The movie The Amateur (2025) unfolds with CIA cryptographer Charlie Heller (played by Rami Malek) in a quiet, domestic setting, restoring an old Cessna plane as a gift for his wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan). Sarah departs for a business trip to London, promising to return soon. This peaceful beginning sharply contrasts with the chaos that ensues shortly after her departure.

In the CIA's Decryption and Analysis division, Charlie juggles his desk job alongside field colleagues, including his friend Jackson O'Brien, nicknamed "The Bear." He also communicates with a mysterious source known as "Inquiline." From these classified leaks, Charlie discovers that his bosses, especially Special Activities Center Director Alex Moore, have been covering up politically motivated drone strikes by disguising them as suicide bombings. This disturbing revelation adds a layer of corruption to the intelligence world Charlie inhabits.

Tragedy strikes when Charlie is summoned by CIA Director Samantha O'Brien with the devastating news that Sarah has been murdered during a terrorist hostage incident in London. Surveillance footage confirms that Sarah was taken hostage and then killed alongside other victims. The grief-stricken Charlie receives Sarah's belongings and a puzzle she had prepared for him, a small emotional token that underscores his loss.

Fueled by a complex mix of grief, guilt for not accompanying her, and outrage, Charlie dives deeper into the incident. He identifies four prime suspects responsible for Sarah's death: Belarusian criminal Mishka Blazhic, South African ex-special forces operative Ellish, former Armenian intelligence officer Gretchen Frank, and most significantly, the elusive mastermind Horst Schiller, who directly killed Sarah.

However, his superiors, Moore and his deputy Caleb Horowitz, insist they are pursuing a broader objective—to dismantle Schiller’s entire terrorist network. Charlie senses he's being manipulated and denied true justice. With incriminating evidence about cover-ups that have caused hundreds of civilian deaths, Charlie blackmails Moore, threatening to leak classified files unless granted training and resources to go after Sarah’s killers himself. Reluctantly, Moore agrees, sending Charlie to "The Farm," the CIA’s training ground, under the watchful eyes of Colonel Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne).

During his intense training, Charlie's initial profile as a desk-bound cryptographer becomes clear: he is not a traditional killer. Colonel Henderson and Moore observe this, which leads Charlie to devise a different approach. Rather than direct assassination, he leverages his technical acumen to set elaborate traps for his targets—deadly but escapable scenarios that challenge conventional espionage tactics and heighten the tension.

Charlie's journey takes him across the globe, navigating dangerous encounters and outsmarting operatives intent on silencing him. He confronts the bitter realization that the agency meant to protect him and uphold justice has used deception and cruelty to protect its own interests. Throughout this international chase, Charlie struggles with his conscience—his acts of revenge cross lines into treason, and moments of self-revulsion, like vomiting, reveal the deep internal conflict he experiences.

In the climax, Charlie exacts his revenge by outwitting the ring of assassins and ultimately facing the mastermind Schiller. The film closes with him having disrupted the network responsible for Sarah’s death but at great personal and moral cost. The viewer is left with the haunting impression of a man transformed by loss and betrayal, who has ventured far beyond his amateur status into the dark, ambiguous world of vengeance and espionage.

The movie’s narrative is visceral and driven by Charlie’s transformation from a passive cryptographer into a resourceful, albeit conflicted, avenger. The emotional core—the grief over Sarah and the slow uncovering of systemic corruption in the CIA—imbues the story with a powerful dramatic tension that holds the viewer through every stark, tension-filled scene.

Charlie Heller's wife is Sarah, played by Rachel Brosnahan. She travels to London for a business trip and is held hostage during a terrorist attack. Unfortunately, she is killed by four men involved in the attack, which sets off Charlie's quest for revenge.

Charlie Heller works as a cryptographer and decoder at the CIA. He is highly skilled in his job and has a close relationship with a field agent known as 'The Bear'.

The main antagonists Charlie seeks revenge against are four individuals involved in his wife's murder: Mishka Blazhic, a Belarusian criminal; Ellish, a South African ex-special forces operative; Gretchen Frank, a former Armenian intelligence officer; and Horst Schiller, the elusive mastermind behind Sarah's killing.

'Inquiline' is an anonymous source who provides Charlie with classified information. This includes documents revealing that CIA Director Alex Moore and his deputy, Caleb Horowitz, have been involved in unsanctioned drone strikes disguised as suicide bombings.

Charlie Heller uses his intelligence and resources to pursue his revenge. He blackmails Deputy Director Moore with incriminating documents to gain access to CIA training and resources. He then sets out to hunt down the individuals responsible for his wife's death, using his analytical skills to outmaneuver them.

The 2025 film The Amateur is not family friendly and is generally recommended for middle school age and older due to its content. It contains extended scenes of peril, violence, gunfights, explosions, car chases, and crashes, as well as disturbing images that could be upsetting for children or sensitive viewers.

Other content considerations include:
- Strong language, including the use of at least one strong profanity and several milder obscenities.
- Emotional scenes involving grief and loss, such as a man (the protagonist) waiting for his deceased wife’s body and expressing sorrow.
- Some scenes of physical distress, such as a vomiting scene.
- References to top-secret attacks, drone strikes, suicide bombers, and other intense spy/terrorism-related threats.
- The film explores the psychological and moral struggles of a CIA tech specialist forced into violence and revenge, which includes some intense dialogs and situations that address killing and revenge.

Given these points, parents and viewers sensitive to violence, strong language, and emotionally heavy themes should approach this film with caution. It is clearly intended for a mature audience rather than children or family viewing.