Kill the Messenger_
"Can you keep a national secret?"
A reporter becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.
Director
Michael Cuesta
Starring
Jeremy Renner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Sheen
Box Office
$5.2M
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
Kill the Messenger earned $5.2M worldwide on a $5.0M budget — a 4% return on investment.
Michael Cuesta →
Year context
Kill the Messenger was released 12 years ago in 2014.
CAST (20)
Jeremy Renner
Gary Webb
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Anna Simons
Michael Sheen
Fred Weil
Ray Liotta
John Cullen
Robert Patrick
Ronny Quail
Andy Garcia
Norwin Meneses
Paz Vega
Coral Baca
Michael Kenneth Williams
Ricky Ross
Rosemarie DeWitt
Sue Webb
Tim Blake Nelson
Alan Fenster
Barry Pepper
Russell Dodson
Oliver Platt
Jerry Ceppos
Richard Schiff
Richard Zuckerman
Jena Sims
Quail's Girlfriend
Joshua Close
Rich Kline
Yul Vazquez
Danilo Blandon
Lucas Hedges
Ian Webb
Matt Lintz
Eric Webb
Gil Bellows
DEA Agent Miller
Steve Coulter
Anonymous Agent
CREW
Director
Writer
BOX OFFICE
$5.0M
Budget
$5.2M
Revenue
+4%
ROI
BREAK EVEN
Verdict
STUDIOS (4)
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
112 min (1h 52m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
6.6/10 (896 votes)
Popularity
6
Budget
$5,000,000
Box Office
$5,200,000
Profit
+$200,000
IMDB
Trailer
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Kill the Messenger about?
A reporter becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb.
How long is Kill the Messenger?
Kill the Messenger has a runtime of 112 minutes (1h 52m).
Who directed Kill the Messenger?
Kill the Messenger was directed by Michael Cuesta.
Who stars in Kill the Messenger?
The cast of Kill the Messenger includes Jeremy Renner, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Sheen, Ray Liotta, Robert Patrick.
How much did Kill the Messenger make at the box office?
Kill the Messenger earned $5,200,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $5,000,000.
What is the rating of Kill the Messenger?
Kill the Messenger has a rating of 6.6 out of 10 based on 896 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (5)
Crime
Drama
Mystery
Thriller
History
KEYWORDS (8)
central intelligence agency (cia)
drug trafficking
biography
crack cocaine
government conspiracy
investigative journalism
american journalist
san jose, california