The Foreigner

"Never push a good man too far."

2017 1h 54m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 3,056

ActionThrillerCrime

Synopsis

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Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love – his teenage daughter – dies in an Irish Republican Army car bombing. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.

“Never push a good man too far.”

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Cast

Pierce Brosnan
Liam Hennessy
Jackie Chan
Quan Ngoc Minh
Rory Fleck-Byrne
Sean Morrison
Ray Fearon
Commander Richard Bromley
Charlie Murphy
Maggie / Sara McKay
Orla Brady
Mary Hennessy
Michael McElhatton
Jim Kavanagh
Lia Williams
Katherine Davies

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Martin Campbell
Writers: David Marconi, Tony Chance
Languages: Mandarin, English
Countries: China, India, United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 4.2× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 9 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: China, India, United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

417+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Martin Campbell, shot by David Tattersall. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Cliff Martinez. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Angela M. Catanzaro shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Martin Campbell directs. David Tattersall behind the camera. Cliff Martinez scores. Angela M. Catanzaro cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in China, India, United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 4.2× over at the box office.
2Released 9 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.
4International production across 4 countries: China, India, United Kingdom, United States of America.
5417+ people credited in cast and crew — a small city's worth of labour.
6Directed by Martin Campbell, shot by David Tattersall. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
7Original score by Cliff Martinez. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
8Editor Angela M. Catanzaro shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
9Pierce Brosnan and Jackie Chan and Rory Fleck-Byrne carry the top of the cast.
10Marketing tagline: "Never push a good man too far.".
11IMDB entry: tt1615160 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
12Classified under 17 themes, including "martial arts", "london, england", "based on novel or book", "restaurant owner".

The technical file

Cinematography: David Tattersall
Original score: Cliff Martinez
Editing: Angela M. Catanzaro
Production design: Alex Cameron
Makeup / hair: Ann Fenton
VFX supervisor: Paul Round
Sound: Scott Millan
Stunt coordinator: James Grogan
Runtime: 114 min · 1h 54m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $35,000,000
Box office: $145,374,099
Return: 415% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Foreigner (2017)

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Martin Campbell

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Gimly2017-12-29
★ 5/10
Jackie Chan just keeps fuckin' bringing it doesn't he? The serious tone of The Foreigner fits him well, but the role he plays seems oddly shoehorned in. I understand that the movie is in actual fact based on a novel called The Chinaman, which I assume unfolds more or less as the film does. But the Troubles-themed Political Drama makes up most of the runtime in The Foreigner, and the Action/Revenge Thriller element seems almost like at some point in pre-production the crew went "Holy shit, did you know we can put Jackie Chan in this? Quickly! Write him a role!". Although I'm sure that it's not the case, that is how it feels, and while the Action/Revenge Thriller element is the best part of the movie, its failure to mesh with the piece at large does bring it all down a bit. Still a worthwhile watch if you're a fan of the Chan. Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole.
RalphRahal2025-02-07
★ 6/10
The Foreigner (2017) is an intense mix of action and political thriller, with Jackie Chan stepping into a more serious and dramatic role than usual. The plot follows a grieving father seeking justice, but instead of the straightforward revenge story you might expect, it leans into a complex web of political intrigue. This shift adds depth but also slows the pacing at times, making it feel like two different movies competing for attention. The directing by Martin Campbell is solid, keeping the tension high, but the balance between action and drama doesn’t always hit perfectly. The cinematography is grounded, with a darker, more realistic tone that fits the story well, though it lacks any particularly standout visual moments. Jackie Chan delivers one of his best dramatic performances, showing vulnerability alongside his usual action skills, while Pierce Brosnan gives a strong performance as a conflicted political figure. The action sequences are brutal and effective, favoring realism over flashy choreography, which works for the film’s tone. The script is decent, though some parts feel underdeveloped, especially when juggling the personal and political elements. The score does its job without being particularly memorable, keeping the tension in check. Overall, The Foreigner is a well-made thriller with great performances and solid action, but it might leave you wanting a bit more from its story.