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Argo

  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
606K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
792
21
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Argo (2012)
As the Iranian revolution reaches a boiling point, a CIA 'exfiltration' specialist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans who have found shelter at the home of the Canadian ambassador.
Play trailer2:33
6 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Thriller

Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. ho... Read allActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.

IMDb RATING
7.7/10
606K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
792
21
  • Director
    • Ben Affleck
  • Writers
    • Chris Terrio(screenplay by)
    • Tony Mendez(based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by)
    • Joshuah Bearman(based on the Wired Magazine article "The Great Escape" by)
  • Stars
    • Ben Affleck
    • Bryan Cranston
    • John Goodman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ben Affleck
  • Writers
    • Chris Terrio(screenplay by)
    • Tony Mendez(based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by)
    • Joshuah Bearman(based on the Wired Magazine article "The Great Escape" by)
  • Stars
    • Ben Affleck
    • Bryan Cranston
    • John Goodman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 868User reviews
    • 668Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 94 wins & 156 nominations total

    Videos6

    Winner: Best Picture
    Trailer 2:33
    Winner: Best Picture
    No. 1
    Trailer 2:31
    No. 1
    "Declassified"
    Featurette 28:42
    "Declassified"
    Argo
    Featurette 5:15
    Argo
    What Roles Was Ben Affleck Considered For?
    Video 4:10
    What Roles Was Ben Affleck Considered For?
    How TIFF Gets the Oscars Right
    Video 2:26
    How TIFF Gets the Oscars Right

    Photos360

    Ben Affleck, Tate Donovan, Rory Cochrane, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, and Kerry Bishé in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, and Page Leong in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck, Tate Donovan, Rory Cochrane, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Christopher Denham, and Kerry Bishé in Argo (2012)
    Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Scoot McNairy, Christopher Denham, and Kerry Bishé in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Chris Messina, and Matt Nolan in Argo (2012)
    Zeljko Ivanek, Matt Nolan, and Titus Welliver in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck in Argo (2012)
    Ben Affleck in Argo (2012)
    Bryan Cranston and Chris Messina in Argo (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ben Affleck
    Ben Affleck
    • Tony Mendezas Tony Mendez
    Bryan Cranston
    Bryan Cranston
    • Jack O'Donnellas Jack O'Donnell
    John Goodman
    John Goodman
    • John Chambersas John Chambers
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Lester Siegelas Lester Siegel
    Victor Garber
    Victor Garber
    • Ken Tayloras Ken Taylor
    Tate Donovan
    Tate Donovan
    • Bob Andersas Bob Anders
    Clea DuVall
    Clea DuVall
    • Cora Lijekas Cora Lijek
    Scoot McNairy
    Scoot McNairy
    • Joe Staffordas Joe Stafford
    Rory Cochrane
    Rory Cochrane
    • Lee Schatzas Lee Schatz
    Christopher Denham
    Christopher Denham
    • Mark Lijekas Mark Lijek
    Kerry Bishé
    Kerry Bishé
    • Kathy Staffordas Kathy Stafford
    Kyle Chandler
    Kyle Chandler
    • Hamilton Jordanas Hamilton Jordan
    Chris Messina
    Chris Messina
    • Malinovas Malinov
    Zeljko Ivanek
    Zeljko Ivanek
    • Robert Penderas Robert Pender
    Titus Welliver
    Titus Welliver
    • Batesas Bates
    Keith Szarabajka
    Keith Szarabajka
    • Adam Engellas Adam Engell
    Bob Gunton
    Bob Gunton
    • Cyrus Vanceas Cyrus Vance
    Richard Kind
    Richard Kind
    • Max Kleinas Max Klein
    • Director
      • Ben Affleck
    • Writers
      • Chris Terrio(screenplay by)
      • Tony Mendez(based on a selection from "The Master of Disguise" by)
      • Joshuah Bearman(based on the Wired Magazine article "The Great Escape" by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After Iranian militants stormed and took control of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 taking 56 Americans as hostages, six Americans managed to get away and took refuge in the home of Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor. After two months of the Canadians putting their lives on the line everyday, the CIA and the US State Department try to come up with a plan to get their people out. Tony Mendez is an "ex filtration" specialist who proposes that they pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a science fiction movie called Argo. Using Hollywood connections, Mendez creates a back story for the movie - ads in Variety, casting calls, inviting he media to a production launch - and then heads off to Iran to lead the six Americans out. —garykmcd
    • iran
    • hostage
    • american propaganda
    • u.s. embassy
    • escape
    • 172 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The movie was fake. The mission was real.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and some violent images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview with Piers Morgan, former President Jimmy Carter said that he believes the film was a "great drama", and it deserved to win an Oscar for best film. However, Carter noted that although "ninety percent of the contributions to the ideas, and the consummation of the plan was Canadian", the film "gives almost full credit to the American C.I.A. With that exception, the movie's very good," Carter said, but "the main hero, in my opinion, was Ken Taylor, who was the Canadian ambassador, who orchestrated the entire process."
    • Goofs
      It is stated that the British and New Zealand embassies refused to help staff from the American embassy. This was not true. Both the British and the New Zealand embassies sheltered the Americans, then helped to pass them on to the Canadians. Britain's Arthur Wyatt was later awarded the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George for the risks that he took.
    • Quotes

      Jack O'Donnell: This is the best bad idea we have, sir. By far.

    • Crazy credits
      Past the photos of cast members and the real people they play, there's audio from an interview with then-President Jimmy Carter talking about the crisis.
    • Alternate versions
      After it screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, the postscript at the end credits was changed because it was felt that it slighted Canada's involvement in the rescue of the American hostages.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.11 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Upside Down
      from In the Valley of Elah (2007)

      Written by Mark Isham

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc./Summit Entertainment, LLC

    User reviews868

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good Story Telling/Don't Take it as Gospel
    Had this movie been made twenty years from now, when facts become distorted, the people who followed the details are either dead or indifferent, and the whole thing is pretty much ancient history, this would be a great story. Just like "The Charge of the Light Brigade" is a fun movie, even if it is about ninety percent inaccurate. This is because the producers would like you to believe all of the near misses, the interventions, and so on were truly what happened. There are enough people on the internet who will happily discount them, using good evidence to do so. Now, this leads us to an interesting pass. Can we accept any historical movie as being well done when those making it didn't have the wherewithal to see the events. LIke historical fiction, as soon as we quote dialogue, we are on untrustworthy waters. However, this would dismiss many great movies. I'm afraid this one is still too fresh in our consciousness. I'm wondering if someone in 2045 will see this and comfortably absorb the "facts" as presented. Divorcing myself from reality, I can see this as a great yarn. Like "The Killing Fields" or other historical dramas where people face their mortality at every juncture, can we enjoy the very intense situations that our people have been thrown into. This is a very individual thing. I enjoyed this movie for the most part because I found the characters engaging, the "enemy" human and righteous (considering our connection to the Shah), and the situation terrifying. I expect this will get a lot of attention at awards time. I saw Jimmy Carter at Obama's second inauguration the other day. This movie must not be a pleasant experience for him because he was vilified because of his performance. Reagan was able to pick up the pieces because the Iranians had already humiliated Carter, which was part of their agenda. Watch with a grain of salt and realize this is not a documentary.
    helpful•10
    5
    • Hitchcoc
    • Jan 22, 2013

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    [object Object]
    Photos

    FAQ9

    • What is 'Argo' about?
    • Is 'Argo' based on a book?
    • How did the embassy fall?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 2012 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Persian
      • German
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • Escape from Tehran
    • Filming locations
      • Istanbul, Turkey
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • GK Films
      • Smokehouse Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $44,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $136,025,503
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $19,458,109
      • Oct 14, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $232,325,503
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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