The Messenger

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The Messenger

R

2009

1h 52m

Drama

Romance

War

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

158 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

After being injured in Iraq, soldier Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) returns home to finish the rest of his tour of duty in the Army's Casualty Notification service. Teamed with veteran officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), Will tries to come to terms with his own pain while dealing with the cold realities of his new mission. Will finds himself in the grip of an ethical problem when he becomes involved with Olivia (Samantha Morton), the widow of a fallen soldier.

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Critics Consensus

A dark but timely subject is handled deftly by writer/directer Owen Moverman and superbly acted by Woody Harrleson and Ben Foster.

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

Jan 16, 2018

An extraordinary anti-war film that does not engage in polemics. The Messenger's extreme effectiveness is due to the brilliant acting of Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson.

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Alissa Wilkinson

Paste Magazine

Apr 12, 2016

6.8/10

It is relentlessly bleak, even in its lighter moments. The downbeat tone is wearying. These days, we just need some hope.

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Laura Kern

Film Comment Magazine

Oct 20, 2014

[Foster and Harrelson's] interplay, on the job (ruining the day of one unfortunate person after the next) and off...provides the backbone of this erratically paced film.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Aug 10, 2022

Exceptional film. [Full review in Spanish]

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 29, 2020

6/10

A slice-of-life bit of realism from first time director Oren Moverman that doesn't have enough order or enough Woody Harrelson.

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David Lamble

Bay Area Reporter

Jun 18, 2020

Foster dazzles as a young man defusing the rage within.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Jun 5, 2026

The Messenger is one of those rare war films that stayed with me long after it ended. Instead of focusing only on combat, it explores the emotional consequences of war in a deeply human and thoughtful way. That is a big reason why I had to rate it so highly. The performances are outstanding and feel completely authentic. The cast brings a tremendous amount of depth to their characters, making every interaction feel genuine and emotionally impactful. The film handles its subject matter with maturity and respect. What impressed me most was the writing and direction. The story never feels exaggerated or manipulative, allowing the emotional moments to develop naturally. The result is a film that is powerful without needing to rely on spectacle. Overall, The Messenger is an exceptional war drama that succeeds because of its strong storytelling, remarkable performances, and emotional honesty. It is one of the most memorable films in the genre that I have seen. I'd rate it a 10/10.

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21 - Priyan B

@Priyan Feb 7, 2026

Not an usual story. Rating: 7.2/10

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thydcf0123 T

@RT49965506 Feb 5, 2026

It shows the horrors of war without a single gunshot

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nate12403 T

@RT16755355 Feb 25, 2025

Slow and somewhat depressing drama. The two lead actors are really good but the whole thing just parks dark clouds over you and they don't move. Very few moments of levity throughout the entire film.

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Kenneth W

@RT11049790 Dec 11, 2024

The movie lost me within the first 5 minutes. I prefer movies that tell a valuable story without marring it with un-needed bad language and immoral scenes. I suggest that there are better films to consider.

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Robert K

@RT54994856 Sep 21, 2024

This was a small but lovely film. Most movies concentrate on the combat aspects of war, but this one dealt only with the aftermath. This movie never relied on typical Hollywood gimmicks, just the bare emotions that only the victims of war will ever understand. I've never seen Ben Foster before, but his performance was incredible, and Woody, well let's just say that this was the best acting of his life in a long a varied career. This is an important movie, by adults, for adults. Catch it.

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Oren Moverman

Director

Ben Foster

Will Montgomery

Woody Harrelson

Tony Stone

Samantha Morton

Olivia Pitterson

Jena Malone

Kelly

Steve Buscemi

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Synopsis

After being injured in Iraq, soldier Will Montgomery (Ben Foster) returns home to finish the rest of his tour of duty in the Army's Casualty Notification service. Teamed with veteran officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson), Will tries to come to terms with his own pain while dealing with the cold realities of his new mission. Will finds himself in the grip of an ethical problem when he becomes involved with Olivia (Samantha Morton), the widow of a fallen soldier.

Director: Oren Moverman
Producer: Benjamin Goldhirsh, Mark Gordon
Screenwriter: Alessandro Camon, Oren Moverman
Distributor: Oscilloscope Pictures
Production Co: Sherazade Film Development, Oscilloscope Films, The Mark Gordon Company, Omnilab Media
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 27, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Runtime: 1h 52m

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