--- title: "The Amateur: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-amateur/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-amateur" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Amateur (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 22 reviews: 5 positive, 8 mixed, 9 negative. ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Rooney finds the implausible revenge thriller entertaining and a welcome throwback to glossy adult action films. He praises the lively action sequences and clever use of technology, while noting that the plot stretches credibility. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-laurence-fishburne-1236184274/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page could not be accessed, so its verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-amateur-film-review-2025) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2025. The page could not be read, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be identified from the accessible content. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/movies/the-amateur-review.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating C+. 8 April 2025. Ehrlich finds the spy thriller neither fun nor dull, with its uneven mix of seriousness and absurdity. He praises Rami Malek’s portrayal of Charlie’s growing confidence and discomfort, as well as the film’s location shooting. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-amateur-movie-review-rami-malek-1235114039/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C+. 8 April 2025. The critic finds the thriller professionally made but hollow, generic, and short on substance. They praise its real-world location work, while noting the supporting cast never gets enough to do. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-amateur-review) ## Slant Magazine — Gregory Nussen Rating 2.5/4. 8 April 2025. Nussen finds the film a pleasurable but imperfect throwback, with muddled political implications. He praises its sustained corkscrew tension and Malek’s quivering intensity. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-laurence-fishburne/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 7 April 2025. The review calls it a pleasingly old-fashioned spy thriller. It singles out Rami Malek’s shaky vigilante as the film’s central appeal. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-amateur-review-2025) ## Empire — Amon Warmann Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Warmann finds the revenge thriller only partly successful, with modest thrills that never become gripping. He praises the realistic, awkward early stages of Charlie’s training, while noting that his rapid transformation into a hypercompetent killer weakens the film. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-amateur/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/2/2. 9 April 2025. Jenkins finds the thriller extremely solid but unspectacular, with little substance beyond its central conceit. He criticizes its overpowered hacking and digital tricks for draining tension from the story. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-amateur) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Bradshaw finds the spy thriller moderately entertaining but fundamentally muddled. He praises the pool scene and Holt McCallany’s performance, while finding Malek’s anguished moments unconvincing. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/apr/08/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-laurence-fishburne) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. The review finds the espionage drama patchy and says its spectacular set-pieces cannot compensate for a sub-standard script. It singles out the script as the main weakness. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-amateur-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 2025. Walsh finds the film frustratingly inert and its spy-thriller plotting predictable, despite its appealing surface. She praises Rami Malek’s performance and the film’s polished style, but says they cannot overcome its lack of suspense. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-04-11/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-laurence-fishburne) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. The critic finds the film an underpowered, formulaic spy thriller that fails to make its revenge story compelling. He praises Malek’s intriguing take on an unlikely hero and the film’s globetrotting look, but faults its pedestrian action and predictable story. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-is-an-unlikely-spy-in-underpowered-revenge-thriller/5203779.article) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Gleiberman finds the revenge thriller watchable but frictionless, weighed down by implausibilities and familiar genre ingredients. He praises Rami Malek’s fit for the role and singles out an early scene that briefly gives the film a taste of sadism. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-1236362272/) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Willmore finds the film an ill-fitting, overstuffed revenge thriller that cannot make its serious approach work. She praises Malek’s effort to give Charles emotional depth, but says his realistic performance clashes with the pulpy material. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-is-too-weird-for-hollywood.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. Hammond finds the spy thriller an exciting, emotionally engaging twist on the genre. He praises Rami Malek’s understated performance and singles out the Berlin pool-collapse sequence as an action highlight. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/04/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-1236362892/) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Rating B. 11 April 2025. The critic finds the film engaging and competently made, though its plot strains credibility. He praises the cast, taut direction, and crisp editing for making its far-fetched revenge story work. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-amateur-review-rami-malek-is-the-bourne-nerd-imatum-in-brains-over-brawn-revenger-20250411/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. The review finds The Amateur a gripping, well-crafted spy thriller, despite its familiar plot and shallow treatment of grief. It praises the tense, original set pieces, especially the inventive ways Heller uses his intelligence to pursue the killers. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a64416051/the-amateur-review-slow-horses/) ## Collider — Jeff Ewing Rating 7/10. 8 April 2025. Ewing finds the film a worthwhile, atypical spy thriller, though its slower pace and contrived plot points strain its logic. He praises Rami Malek’s layered performance as a grieving widower and Laurence Fishburne’s electric presence. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-amateur-movie-review-rami-malek/) ## /Film — Jeremy Mathai Rating 6.5/10. 8 April 2025. The critic finds it a solid, enjoyable thriller that falls short of its potential because of tropes, a haphazard plot, and an unsatisfying ending. He praises the underdog premise and the creative set pieces built around modern technology. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1829099/the-amateur-rami-malek-movie-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 April 2025. The critic finds the film mediocre but watchable, with familiar plotting that undercuts its potential. Rami Malek’s performance is singled out for giving his character depth despite the screenplay’s shortcomings. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-amateur-review-rami-malek/) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2025. The critic finds the film derivative and unremarkable, advising readers to spend their time and money elsewhere. They note the strong cast and occasional good supporting performances, but say the film fails to develop its premise into something distinctive. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-amateur-2025-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-amateur.md