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Trailer

The Messenger

2009Movie1 h 53 minR

77

GreatGoodWatch score

Rotten Tomatoes

A moving, tense drama movie about everyday modern life and society.

Good for date night · friends night · drop-in friendly

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Not for laughs, comfort or scares.

Movies with

Story

The Scars of War Will Last Forever.

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.

Feels like

Iraq War Aftermath
Casualty Notification
Grief and Loss
Emotional Trauma
Human Connection
Social Commentary
Character-Driven
Bleak Realism
Military Drama

Crew

Directed by: Oren Moverman
Written by: Oren Moverman, Alessandro Camon
Produced by: Mark Gordon, Lawrence Inglee, Zach Miller
Music by: Nathan Larson

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 13, 2009 · 1 h 53 min · R

Released: November 13, 2009
Runtime: 1 h 53 min
Age rating: R
Content: Strong Language, Suicide Themes
Genres: Drama, Romance, War
Original language: English
Also spoken: Spanish
Made in: United States
Budget: $7 million
Box office: $2 million
Available in: 24 countries

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Messenger?"

Questions about The Messenger

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Messenger?

JustWatch TV Free

In the United States, The Messenger streams on fuboTV, JustWatch TV+, Philo, OVID, and Fandor, and it is free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, Pluto TV, Plex, Xumo Play, Tubi TV, and YOW.tv. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 10 other countries.

Is The Messenger worth watching?

77

GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 77 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 77). Critics rate it higher (84 out of 100) than audiences (72).

Is The Messenger good for date night?

and 1 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing Safe

It can be: romance is 4 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Is The Messenger plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (8 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

Was The Messenger a box office flop?

Budget$7 million

Box office$2 million

Yes: it cost about $7 million to make and earned $2 million worldwide, 25% of its budget.