Kill the Messenger

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Kill the Messenger

R

2014

1h 52m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

130 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) happens upon a story that not only leads to the origins of America's crack epidemic but also alleges that the CIA was well-aware of the dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and using the profits to arm Nicaraguan rebels. Despite warnings to halt his investigation, Webb keeps digging and uncovers a conspiracy with explosive implications. As a result of his findings, Webb's career, family and life come under threat.

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Critics Consensus

Kill the Messenger's potent fury over the tale of its real-life subject overrides its factual inaccuracies and occasional narrative stumbles.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 1, 2017

C-

Come for the acting, but not much else.

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Mar 8, 2015

2/5

It's sporadically gripping but ultimately rather frustrating fare, leaving us intrigued enough by the conspiracy-theory backstory to want hard documentary evidence rather than mere dramatic licence.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Mar 6, 2015

3/5

[Renner gives] is a rousing performance but the film is a little one-dimensional in its portrayal of Webb as a result.

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Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

B-

Though deceptively straightforward in its telling, it's the aftermath of Michael Cuesta's film that should matter most.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Apr 2, 2024

4.5/5

The title of this movie couldn’t be more fitting. What happened to Webb was disgraceful, and went far in turning investigative journalists into a dying breed no amount of bloggers or slipshod Internet trolls could ever replace.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 12, 2023

3/4

...compelling subject matter that’s employed to predominantly engaging (albeit somewhat forgettable) effect by Michael Cuesta...

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S. O

@Col._Angus May 29, 2026

Powerful film. Someday could the truth about the CIA just come out? This movie is just one more example.

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keven q

@kevenquinlan Dec 21, 2025

Ok, it's a story that has been covered by sa lot of different angles already, this one being the journalist who discovered it. Renner's great, the story gets mired and boring often. I am glad I watched it but I'm not going to keep it for my collection.

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Faiz D

@RT95588871 May 13, 2025

Whoa! Man, Jeremy Renner can act.

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Jonas S

@RT28542992 Aug 17, 2024

I think overall it’s a good telling of events but it also is kind of boring at parts. To quote a family member “there’s no action!”

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Gareth v

@geewah Jun 20, 2023

An interesting story here but the way in which it is told a lot of the dramatic and emotional pull in should have on it's viewers is lost.

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Georgan G

@RT98616417 Feb 12, 2023

The content of the plot is very memorable to those of us living through the era, but vital for younger people to know what our government has stooped to. The extent of the backlash from the feds continued until "the messenger" committed suicide.

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Michael Cuesta

Director

Jeremy Renner

Gary Webb

Rosemarie DeWitt

Sue Webb

Ray Liotta

John Cullen

Tim Blake Nelson

Alan Fenster

Barry Pepper

Russell Dodson

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Synopsis

Journalist Gary Webb (Jeremy Renner) happens upon a story that not only leads to the origins of America's crack epidemic but also alleges that the CIA was well-aware of the dealers who were smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and using the profits to arm Nicaraguan rebels. Despite warnings to halt his investigation, Webb keeps digging and uncovers a conspiracy with explosive implications. As a result of his findings, Webb's career, family and life come under threat.

Director: Michael Cuesta
Producer: Scott Stuber, Naomi Despres, Jeremy Renner
Screenwriter: Peter Landesman
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Bluegrass Films
Rating: R (Language|Drug Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4M
Runtime: 1h 52m

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