Enter a Rotten Tomatoes movie slug to inspect the stored movie, batches, snapshots, and reviews.
Movie ID: 768
RT slug: the_protege
RT URL: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_protege
Release year: 2021
Runtime: 109 mins
Wide release date: 2021-08-20
Limited release date: —
Festival premiere date: —
Streaming release date: —
Tomatometer final: 64%
Audience score final: —
Genres: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Directors: Martin Campbell
Writers: Richard Wenk
Producers: Arthur Sarkissian, Chris Milburn, Moshe Diamant, Rob Van Norden, Yariv Lerner
MPAA rating: R
Executive Producers: —
Created: 2026-06-15 17:18:37
Updated: 2026-06-15 17:18:37
A skilled assassin raised by a legendary contract killer seeks revenge after he is murdered, crossing paths with a dangerous figure from her past.
—
Canonical reviews: 110
Canonical fresh: 70
Canonical rotten: 40
Canonical calculated Tomatometer: 64%
Latest snapshot UTC: 2026-06-15 16:37:53
Snapshot Tomatometer: 64%
Snapshot review count: 110
Snapshot fresh count: 70
Snapshot rotten count: 40
Source note: Imported from manual review paste batch #1328 (full_snapshot)
| Company | Role |
|---|---|
| Lionsgate | distributor |
| Millennium Media | production |
| Billing | Name | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Keaton | Rembrandt |
| 2 | Maggie Q | Anna |
| 3 | Samuel L. Jackson | Moody |
| 4 | David Rintoul | Edward Hayes |
| 5 | Patrick Malahide | Vohl |
| Batch ID | Status | Mode | Created | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 784 | processed | — | 2026-06-15 17:18:37 | Processed successfully into movie_id=768 using update_mode=merge_non_empty. |
| Batch ID | Local Snapshot | UTC Snapshot | Entered % | Entered Count | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1328 | 2026-06-15 11:37:00 (America/Panama) | 2026-06-15 16:37:53 | 64% | 110 | processed | Mode=full_snapshot. Processed 110 row(s); 0 row error(s). Parsed unique reviews in this batch=110, fresh=70, rotten=40, tomatometer=64%. Net new reviews added=110, fresh=70, rotten=40. Current canonical totals=110 reviews, 70 fresh, 40 rotten, tomatometer=64% (63.636%). Entered review count matched parsed batch count (110). Entered tomatometer matched parsed batch value (64%). |
| ID | Critic | Outlet | Fresh? | Score | RT Time Raw | Approx Published UTC | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 174216 | Maggie Lovitt | Millennial Falcon Reviews | Fresh | A- | 2022-09-24T01:42:56Z | 2022-09-24 01:42:56 | The Protégé is an exhilarating movie filled with high-octane action, copious amounts of blood and gore, and a sensual undercurrent of fight-or-flirt that has not been seen on the silver screen since Campbell gifted cinema with James Bond and Vesper. |
| 174217 | Keith Garlington | Keith & the Movies | Fresh | 3/5 | 2022-08-17T15:09:43Z | 2022-08-17 15:09:43 | “The Protégé” makes for a palatable action movie as well as a fairly entertaining new entry into the growing assassin sub-genre. |
| 174218 | Blai Morell | Fotogramas | Fresh | 3/5 | 2022-05-17T23:29:27Z | 2022-05-17 23:29:27 | ... Precise, without excessive frills, made in old-school fashion. [Full review in Spanish] |
| 174219 | Andrew Murray | The Upcoming | Rotten | 2/5 | 2022-01-06T11:40:19Z | 2022-01-06 11:40:19 | Aside from a small selection of exciting set pieces and charismatic performances from its lead stars, audiences will be hard-pressed to find a reason to justify watching this one. |
| 174220 | Peter Gray | The AU Review | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-12-18T00:52:01Z | 2021-12-18 00:52:01 | An action spectacle that knows exactly the limitations it's working with, managing to somehow be entirely enthralling during its 109 minute run and then completely forgettable |
| 174221 | Travis Johnson | Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) | Fresh | — | 2021-12-07T00:30:34Z | 2021-12-07 00:30:34 | We get plenty of shoot outs, some impressive close quarters combat, and a fantastic fight between Q and Keaton that splits the difference between 'battle to the death' and 'seduction scene'. |
| 174222 | James Croot | The Post NZ | Fresh | 3.5/5 | 2021-12-04T00:21:03Z | 2021-12-04 00:21:03 | [Maggie Q] proves more than adept at not only the inevitable physical demands, but the gravitas and comedic timing to bring contract killer Anna to life. |
| 174223 | Hagan Osborne | FILMINK (Australia) | Rotten | 10/20 | 2021-11-30T03:00:24Z | 2021-11-30 03:00:24 | ...close-up brawls pack much-needed heat in a film that otherwise lacks zest and self-awareness. |
| 174224 | Yasser Medina | Cinefilia | Rotten | 5/10 | 2021-10-26T19:50:37Z | 2021-10-26 19:50:37 | As an assassin thriller it empties as fast as a gun and even the chemistry between Maggie Q and Michael Keaton prevents its result from being anything but boring and conventional. [Full review in Spanish] |
| 174225 | Lynn Venhaus | PopLifeSTL | Rotten | C- | 2021-10-22T23:51:16Z | 2021-10-22 23:51:16 | Despite a few fine actors who wring out decent performances, The Protégé is a convoluted and ridiculous late-summer action-thriller throwaway with too many characters, loose ends and nine lives. |
| 174226 | MontiLee Stormer | MovieReelist.com | Fresh | 3.5/5 | 2021-09-24T00:51:05Z | 2021-09-24 00:51:05 | Plenty of close-quarters fighting, gunplay, and brilliant assassins make The Protégé a clever action film. It feels fun and breezy even when people are getting shot in the face. |
| 174227 | Dan Buffa | KSDK News (St. Louis) | Fresh | B+ | 2021-09-20T16:00:24Z | 2021-09-20 16:00:24 | A quality film with a sharp personality, Martin Campbell's film has the perfect balance of stunt-savvy fighting scenes, humor, and dialogue-driven showdowns. |
| 174228 | Steven Prokopy | Third Coast Review | Fresh | 2.5/4 | 2021-09-11T19:10:26Z | 2021-09-11 19:10:26 | In the end, I think I was just excited to see a lowdown and dirty action movie again; it wasn't necessarily good but it's good enough for now. |
| 174229 | Louisa Moore | Screen Zealots | Fresh | — | 2021-09-08T05:10:05Z | 2021-09-08 05:10:05 | This extraordinarily good looking, blood-soaked genre flick is stacked with a solid script, a talented and appealing cast, and complex fight sequences that are staged in the most unhurried and satisfying way. |
| 174230 | Matthew Passantino | Big Picture Big Sound | Rotten | 2/4 | 2021-09-06T20:30:11Z | 2021-09-06 20:30:11 | Maggie Q commands every action scene, but despite that "The Protégé" just feels like a bland, warmed-over version of many movies that proceeded it. |
| 174231 | Dennis Schwartz | Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews | Fresh | B- | 2021-09-05T10:00:11Z | 2021-09-05 10:00:11 | Comes through with a bang on the action sequences. |
| 174232 | Joe Friar | Fort Worth Report | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-09-03T02:31:07Z | 2021-09-03 02:31:07 | A fun action-packed thriller that's better than it should be thanks to the Q-Jackson-Keaton trifecta. |
| 174233 | Andrea Thompson | The Spool | Fresh | — | 2021-09-02T20:51:19Z | 2021-09-02 20:51:19 | There's enough going for The Protege that its welcome remains remarkably intact throughout its two-hour runtime. |
| 174234 | Brandon Zachary | CBR | Fresh | — | 2021-09-02T19:01:31Z | 2021-09-02 19:01:31 | While some of the action can feel overly staged at times, Maggie Q proves a strong choice for the lead role. She imbues Anna with a brutal edge that doesn't betray the character's emotional core. |
| 174235 | Kevin L. Lee | That Shelf | Rotten | 5/10 | 2021-09-02T17:21:29Z | 2021-09-02 17:21:29 | If there is one major takeaway here, it is that Maggie Q is ready to own a big action franchise all on her own. Unfortunately, The Protégé is not it. It's close, but it's not it. |
| 174236 | Jackie K. Cooper | jackiekcooper.com | Fresh | 8/10 | 2021-09-01T21:50:43Z | 2021-09-01 21:50:43 | I would watch Maggie Q in anything and in this film she is an action hero personified. And Michael Keaton matches her smirk for smirk and chop for |
| 174237 | Roxana Hadadi | Mediaversity Reviews | Rotten | C | 2021-08-30T00:10:10Z | 2021-08-30 00:10:10 | The Protégé presents itself as a racially diverse film, and in broad strokes, that holds up. |
| 174238 | Rosa Parra | Latinx Lens | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-29T17:40:22Z | 2021-08-29 17:40:22 | The dynamic between the three leads is great, but it's Michael Keaton's character that leaves an impression. |
| 174239 | Shawn Edwards | Fox 4 Kansas City | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-27T23:51:40Z | 2021-08-27 23:51:40 | The script tries really hard to dodge cliches, but it does ultimately end up cliche. Still, a very watchable movie. |
| 174240 | Todd Jorgenson | Cinemalogue | Rotten | — | 2021-08-27T22:11:06Z | 2021-08-27 22:11:06 | Talented collaborators on both sides of the camera are stranded by this formulaic thriller that manages a handful of stylish action sequences but little intrigue to tie them together. |
| 174241 | Marie Asner | Phantom Tollbooth | Rotten | 2/5 | 2021-08-26T23:10:49Z | 2021-08-26 23:10:49 | The plot meanders, but the action is what the audience is waiting for and it comes full force. |
| 174242 | Sara Michelle Fetters | MovieFreak.com | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-08-25T17:20:22Z | 2021-08-25 17:20:22 | Like Frankenheimer and Forbes before him, Campbell knows what he's doing. The Protégé may not be the director's finest hour, but that doesn't make what he's cooked up any less enjoyable. |
| 174243 | Dann Gire | Chicago Daily Herald | Rotten | 2.5/4 | 2021-08-24T23:20:29Z | 2021-08-24 23:20:29 | If only the action thriller The Protégé had been intentionally played for laughs... |
| 174244 | Robert Denerstein | Denerstein Unleashed | Fresh | — | 2021-08-24T23:10:26Z | 2021-08-24 23:10:26 | The Protege requires a more than generous suspension of disbelief and never rises to the top of its kick-and-kill class. But it moves quickly, boasts a watchable cast, and features a performance by Q that doesn't miss a beat. |
| 174245 | Cassondra Feltus | Black Girl Nerds | Rotten | 2/5 | 2021-08-24T18:40:17Z | 2021-08-24 18:40:17 | Martin Campbell's action-thriller delivers some of the action but not so much the thrill. |
| 174246 | Grady Bolding | Cultured Vultures | Fresh | 6/10 | 2021-08-24T11:50:06Z | 2021-08-24 11:50:06 | It isn't the worst action-thriller, nor is it anything new or special. The Protégé is only for those who like these types of thrillers - and Samuel L. Jackson. |
| 174247 | James Marsh | South China Morning Post | Rotten | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-24T08:10:10Z | 2021-08-24 08:10:10 | The Protégé isn't groundbreaking cinema, and often feels proudly aware of the fact. |
| 174248 | Allison Shoemaker | Fox 10 Phoenix | Fresh | — | 2021-08-23T20:40:22Z | 2021-08-23 20:40:22 | Oscar bait, it ain't - but it's a damn good time. |
| 174249 | Hoai-Tran Bui | Slashfilm | Rotten | 3/10 | 2021-08-23T14:10:12Z | 2021-08-23 14:10:12 | The Protégé is a dull assassin movie misfire that does no justice by Maggie Q and can't be saved even by Keaton and Jackson making a meal of their scenes. |
| 174250 | Harris Dang | Impulse Gamer | Fresh | 3.5/5 | 2021-08-22T04:40:11Z | 2021-08-22 04:40:11 | The Protégé is a pleasant surprise. It transcends its derivative origins by providing genuinely fun star turns from Jackson and Keaton, solid direction from Campbell, and a fantastic Maggie Q performance as the titular heroine. Recommended. |
| 174251 | Kaitlyn Booth | Bleeding Cool | Fresh | 7/10 | 2021-08-22T04:30:11Z | 2021-08-22 04:30:11 | The Protégé isn't going to change anyone's life, and it isn't unique enough to really stand out amongst the rest, but it has some great action beats anchored by an excellent performance from star Maggie Q. |
| 174252 | Douglas Davidson | Elements of Madness | Fresh | 3.5/5 | 2021-08-22T02:30:06Z | 2021-08-22 02:30:06 | ... [it] plays within its genre, taking full advantage of Jackson's charm and swagger, as well as Q's physical skills. It all comes together nicely, offering some quality escapism with the opportunity for a fresh franchise you'll want to see more from. |
| 174253 | Ruth Maramis | FlixChatter Film Blog | Fresh | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-22T01:20:07Z | 2021-08-22 01:20:07 | This action thriller is worth a watch for Maggie Q's kick-ass action scenes alone, too bad about the overly-convoluted plot and lame ending. As a big fan of Michael Keaton, I think he's miscast here as an action AND romantic lead. |
| 174254 | Julian Roman | MovieWeb | Fresh | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-21T19:10:13Z | 2021-08-21 19:10:13 | The Protégé is a midrange actioner that should suffice for genre fans. A veteran Hollywood cast and skilled direction take a convoluted plot to higher ground. |
| 174255 | Nguyên Lê | The Young Folks | Rotten | 5/10 | 2021-08-21T19:00:13Z | 2021-08-21 19:00:13 | Maggie Q's presence alone can rep the Vietnamese element in The Protégé, but it's unreasonable to let her perform that role on her own. |
| 174256 | John Urbancich | JMuvies | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-21T15:30:13Z | 2021-08-21 15:30:13 | Keaton's chemistry with the equally formidable Q adds the cherry to the top of a violent sundae that keeps on dripping with blood and one or two too many fight sequences. |
| 174257 | Bilge Ebiri | New York Magazine/Vulture | Rotten | — | 2021-08-21T15:10:14Z | 2021-08-21 15:10:14 | For all the predictability of the film's story, the template is there for something emotionally engaging. Unfortunately, promising subplots are left unpursued, while character notes hang pointlessly in the air. |
| 174258 | Carla Hay | Culture Mix | Rotten | — | 2021-08-21T03:30:25Z | 2021-08-21 03:30:25 | The Protégé is as unimaginative as its title. What could have been a next-level action showcase for star Maggie Q is instead a boring and idiotic retread of so many other movies about assassins out for revenge. |
| 174259 | Russ Simmons | KKFI-FM (Kansas City) | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-21T02:11:42Z | 2021-08-21 02:11:42 | There's nothing here that we haven't seen before, but " The Protégé " is a tolerable time-waster for action addicts. |
| 174260 | Kevin Carr | Fat Guys at the Movies | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-08-21T00:31:49Z | 2021-08-21 00:31:49 | If you ran across this on streaming, you'd watch it and have a plenty good time. |
| 174261 | Andy Klein | FilmWeek (LAist) | Rotten | — | 2021-08-21T00:01:58Z | 2021-08-21 00:01:58 | Reasonably fun, but it's really disappointing given what it could have been. |
| 174262 | Rachel Wagner | rachelsreviews.net | Fresh | 6/10 | 2021-08-21T00:01:57Z | 2021-08-21 00:01:57 | The reason to see The Protégé is Maggie Q. She's awesome and I hope this is a jumping off point for more action roles in her career |
| 174263 | Abby Olcese | Crooked Marquee | Rotten | C- | 2021-08-20T22:20:44Z | 2021-08-20 22:20:44 | It's a moderately engaging thriller with story elements that are poorly explained, or don't quite make sense. Even the film's technical aspects feel lackluster, with edits and sound design choices that undermine the action. |
| 174264 | Piers Marchant | Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | Rotten | 83/100 | 2021-08-20T21:50:43Z | 2021-08-20 21:50:43 | Campbell's film has style for days, if not terribly much behind it: It's an antique book with mostly blank pages. |
| 174265 | Paul McGuire Grimes | KSTP-TV (St. Paul, MN) | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-20T21:40:38Z | 2021-08-20 21:40:38 | I could see a follow up to the The Protégé with a John Wick style story for Maggie Q and Anna. At the end of the day, it's a full-force action flick good for a two-hour escape. |
| 174266 | Peter Sobczynski | eFilmCritic.com | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T21:30:38Z | 2021-08-20 21:30:38 | The Protégé isn't so much bad as it is a snooze. The story has the lazy familiarity of a television pilot for a show trying to blatantly emulate a big hit film from a year or so earlier, the characters are equally hackneyed. |
| 174267 | Thelma Adams | AARP Movies for Grownups | Fresh | 4/5 | 2021-08-20T21:10:38Z | 2021-08-20 21:10:38 | The hard-core action laced with humor and heart proves that the athletic Maggie Q merits more leading roles -- and a prequel with Jackson would be a ton of kick-ass. |
| 174268 | Robert Kojder | Flickering Myth | Rotten | 2/5 | 2021-08-20T20:30:39Z | 2021-08-20 20:30:39 | A handful of visceral battles between Maggie Q and Michael Keaton are assuredly entertaining, but that's all The Protege has going for it |
| 174269 | Jeremy Jahns | JeremyJahns.com | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T20:20:40Z | 2021-08-20 20:20:40 | The thing that makes this movie different -- and more frustrating -- is that there's actually stuff to like in this... mess of a movie. |
| 174270 | Joshua Axelrod | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Fresh | 2/4 | 2021-08-20T20:10:31Z | 2021-08-20 20:10:31 | It's too well-made and features too many fun performances to be dismissed outright. But it's also pretty mindless, which while not necessarily being a deal-breaker also isn't exactly a compliment either. |
| 174271 | Brian Lowry | CNN.com | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T19:20:34Z | 2021-08-20 19:20:34 | A sporadically stylish, mildly unpredictable and thoroughly violent thriller where the principals seemingly endure at least as much punishment as they dish out. |
| 174272 | Lisa Johnson Mandell | AtHomeInHollywood.com | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T18:50:44Z | 2021-08-20 18:50:44 | It's a standard genre pic, right down to the black bob with bangs and the casting of Samuel L. Jackson as a hitman. Still, it's wildly entertaining. |
| 174273 | Leigh Monson | What To Watch | Fresh | 3/5 | 2021-08-20T18:40:40Z | 2021-08-20 18:40:40 | Lackluster script structure and strange casting can't totally derail the power of pure charisma and brutality. |
| 174274 | Vincent Mancini | Uproxx | Fresh | B- | 2021-08-20T18:10:39Z | 2021-08-20 18:10:39 | A lot more thought went into the witty stunts than the dumb plot. |
| 174275 | James Verniere | Boston Herald | Fresh | B | 2021-08-20T17:10:44Z | 2021-08-20 17:10:44 | The plot is thin gruel. But the action is fierce. Director Campbell and stars Maggie Q and Michael Keaton make a strange, but workable team. |
| 174276 | Rafer Guzman | Newsday | Rotten | 1.5/4 | 2021-08-20T16:50:45Z | 2021-08-20 16:50:45 | Part bloodbath, part sex comedy, totally botched. |
| 174277 | Michael O'Sullivan | Washington Post | Fresh | 2.5/4 | 2021-08-20T16:50:43Z | 2021-08-20 16:50:43 | The film is polished and watchable, with a satisfying third-act twist that nicely upends much of what has come before it. |
| 174278 | Peter Debruge | Variety | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T16:40:40Z | 2021-08-20 16:40:40 | There's precious little in "The Protégé" that audiences haven't seen before in some form or another, but that's hardly a liability, since the script recombines those familiar elements in such entertaining ways... |
| 174279 | Jesse Hassenger | AV Club | Fresh | B- | 2021-08-20T16:10:33Z | 2021-08-20 16:10:33 | It's a straightforward genre picture, directed with the trademark sleek clarity of Martin Campbell. |
| 174280 | Tracy Brown | Los Angeles Times | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T15:40:38Z | 2021-08-20 15:40:38 | There's a palpable confidence in the movie's action sequences and slick choreography that helps keep it engaging enough despite the holes in its storytelling. |
| 174281 | Christy Lemire | RogerEbert.com | Rotten | 2/4 | 2021-08-20T15:30:33Z | 2021-08-20 15:30:33 | [A] capable but ultimately forgettable late-summer action-thriller. |
| 174282 | Frank Swietek | One Guy's Opinion | Rotten | C- | 2021-08-20T15:20:35Z | 2021-08-20 15:20:35 | Even in an era of dumb action movies, 'The Protégé' is a particularly empty exercise in mindless mayhem. |
| 174283 | Nate Adams | The Only Critic | Fresh | B | 2021-08-20T15:00:27Z | 2021-08-20 15:00:27 | Delivering a true starring vehicle for Maggie Q, "The Protégé" has no business being this entertaining, but its refreshing change of pace finally gives the action starlet the spotlight she deserves. |
| 174284 | Larry Carroll | Looper.com | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T14:50:27Z | 2021-08-20 14:50:27 | Do yourself a favor and get past the generic moniker. "The Protégé" is the best trained killer film to come along in sometime, and Maggie Q is an absolute force of nature who gives heart, body, and soul to her performance. |
| 174285 | Mark Meszoros | The News-Herald (Willoughby, OH) | Fresh | 2.5/4 | 2021-08-20T14:30:24Z | 2021-08-20 14:30:24 | It's highly enjoyable, if also laughable, to watch Keaton go toe-to-toe in fight sequences with (Maggie Q). His character is so adept at butt-kickery at times that you half expect him to declare he is, in fact, Batman. |
| 174286 | Matt Lynch | In Review Online | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T14:20:24Z | 2021-08-20 14:20:24 | There's not a lot to The Protégé that you haven't seen before, but rarely - at least recently - has it been executed so sturdily. |
| 174287 | Travis Hopson | Punch Drunk Critics | Fresh | 3.5/5 | 2021-08-20T14:10:20Z | 2021-08-20 14:10:20 | This is a killer flick that fans of this genre will love and appreciate, while those who are less familiar will also feel right at home. |
| 174289 | Mark Feeney | Boston Globe | Rotten | 1.5/4 | 2021-08-20T12:10:13Z | 2021-08-20 12:10:13 | The pleasure of such company isn't enough to compensate for watching a succession of scenes that are like recruitment ads for abattoir work. |
| 174288 | Todd Gilchrist | TheWrap | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T12:10:13Z | 2021-08-20 12:10:13 | Ultimately, Campbell's film fails because it can't decide whether to be cheeky escapism or a thoughtful character study, instead landing in between with something repetitive and too often a little dull. |
| 174290 | Mark Kennedy | Associated Press | Rotten | 1.5/4 | 2021-08-20T12:10:12Z | 2021-08-20 12:10:12 | So many cliches abound. Do all baddies have to drive shiny black Range Rovers and wear thick gold necklaces over their turtlenecks? |
| 174291 | Kim Hughes | Original Cin | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T12:10:11Z | 2021-08-20 12:10:11 | This fun (if bruising) actioner gains all kinds of gravitas from its committed stars and action sequences. |
| 174292 | Richard Roeper | Chicago Sun-Times | Rotten | 2/4 | 2021-08-20T12:00:12Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:12 | We've seen it all before, often done with more style, a better brand of dark humor and smarter plots. |
| 174295 | John DeFore | The Hollywood Reporter | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T12:00:11Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:11 | Tries so hard to make you think it's smart that its dumbness is impossible to forgive. |
| 174294 | Bill Goodykoontz | Arizona Republic | Rotten | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-20T12:00:11Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:11 | "The Protégé" has so many cool elements, so many reasons that it should be better than it is. Chief among them are Maggie Q, Keaton and Jackson. But they can only do so much, and ultimately the film feels flat. |
| 174293 | Mary Sollosi | Entertainment Weekly | Rotten | C+ | 2021-08-20T12:00:11Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:11 | Some of Q's action sequences - she did most of her own stunts, despite a recent spine surgery - are a genuine thrill, but they lose their power as the movie gets bogged down in murky plot. |
| 174297 | Alan Ng | Film Threat | Fresh | 8/10 | 2021-08-20T12:00:10Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:10 | The Protégé is just a good, fun action-thriller with great repeat value. |
| 174296 | Brad Wheeler | Globe and Mail | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T12:00:10Z | 2021-08-20 12:00:10 | The Protégé plays with its viewers - if one is up for the game, there are worse ways to spend 109 minutes. |
| 174299 | Jeannette Catsoulis | New York Times | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T11:50:10Z | 2021-08-20 11:50:10 | The silliness in Richard Wenk's script is epic. |
| 174298 | Johnny Oleksinski | New York Post | Rotten | 2/4 | 2021-08-20T11:50:10Z | 2021-08-20 11:50:10 | The film's bright spot is Q, who has really become a capable, confident, sexy action star. I can't wait to see her in another action movie that is not this one. |
| 174300 | Mick LaSalle | San Francisco Chronicle | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-08-20T11:50:09Z | 2021-08-20 11:50:09 | Now let's see more Maggie Q movies like this one. |
| 174301 | David Nusair | Reel Film Reviews | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-08-20T11:30:08Z | 2021-08-20 11:30:08 | ...makes a strong case for future installments based around Q's intriguing, commanding protagonist. |
| 174302 | Casey Chong | The Cinemaholic | Rotten | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-20T10:50:06Z | 2021-08-20 10:50:06 | Although The Protégé has a few moments that define some of Martin Campbell's directing prowess, the film remains a missed opportunity. |
| 174303 | Charles Koplinski | Reel Talk with Chuck and Pam | Fresh | 2.5/4.0 | 2021-08-20T04:30:22Z | 2021-08-20 04:30:22 | Keaton's wry wit and innate sense of mischievousness brings a much-needed spark to the film, his energy giving a boost to each scene he's in. |
| 174304 | Siddhant Adlakha | IGN Movies | Rotten | 2/10 | 2021-08-20T03:10:37Z | 2021-08-20 03:10:37 | The Protégé sucks the fun and excitement out of its action-thriller premise, and it turns its gorgeous, incredible actors into charisma black holes. Everyone involved not only deserves better, but has done better versions of what they do here. |
| 174305 | Fred Topel | Showbiz Cheat Sheet | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T02:30:40Z | 2021-08-20 02:30:40 | Q and Keaton keep it flirty and vivacious. They're like Mr. and Mrs. Smith, only they just met so this is their meet-cute, rather than hashing out years of relationship trouble. |
| 174306 | Matt Rodriguez | Shakefire | Rotten | F | 2021-08-20T02:10:41Z | 2021-08-20 02:10:41 | The film is more Green Lantern than Casino Royale for director Martin Campbell, delivering an absurd story alongside minimal action that hardly lives up to even the smallest of expectations. |
| 174307 | Nell Minow | Movie Mom | Fresh | B- | 2021-08-20T02:00:47Z | 2021-08-20 02:00:47 | The intensity of the gore becomes a distraction from the reason we are all there, which is to marvel at the very impressive stunts and fight scenes |
| 174308 | Leo Brady | AMovieGuy.com | Fresh | 3/4 | 2021-08-20T01:50:49Z | 2021-08-20 01:50:49 | The Protege is a throwback to 90's action and the perfect vehicle for the skills and charisma of Maggie Q. Hopefully this is the start of more to come. |
| 174309 | Matt Conway | Battle Royale With Cheese | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T01:40:48Z | 2021-08-20 01:40:48 | The Protégé, despite its competence, is about as vanilla as it gets |
| 174310 | Danielle Solzman | Solzy at the Movies | Rotten | — | 2021-08-20T01:20:52Z | 2021-08-20 01:20:52 | The Protégé has a solid cast at hand but this film leaves a meh (and sometimes creepy) feeling in the all-too-familiar genre. |
| 174311 | Dirk Libbey | CinemaBlend | Rotten | 2.5/5 | 2021-08-20T01:00:49Z | 2021-08-20 01:00:49 | Maggie Q is so good that that it elevates one's expectations, but for the most part The Protégé fails to deliver. |
| 174312 | Perri Nemiroff | Perri Nemiroff (YouTube) | Fresh | 4/5 | 2021-08-20T01:00:48Z | 2021-08-20 01:00:48 | Maggie Q continues to prove she's one of the best action stars in the business. |
| 174313 | David Ehrlich | IndieWire | Rotten | C- | 2021-08-20T00:50:52Z | 2021-08-20 00:50:52 | Campbell is like a master chef trying to make a handful of random ingredients into a five-course feast because he knows this is one of the last meals he'll ever be paid to cook, and all he has to show for his time in the kitchen is a mess. |
| 174314 | Brian Orndorf | Blu-ray.com | Fresh | B | 2021-08-20T00:50:51Z | 2021-08-20 00:50:51 | Campbell has his set pieces and explosions, but he also has a cast willing to play around with the material, with Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson doing something worthwhile. |
| 174315 | Courtney Howard | Fresh Fiction | Fresh | — | 2021-08-20T00:40:48Z | 2021-08-20 00:40:48 | With a dynamic heroine who is allowed to demonstrate her own agency, the story spun is an exciting, scintillating thrill-ride. |
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