Fami Malek’s action-packed spy thriller the amateur is now streaming on Hulu and critics and audiences strongly disagree on its quality.
Rami Malek takes on his most explosive role yet in The Amateur, now streaming on Hulu—but not everyone is on the same page about it. The film, which debuted in theaters earlier this year, stars the Bohemian Rhapsody Oscar winner as a CIA cryptographer thrust into the brutal world of espionage after tragedy strikes.
Despite its $96 million box office run and a wave of negative reviews from critics, The Amateur has found new life—and passionate defenders—on streaming. Critics labeled the film “lackluster” and “serviceable at best,” while audiences responded with enthusiasm, giving it an 88% audience score and a 4.3 out of 5 stars average on Rotten Tomatoes.
Based on the 1981 novel by Robert Littell, The Amateur follows Rami Malek as Charlie Heller, a desk-bound CIA codebreaker whose wife (played by Rachel Brosnahan) is killed in a terrorist attack. Desperate for justice, Heller uses blackmail material on his superior (Holt McCallany) to secure field access and hunt down her killers.
He trains at “The Farm” under Laurence Fishburne’s Colonel Robert Henderson, who quickly determines Charlie is better at making bombs than pulling triggers. But when Charlie finally gets into the field, things spiral—fast. His own agency labels him a liability and sends Henderson to eliminate him.
The film also features Jon Bernthal as Jackson “The Bear” O’Brien and a mysterious informant known only as “Inquiline,” giving the story a layered spy-thriller edge that has drawn comparisons—both flattering and critical—to Jason Bourne.
While critics largely dismissed The Amateur for its familiar formula, audiences have embraced it for exactly that reason. One viewer called it “smart, fun, with great performances,” while another praised Rami Malek, saying: “Fantastic. Highly recommended. Must see.”
Whether it’s a “poor man’s Bourne” or a sleeper hit, The Amateur is making waves now that it’s on Hulu. Love it or hate it, it’s the kind of spy thriller that’s sparking serious conversation—and maybe even sequel buzz.
