Release: Deadline

 

Deadline

Genre: Drama/Thriller/Political

Director: Tony Gilroy

Writers: Jimmy Ellis & Chad Taylor

Cast: George Clooney, Rebecca Hall, Cailee Spaeny, Mark Duplass, Harry Lawtey, Tim Allen, John Goodman, Anthony Edwards, Mare Winningham, Stephen Root

Budget: $54,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $69,022,105

Foreign Box Office: $43,699,344

Total Profit: $4,138,247

Reaction: An expensive adult drama making any profit  is always a win - even if it is just $4 million.

"Deadline is an intelligent, tightly wound newsroom thriller that understands journalism is often less about chasing villains than chasing certainty. Tony Gilroy directs with his usual precision, George Clooney delivers one of his strongest late-career performances, and Rebecca Hall and Cailee Spaeny provide compelling emotional counterweights. The final act leaves some questions deliberately unanswered, but that's precisely what gives the film its lingering power." - Reggie Coscarelli, San Fernando Valley Sun

"Deadline is gripping for most of its runtime, but its refusal to answer the central mystery ultimately feels more frustrating than profound. Tony Gilroy expertly captures the tension of investigative journalism, yet the screenplay spends two hours building toward revelations it ultimately declines to deliver. Strong performances, particularly from George Clooney and Cailee Spaeny, keep it compelling, but some audiences may leave feeling the film mistakes ambiguity for sophistication." - Joseph Thornton, Mercury News

"Deadline is a confident and atmospheric political thriller that leans into restraint and intelligence over giant spectacle. The dual-newsroom structure is compelling, creating a strong thematic clash between integrity and survival, while the Washington setting feels lived-in and authentic. The story builds tension effectively, even if it opts for a subdued, morally ambiguous resolution rather than a traditional climax. The performances from the whole cast were great with, Clooney, Spaeny and Duplass in particular sticking out to me. With a stronger emotional throughline, this could have easily risen into top-tier prestige territory, but the film, how it was delivered, falls just short." - Jonah Halberg, The Atlantic

Rated R for language, sexual content, and thematic material.