The Amateur
“In a world of professional assassins, there is no room for an amateur.”
Synopsis
A researcher for the CIA who convinces his superiors to send him to the eastern bloc in order to avenge the murder of his wife by enemy agents discovers a web of deception underneath his wife's death.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Trailer #1
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-03-07
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
John Savage
Charles Heller
Christopher Plummer
Professor Lakos
Marthe Keller
Elisabeth
Arthur Hill
Brewer
Nicholas Campbell
Schraeger
George Coe
Rutledge
John Marley
Molton
Jan Rubeš
Kaplan
Ed Lauter
Anderson
Miguel Fernandes
Botaro
Jan Tříska
Rodzenko
Graham Jarvis
Porter
Jacques Godin
Argus
Chapelle Jaffe
Gretchen
Lynne Griffin
Sarah
Vlasta Vrana
Guide
Vladimír Valenta
Uncle Ludwig
Neil Dainard
Slater
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 12, 1982
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$8.3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$6.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.83x
-$1.4M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Charles Jarrott
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Littell
- Original Score
- Kenneth Wannberg
- Original Title
- The Amateur
- Country of Origin
- Canada
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Budget
- $8.3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $6.9M
- Production Studios
- Balkan Productions, Tiberius Film Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Charles Jarrott
Robert Littell, Diana Maddox
Kenneth Wannberg
John Coquillon
Stephan Fanfara
Mario Kassar, Garth Drabinsky, Joel B. Michaels, Andrew G. Vajna
Department Leadership Roster
Charles Jarrott
Director
John Coquillon
Director of Photography
Robert Littell
Screenplay
Diana Maddox
Writer
Garth Drabinsky
Producer
Kenneth Wannberg
Original Music Composer
Joel B. Michaels
Producer
Stephan Fanfara
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Amateur.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Amateur.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Spy-Thriller
Movies
list0
Missing Mine
Political Thrillers, Conspiracy, Espionage, Terror
Similar Titles to The Amateur
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
4.5
6.1
7.8
5.9
7.0
6.4
5.4
6.6
6.7
7.4
5.8
5.5
6.3
5.6
5.6
6.2
4.8
6.2
5.8
More Like The Amateur
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Amateur
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Amateur about?
A researcher for the CIA who convinces his superiors to send him to the eastern bloc in order to avenge the murder of his wife by enemy agents discovers a web of deception underneath his wife's death.
Who directed The Amateur?
The Amateur was directed by Charles Jarrott.
Who stars in The Amateur?
The principal cast of The Amateur includes John Savage, Christopher Plummer, Marthe Keller, Arthur Hill, Nicholas Campbell.
When was The Amateur released and how long is it?
The Amateur was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Amateur?
The Amateur had a reported production budget of $8.3M and grossed $6.9M at the worldwide box office (0.83 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Amateur?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Amateur was composed by Kenneth Wannberg.
Is The Amateur based on a book or true story?
The Amateur is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Robert Littell".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Amateur?
The Amateur holds official age classifications: CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).