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Eye in the Sky

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for Eye in the Sky R 2016 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 218 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
A lieutenant general (Alan Rickman) and a colonel (Helen Mirren) face political opposition after ordering a drone missile strike to take out a group of suicide bombers in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Eye in the Sky

Eye in the Sky

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Critics Consensus

As taut as it is timely, Eye in the Sky offers a powerfully acted -- and unusually cerebral -- spin on the modern wartime political thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Raphael Abraham Financial Times Dec 27, 2016
3/5
Director Gavin Hood works the tension and the moral uncertainty to good effect but at times the film feels schematic and too much like revision. Go to Full Review Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association Nov 8, 2016
It's hard to watch the film and not vacillate between wanting them to act, and wanting them to stand down. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Aug 11, 2016
3/4
Hood and Hibbert's procedural is a crackerjack affair in all the ways that count, and it's safe to say it looks at this hot button issue in a way certain to get audiences talking afterward. Go to Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views Jun 9, 2024
“Eye in the Sky” is well-intentioned, but boring AF and probably would make a better television series than film because then the characters could be three-dimensional instead of archetypes. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Apr 18, 2022
3.5/4
Considers a much larger canvas than the warfare itself, from the politicians approving drone missions to the undercover agents on the ground scouting them. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 18, 2021
3.5/4
To their enormous credit, director Gavin Hood and writer Guy Hibbert offer no easy answers and take no easy outs, electing instead to keep viewers as conflicted and uncomfortable as the characters on the screen. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 6 days ago Eye in the Sky = a 4.5 star movie! See more Kristin S @Kristin101 Jul 19, 2026 The writing, directing and acting are superb, but the subject matter is ultimately disturbing. Not a feel gooder. See more Pete S @Petefilm66 May 31, 2026 Wow! Been a long time since a film insulted my intelligence this much. Probably since ‘Saving Private Ryan’ which gives you a fair idea of where it comes from politically. Gobsmacked at all the positive reviews, I suppose that sadly reflects the times we are living in. See more Magnus A @RT19500319 May 23, 2026 Drama more than action movie. Centers on a series of moral dilemmas around collateral damage. This dates from 2016. In the post-Ukraine and Gaza era in which we now live the reluctance and restraint of politicians and military in this drama seems hugely over estimated. (Think how this would seem set in present day Iran.) Excellent cast led by Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman. Well written, the dialogue is believable...mostly. The writer and director do a great job of setting up ordinary trivial events, domestic life etc - and creating real tension. Good stuff! See more Stephen T @RT83070385 Apr 21, 2026 DO NOT WASTE YOUR PRECOIUS TIME WATCHING AN ENTIRE MOVIE OF " SHOULD WE PULL THE TRIGGER OR NOT", IS IT LEGAL OR NOT" !!??? INEPT , BOO HOO SOLIDERS CRYING BECAUSE AFTER SECOND GUESSING THEIR SWORN TO UPHOLD JOBS!!?? STUPID GOVRRNMENT POLITICS, THST IF THIS IS TRUELY HOW THEY WORK ,NO WONDER EVERYTHING IS SO SCREWED UP IN THESE GOVERNMENTS!!?? DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WATCHING THIS GARBAGE, HELEN ,IM SHOCKED YOU TOOK THIS ROLL ON, HOPEFULLY YOU GOT PAID WELL, BECAUSE IT DID NOTHING TO HELP YOUR CAREER.THE STORY, PLOT IS STUPID & WHY ANYONE WOULD FUND THIS TO BE MADE!!?? AND LAST TO ALL THE IDIOTS THE GAVE THIS MOVIE PRAISE!!??? I WILL NOT BE USING ROTTEN TOMATOS AS A GOD/BAD REVIEW PLATFORM TO DECIDE WHAT DVDs I SHOULD RENT , CLEARLY THIS SITE IS FOR MORONS WITH BAD TASTE!!! GOOD RIDDENS. See more S P @S1337 Jan 23, 2026 The trolley's dilemma in modern assymetrical warfare. Despite overwhelming technical superiority, we still have to face decisions that are moral. See more Read all reviews
Eye in the Sky

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Cast & Crew

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Gavin Hood

Director

Helen Mirren

Colonel Katherine Powell

Aaron Paul

Steve Watts

Alan Rickman

Lieutenant General Frank Benson

Barkhad Abdi

Jama Farah

Iain Glen

Foreign Secretary James Willett

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Eye in the Sky

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Eye in the Sky

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Movie Info

Synopsis A lieutenant general (Alan Rickman) and a colonel (Helen Mirren) face political opposition after ordering a drone missile strike to take out a group of suicide bombers in Nairobi, Kenya.
Director
Gavin Hood
Producer
David Lancaster, Colin Firth, Ged Doherty
Screenwriter
Guy Hibbert
Distributor
Bleecker Street Media
Production Co
Entertainment One, Raindog Films
Rating
R (Some Violent Images|Language)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, War, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 1, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.7M
Runtime
1h 42m
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