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Argo

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Argo R 2012 2h 0m History Drama Mystery & Thriller Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 360 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew.
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Argo

Argo

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Critics Consensus

Tense, exciting, and often darkly comic, Argo recreates a historical event with vivid attention to detail and finely wrought characters.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Sep 7, 2017
A
Affleck continues to impress audiences with his keen eye for direction, knowing just when to fall back and allow this top-notch cast the freedom to interpret the events in a way that will most compel viewers. Go to Full Review Jonathan Robbins Film Comment Magazine Jan 13, 2015
Affleck is still building up his chops as a director, but the intelligence and ambition he brings to filmmaking are particularly apparent in Argo. Go to Full Review Anthony Quinn Independent (UK) Jan 13, 2015
5/5
The old saw "truth is stranger than fiction" has had its teeth properly sharpened in the superb thriller Argo, a blend of political history and Hollywood hijinks that goes right for the jugular. Go to Full Review Anushka Halve Film Companion Dec 12, 2023
Mendez orchestrates the audacious plan to hoodwink Iranian authorities by posing as a film crew, ingeniously paving the way for the American diplomats to secure safe passage out of the country. Go to Full Review Mark Johnson Awards Daily Jun 27, 2023
Lines of historic moments are blurred in Ben Affleck’s dramatization of the rescue of diplomats during the Tehran hostage crisis of 1979. But who’s complaining? (Argo) is an extremely rewatchable movie. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Sep 23, 2022
4/4
Affleck has not only reminded us that his best performances come when he’s in control, but that he’s also a considerable force behind the camera. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Henry D @Henry_Domke Oct 15, 2026 Still exceptionally entertaining on a third viewing. The story draws you in immediately and moves briskly, with precise editing steadily building the tension. Alan Arkin and John Goodman provide just the right amount of humor. Thoroughly satisfying, even when you know how it ends. See more J H @UpstateNYThriller Oct 9, 2026 9/10 Drama, Spy International, Suspense, 80s Great Ben Afflack Movie where he plays CIA operative to break hostages out of 1980s Iran. John Goodman in it as well. See more Matthew M @matthew994411 Oct 7, 2026 Great true story movie with Ben affleck. Directed it See more Kyle M @RT77296778 Sep 22, 2026 Ben Affleck’s directorial performance replicates his role’s cautious conviction that slickly expresses the circumstantially dire tension with an atmospheric grip, heightened by a tautly written screenplay adjacent to the attributively brilliant performances fulfilling the thrilling fragility with humanistic intellect. (A-) See more Angelo C @RT29835010 Sep 4, 2026 Great movie can’t believe Ben Affleck could do a movie like this. It’s very tense special towards the end. Scared the crap out of me. Even though in real life, it didn’t happen this way. I could see the CIA doing something like this. Very entertaining good job, Ben. See more Kilo R @Kgrita Aug 28, 2026 True story. Great cast. I couldn't look away. Top notch Ben Affleck film. See more Read all reviews
Argo

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Cast & Crew

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Ben Affleck

Director

Ben Affleck

Tony Mendez

Bryan Cranston

Jack O'Donnell

Alan Arkin

Lester Siegel

John Goodman

John Chambers

Victor Garber

Ken Taylor

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Argo

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Argo

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Movie Info

Synopsis On Nov. 4, 1979, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran, taking 66 American hostages. Amid the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge with the Canadian ambassador. Knowing that it's just a matter of time before the refugees are found and likely executed, the U.S. government calls on extractor Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) to rescue them. Mendez's plan is to pose as a Hollywood producer scouting locations in Iran and train the refugees to act as his "film" crew.
Director
Ben Affleck
Producer
Grant Heslov, George Clooney
Screenwriter
Chris Terrio
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Smokehouse Pictures, Warner Bros., GK Films, Smoke House
Rating
R (Some Violent Images|Language)
Genre
History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 12, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 3, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$136.0M
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat
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