Argo (2012 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:31:12 AM Wikipedia source
Argo is a 2012 American historical political espionage drama thriller film directed by, produced by, and starring Ben Affleck. The screenplay, written by Chris Terrio, was adapted from the 1999 memoir The Master of Disguise by U.S. C.I.A. operative Tony Mendez and the 2007 Wired article "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran" written by Joshuah Bearman. The film deals with the "Canadian Caper", in which Mendez led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Tehran, Iran, under the guise of filming a science-fiction film during the 1979–81 Iran hostage crisis. The film, which also has, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman in supporting roles, was released in the United States on October 12, 2012. It was produced by Affleck, Grant Heslov, David Klawans, and George Clooney. Argo became a box office success, grossing $232 million worldwide, and receiving widespread critical acclaim for the acting, Affleck's direction, Terrio's screenplay, the editing, and Desplat's score. Commentators and participants in the actual operation criticized flaws in historical accuracy. The film received seven nominations at the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film also earned five Golden Globe Award nominations: it won Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director, and Alan Arkin was nominated for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. It won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the 19th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Arkin was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. It also won Best Film, Best Editing and Best Director at the 66th British Academy Film Awards, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards for Best Screenplay, and 37th Hochi Film Award for Best International Picture.
Infobox
Directed by
Ben Affleck
Screenplay by
Chris Terrio
Based on
mw- The Master of Disguiseby Antonio J. Mendez "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran"by Joshuah Bearman
Produced by
Ben Affleck George Clooney Grant Heslov David Klawans
Starring
Ben Affleck Bryan Cranston Alan Arkin John Goodman
Cinematography
Rodrigo Prieto
Edited by
William Goldenberg
Music by
Alexandre Desplat
Productioncompanies
GK Films Smokehouse Pictures
Distributed by
Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
August 31, 2012 (2012-08-31) (Telluride) October 12, 2012 (2012-10-12) (United States)
Running time
120 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$44.5 million
Box office
$232.3 million
Tables
· Release and reception › Top ten lists
1st
1st
Rank
1st
Reviewer
Christy Lemire
Publication
Associated Press
Joe Neumaier and Elizabeth Weitzman
Joe Neumaier and Elizabeth Weitzman
Rank
Joe Neumaier and Elizabeth Weitzman
Reviewer
New York Daily News
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Rank
Roger Ebert
Reviewer
Chicago Sun-Times
2nd
2nd
Rank
2nd
Reviewer
Lisa Kennedy
Publication
Denver Post
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Rank
Richard Roeper
Reviewer
Richardroeper.com
4th
4th
Rank
4th
Reviewer
Betsy Sharkey
Publication
Los Angeles Times
5th
5th
Rank
5th
Reviewer
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Publication
Entertainment Weekly
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rank
Peter Travers
Reviewer
Rolling Stone
Stephen Holden
Stephen Holden
Rank
Stephen Holden
Reviewer
The New York Times
6th
6th
Rank
6th
Reviewer
Mary Pols
Publication
Time
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
Rank
Mick LaSalle
Reviewer
San Francisco Chronicle
7th
7th
Rank
7th
Reviewer
Ann Hornaday
Publication
The Washington Post
Anne Thompson
Anne Thompson
Rank
Anne Thompson
Reviewer
Indiewire
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Rank
Ty Burr
Reviewer
The Boston Globe
8th
8th
Rank
8th
Reviewer
Owen Gleiberman
Publication
Entertainment Weekly
9th
9th
Rank
9th
Reviewer
Peter Bradshaw
Publication
The Guardian
Top 10 (ranked alphabetically)
Top 10 (ranked alphabetically)
Rank
Top 10 (ranked alphabetically)
Reviewer
Bob Mondello
Publication
NPR
Calvin Wilson
Calvin Wilson
Rank
Calvin Wilson
Reviewer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
Rank
Claudia Puig
Reviewer
USA Today
David Denby
David Denby
Rank
David Denby
Reviewer
The New Yorker
Joe Morgenstern
Joe Morgenstern
Rank
Joe Morgenstern
Reviewer
The Wall Street Journal
Joe Williams
Joe Williams
Rank
Joe Williams
Reviewer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Rank
Kenneth Turan
Reviewer
Los Angeles Times
| Rank | Reviewer | Publication |
| 1st | Christy Lemire | Associated Press |
| Joe Neumaier and Elizabeth Weitzman | New York Daily News | |
| Roger Ebert | Chicago Sun-Times | |
| 2nd | Lisa Kennedy | Denver Post |
| Richard Roeper | Richardroeper.com | |
| 4th | Betsy Sharkey | Los Angeles Times |
| 5th | Lisa Schwarzbaum | Entertainment Weekly |
| Peter Travers | Rolling Stone | |
| Stephen Holden | The New York Times | |
| 6th | Mary Pols | Time |
| Mick LaSalle | San Francisco Chronicle | |
| 7th | Ann Hornaday | The Washington Post |
| Anne Thompson | Indiewire | |
| Ty Burr | The Boston Globe | |
| 8th | Owen Gleiberman | Entertainment Weekly |
| 9th | Peter Bradshaw | The Guardian |
| Top 10 (ranked alphabetically) | Bob Mondello | NPR |
| Calvin Wilson | St. Louis Post-Dispatch | |
| Claudia Puig | USA Today | |
| David Denby | The New Yorker | |
| Joe Morgenstern | The Wall Street Journal | |
| Joe Williams | St. Louis Post-Dispatch | |
| Kenneth Turan | Los Angeles Times |
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