I didn't expect The Amateur to hit this hard.
Not after a six-year absence from lead roles. Not with a “meh” 61% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Not in a post-Oppenheimer world where every thriller needs to be either auteur-driven or IP-fueled. Yet here we are—Rami Malek's moody revenge flick just pulled in $32 million globally in its opening weekend. That's more than Amsterdam made in its entire run. And no one saw it coming.
So what gives?
When Reviews Don't Match the Vibe
Let's get one thing straight: The Amateur isn't reinventing the genre. Directed by James Hawes (yes, the Black Mirror guy), it plays like a smarter-than-average espionage flick with a personal twist. Think: Taken, but the guy has clearance codes instead of brass knuckles. Malek plays a CIA cryptographer driven by grief, and while the plot sometimes stretches logic thinner than a Netflix miniseries, it delivers where it counts—emotional urgency and high-stakes pacing.
Critics were lukewarm, sure. But audiences? 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. That's not a shrug—that's a standing ovation.
As Collider's Jeff Ewing puts it, the film “elevates itself with strong performances and some well-executed (but occasionally logic-straining) set-pieces.” Translation: it's not perfect, but it lands the punch.
The Curious Case of the Mid-Budget Spy Thriller
Let's talk numbers. The Amateur had a reported budget of $60 million. It made half of that back in one weekend. Contrast that with Steven Soderbergh's Black Bag—same genre, similar budget, released just weeks ago. That film stumbled to a total global haul of $30 million. Oof.
It's a reminder that budget size isn't destiny. Sometimes it's about timing, casting, and plain old audience resonance.
And there's something poetic about Malek returning to a starring role with The Amateur—a film about agency, redemption, and internal conflict. Like Elliot in Mr. Robot, this protagonist doesn't trust the system. Like Freddie in Bohemian Rhapsody, he burns with purpose. Only now, there are guns involved.
What Makes This Different?
Over the past decade, mid-budget thrillers have had a rough go. Studios either go full franchise (Mission: Impossible) or full arthouse (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy). In between? Crickets.
But The Amateur might hint at a recalibration. It shows there's still appetite for grounded thrillers with emotional hooks. Especially when backed by an Oscar-winning face we haven't seen front and center in a while.
There's historical precedent too—think The Accountant (Ben Affleck), Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise), or even Taken (Liam Neeson, post-Schindler's List). Each marked a pivot, a rebranding. And if Malek rides this wave right, The Amateur could be his own version of “I have a very particular set of skills.”
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Maybe critics have become too divorced from audience instinct. Or maybe we just like watching broken people do impossible things for personal reasons. Either way, The Amateur is a sleeper hit that proves box office comebacks don't need a cape or a multiverse.
Would you trust a cryptographer with your life? Let us know below.
