful, blending action with emotion. One particularly riveting sequence unfolds in a bustling Moroccan marketplace where Heller employs his cunning to evade assassins. Unlike the bombastic, choreographed excess of most espionage films, The Amateur thrives on tension, reserve, and the resilience of the underdog. Heller’s every move is calculated, his nerves fraying as he improvises his way out of every situation.

But what truly sets The Amateur apart from a traditional revenge thriller is its emotional arc. Heller’s quest begins with vengeance, but it becomes so much more. Scenes of quiet reflection allow the film to explore grief in a nuanced way, peeling back the layers of Heller’s pain as he realizes that revenge may not bring the closure he seeks. It’s a poignant reminder of the messy, nonlinear process of navigating loss and rebuilding.

Whether you’re a fan of edge-of-your-seat thrillers or stories that grapple with the complexities of the human heart, The Amateur fits the bill. It’s more than a film; it’s an entertaining meditation on grief, resilience, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital 4K

Home Video Distributor: Disney/Buena Vista
Available on Blu-ray - July 8, 2025
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles: English SDH; French; German; Italian; Japanese; Spanish; Czech; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; Norwegian; Swedish
Video: Dolby Vision; HDR10
Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; French: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; Spanish: DTS 5.1; Italian: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; Japanese: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1; German: Dolby Digital Plus 7.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

VIDEO

The 4K Ultra HD edition of The Amateur from 20th Century Fox delivers an impressive visual presentation that takes full advantage of its 2160p resolution and Dolby Vision HDR grading.

Framed at 2.39:1, the image is fully cinematic and tightly composed, emphasizing both the tense, intimate moments and expansive international locales. Dolby Vision enhances contrast and dynamic range, giving night sequences deep, inky blacks without crushing shadow detail, while brighter scenes benefit from natural yet vivid highlights.

Overall, this is a top-tier transfer that faithfully preserves the film’s visual style while elevating it with the clarity and depth of UHD.

AUDIO

The audio quality here is a standout feature, with both Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio tracks delivering an immersive sound experience.

The Atmos mix excels in height channel utilization, especially during action sequences, with overhead effects and dynamic spatial movement.

Dialogue remains crisp and intelligible even amid complex audio layering. Ambient soundscapes and the musical score are well-balanced, enhancing your room's atmosphere.

The Dolby TrueHD 7.1 track offers slightly less immersion than the Atmos track but retains rich clarity and detailed surround activity, making both options strong.

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

• The Team (09:51)
• The World (06:48)
• The Pool (06:13)
• The Score (06:01)
• Deleted Scenes

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 123 mins
Director: James Hawes
Writer: Ken Nolan; Gary Spinelli
Cast: Rami Malek; Rachel Brosnahan; Jon Bernthal
Genre: Thriller | Espionage
Tagline: Don't underestimate him.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Well, it's the CIA. I got to trust that they'll make the right call."
Distributor: 20the Century Studios
Official Site: https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/the-amateur
Release Date: April 11, 2025
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: July 8, 2025
Synopsis: When his supervisors at the CIA refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, a decoder takes matters into his own hands.