Back in Action (2025)
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2025-09 to 2026-08
Two CIA operatives living under assumed identities must go back into action when their secret cover is blown.
The story
CIA operatives Matt and his pregnant fiancée Emily are tasked with securing the Industrial Control Systems (ICS), a device capable of controlling any electronic system. After a narrow escape from a terrorist and a dangerous flight, the pair goes off-grid for fifteen years, living in Atlanta under new identities with their two children. Their peaceful life is shattered when a public altercation becomes a viral sensation, drawing the attention of both their former associates and a dangerous mercenary group. Forced to flee to England to protect their children and the ICS Key, the couple must decide whether to reveal their true identities to their children as they are hunted by both old enemies and the MI6.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Matt and Emily, CIA operatives, are tasked with securing the Industrial Control Systems (ICS) from a terrorist named Balthazzar Gor. After a harrowing escape, they go into hiding for 15 years in Atlanta. Their cover is blown after a public brawl involving their daughter Alice goes viral, attracting the attention of the mercenary group Volka and their former friend Chuck. They flee to England to hide the ICS Key in a manor owned by Emily's mother, Ginny. They are pursued by Volka and the MI6. During the conflict, they discover Chuck has betrayed them and is working with the enemy. They eventually track the key to a black-tie event in London. After a series of actions involving a bridge and a boat, they defeat Chuck and his allies. The film ends with the family reunited, though they are informed by a contact that Chuck may still be alive and they may need to recruit Emily's father.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Seth Gordon
- Writers
- Seth Gordon · writer; Brendan O'Brien · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jamie Foxx · Matt; Cameron Diaz · Emily; Andrew Scott; Jamie Demetriou; Kyle Chandler; Glenn Close; Fola Evans-Akingbola · Wendy
- Genres
- action; comedy
- Themes
- hidden identity; family protection
- Tone and mood
- action; comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- espionage; undercover
- Reception
- The film received mixed or average reviews from critics, with praise for the chemistry between the leads but criticism for its lack of original material.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 46 · scale: 100 · review count: 23
- Production trivia
- The film was originally set to be released on November 15, 2024.; The film's opening scene was filmed in Ljubljana, Slovenia.; The production cost $207.2 million, which came down to a net cost of $158.9 million after UK tax incentives.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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