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Ratings

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IMDb rating
7.2
Critic rating Average critic rating
6.8

Reviews

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Nicolai Gjørtler-Tabor
rated 6

Nice acting but all in all a little thin story for a movie. Would be terrific at a theatre.

2 years ago
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Cast & Crew

Dominic Cooke
Director
Benedict Cumberbatch
As Greville Wynne
Anton Lesser
As Bertrand
Merab Ninidze
As Oleg Penkovsky
Zeljko Ivanek
As CIA Boss
Ondřej Malý
As Mitrokhin
Angus Wright
As Dickie Franks
Rachel Brosnahan
As Emily Donovan

Frequently asked questions

What is The Courier about? Toggle content

The Courier is a historical drama film based on the true story of Greville Wynne, a British businessman who was recruited by the MI6 and CIA to act as a spy during the Cold War. In 1960, Wynne was approached by the intelligence agencies to establish a secret communication channel with Oleg Penkovsky, a high-ranking Soviet official who wanted to provide information to help de-escalate the growing tensions between the US and Soviet Union. Wynne, who had regular business trips to Moscow, was chosen for the task as he seemed like an unlikely spy. He established a seemingly normal business relationship with Penkovsky and was used as a courier to carry messages and packages provided by Penkovsky to the CIA. However, this took a toll on his personal life, and his wife began to suspect that he was having an affair. Penkovsky's information proved crucial during the Cuban Missile Crisis, allowing the Americans to use it to their advantage. However, the Soviets soon realized they had an information vulnerability and arrested both Wynne and Penkovsky. Wynne was sentenced to prison where he endured harsh conditions that significantly deteriorated his health. Despite maintaining his innocence, Wynne's fate remained uncertain until his eventual release in 1964. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Greville Wynne and captures the intrigue, suspense, and personal sacrifices made by individuals involved in espionage during times of political turmoil.

Where can I stream The Courier? Toggle content
What movies are similar to The Courier? Toggle content

Some movies that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as The Courier include Killers of the Flower Moon, September 5, 1917, The Favourite, Lost Girls, The Count of Monte-Cristo.

When was The Courier released in theaters? Toggle content

The Courier was released in theaters on March 19, 2021.

When was The Courier released for streaming? Toggle content

The Courier was released for streaming on April 16, 2021.