The Amateur, Rami Malek's newest action thriller, is now available on streaming services like Hulu and Disney+. Critics and regular people seem to have quite different opinions about it. Even though critics had conflicting things to say about the movie, it has swiftly become a smash on streaming services. People love Malek's acting and the intense revenge narrative.

The movie is based on Robert Littell's 1981 book of the same name. It gives the espionage genre a new twist by focusing on brains over brawn. It breaks the paradigm of the conventional action hero by giving us a main character who is not a seasoned operative.

What is "The Amateur" about? Summary of the Plot

The Amateur is about Charlie Heller (Rami Malek), a brilliant but shy CIA cryptographer whose life falls apart when his wife Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan) is killed in a terrorist strike in London. Charlie is heartbroken and finds out that his bosses at the CIA won't go after the terrorists because of problems within the agency and political concerns.

Charlie blackmails his agency into giving him the training he needs to find his wife's killers himself because he feels a strong need for justice. He has to go throughout the world to dangerous places like London, Paris, Istanbul, and Madrid to complete his assignment. He uses his incredible brain and new skills to find his targets. As Charlie moves through a world that is very different from his own, the movie deals with themes of loss, revenge, and moral uncertainty.

A Close Look at Rami Malek's Performance as Charlie Heller

Rami Malek does a great job as Charlie Heller, a guy who is different from other action heroes. Malek plays Charlie as a "geeky, clumsy, charming" person with a high IQ, putting more emphasis on his intelligence than his physical power. Director James Hawes made Charlie a "amateur" on purpose throughout the movie so that Malek could display vulnerability and intensity.

Malek's choices as an actor show how Charlie changes from a desk-bound analyst to a determined operator fuelled by grief. He learned how genuine cryptographers think by spending time with them. This helped him create a credible character that thinks several steps ahead. This way of doing things lets Charlie outsmart his enemies with his head instead of his muscles, which is a nice change from the usual espionage thriller hero.

One admirer said, "Rami Malek's performance as Charlie Heller in #TheAmateur is a masterclass in turning sadness into grim determination. What a great show! #RamiMalek [User: @FilmFanatic]

Another user said, "Rami Malek keeps surprising us with his wide range of roles, from 'Mr. Robot' to 'The Amateur.'" There's no denying how intense he is in this new thriller. #RamiMalekFans [User: @ActorInsight]

Meet the Cast: Rami Malek's Amazing Performance

The Amateur has a great cast, not only Malek. Rachel Brosnahan plays Sarah Heller, Charlie's wife. Her sad demise starts the drama. Laurence Fishburne plays Robert Henderson, a veteran of the CIA who becomes Charlie's mentor and helps him deal with the tough realities of working in the field. Their chemistry, especially a moment in a parking lot that was added during filming, was one of the best parts.

Caitríona Balfe plays Inquiline Davies, an unidentified person who becomes Charlie's friend. Jon Bernthal plays Jackson O'Brien, commonly known as "The Bear," and Michael Stuhlbarg plays Horst Schiller, the criminal who killed Sarah. Holt McCallany plays CIA Deputy Director Alex Moore.

The Big Difference Between Critics and Audiences on "The Amateur"

People have quite different opinions of The Amateur. The movie has a "mixed" critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a range of 60% to 69%. Many critics liked Malek's performance but thought the plot was a bit too conventional or didn't have enough emotional depth.

On the other hand, audiences have loved the movie, giving it a far higher approval rating—around 88% on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter. This means that critics may have thought it was too predictable or conventional for a spy thriller, but fans found it interesting and enjoyable.

Why Critics Didn't All Like "The Amateur"

Some critics thought that the movie didn't properly develop its idea of a "lab rat" in a perilous context, even if it had a good idea to start with. Others said it was a good vengeance thriller, but it could have been better and occasionally had trouble accepting how silly the story was. Even if the idea was original, several people said the execution was slow or boring at times.

One reviewer said the movie was "passable entertainment, but not much else," while another said it was "too predictable for escapist fare." Some reviewers didn't like how the movie stuck to certain genre conventions, even though Malek's hero was different from the norm.

Why People Loved "The Amateur"

But it looks like people like The Amateur because it tells a new kind of revenge plot that focuses on brains instead than brawn. Many people thought Malek's portrayal of Charlie Heller as a "underdog" hero was interesting and realistic. People really connected with the movie's themes of sorrow and identity.

A fan said, "I just saw #TheAmateur and I'm hooked!" In this spy thriller, Rami Malek gives an amazing performance. Don't miss it when you stream it! #MovieReview [User: @CinemaBuff]

Someone else said, "The audience score for #TheAmateur says a lot!" Fans love Rami Malek's new action movie, but critics are split on it. Have you seen it yet? #StreamingNow [User: @MovieLover]

The movie was popular with the public because it had great spy thrills and action scenes, as well as a smart story.

Behind the Scenes: Making "The Amateur" and the Director's Idea

James Hawes, who is known for his work on Slow Horses and Black Mirror, directed The Amateur. The movie tried to mix traditional political thrillers from the 1970s with modern themes and technology. Hawes stressed making the movie feel real by making sure the technology was believable. Filming in three countries—London, Paris, and Istanbul—during the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023 was a big problem for the production.

The crew had to stop working for six months, which meant they had to prepare carefully to keep things going. Hawes also chose not to show renowned landmarks in some places on purpose to make viewers feel as "lost and untethered" as Charlie. He also tried to convey the impacts of hacking instead of using flashy graphics, like in a scene where a swimming pool falls down because of Charlie's efforts.

How James Hawes Directs Thrillers

Hawes wanted to keep Charlie Heller an amateur so that he would always be "geeky, clumsy, charming" and never become a normal action hero. This choice was really important for keeping the film's particular tone and letting Malek's intelligence and vulnerability show through. Hawes and Malek worked very extensively to plan out Charlie's emotional journey by writing down how he felt in each moment.

The Original Novel: An Adaptation of Robert Littell's "The Amateur"

Robert Littell's 1981 novel The Amateur was made into a movie. The novel also tells the story of Charlie Heller, a CIA cryptographer who takes matters into his own hands after terrorists kill his fiancée and the agency won't do anything about it. The story takes place in the early 1970s, during the Cold War, when the KGB often supported the terrorists.

The movie brings some parts of the old story up to date by changing the location to modern times and changing some of the bad guys. The primary idea of both the novel and the movie is still that an intelligent, non-field agent wants to get back at someone.

Where to Watch "The Amateur": Streaming Info and Platforms

You can now stream The Amateur on Hulu. In some places, you can also find it on Disney+. You may buy or rent the movie digitally on sites including Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, and YouTube.

Is there going to be a sequel to "The Amateur"? What We Know Up to This Point

The finale of The Amateur provides room for Charlie Heller's story to go on. There has been talk regarding a sequel, but it hasn't been formally confirmed yet.

James Hawes, the director, has said he would like to make the movie's international scope bigger for a possible sequel. He has suggested places like Vietnam and Cambodia in Southeast Asia or perhaps Namibia. Rami Malek has also said that he wants to learn more about Charlie's path and see "what lies ahead" for him.

The creative team behind the movie first thought of the story as a possible franchise. The 2025 movie even had a scene at the end of the credits with Malek and Laurence Fishburne's characters that was meant to foreshadow a future movie, even though the original book didn't have any sequels.

Even though the movie did well at the box office ($96 million against a $60 million budget) and had good reviews, there hasn't been much chatter about a sequel. But the movie's success on streaming sites could affect decisions in the future.

Should You Watch "The Amateur"? Our Opinion

The Amateur is a great spy thriller if you want something different from the usual muscle-bound hero. The main character is smart and resourceful instead. Rami Malek's subtle performance as a cryptographer who is sad and then becomes a field agent is a standout. He is a different type of action hero.

various critics didn't like various parts of the plot, but the overwhelming positive response from audiences suggests that they thought it to be a thrilling and fun experience. The Amateur is absolutely worth streaming on Hulu or Disney+ if you like stories that focus on characters and a different take on the spy genre.

One reader said, "If you're looking for a new spy thriller with a great lead, #TheAmateur with Rami Malek is the next thing you should watch." It was gripping from start to finish! "Must Watch" [User: @ThrillerAddict]