The Story of Criminal: Memory, Identity, and Redemption
Criminal is a 2016 action thriller built on a premise that sounds like it belongs in a pulp comic book—and that's precisely the point. When a brilliant CIA operative dies before completing a critical mission to stop a global terrorist threat, his handlers make a desperate gamble: they'll implant his memories, skills, and secrets into the mind of Jericho Stewart, a violent, unpredictable death-row inmate played by Kevin Costner. The result is a collision of two consciousnesses in one unstable body. What unfolds is part espionage thriller, part identity crisis, part road-movie chase—a film that doesn't apologize for its high-concept absurdity, even when the emotional stakes feel slippery. The setup is irresistible: a man suddenly burdened with another man's memories, tasked with finishing another man's war, while wrestling with his own murderous instincts.
Behind the Making of Criminal: Cast Pedigree and Production Scope
Director Ariel Vromen brought Criminal to life with a screenplay by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg, assembling a cast that reads like a who's who of heavyweight character actors. Kevin Costner anchors the film as Jericho, the hardened convict; Gary Oldman plays the CIA handler orchestrating the procedure; and Tommy Lee Jones rounds out the trio as a rival operative. What's striking is that Costner, Oldman, and Jones had already worked together on Oliver Stone's JFK back in 1991—marking their second collaboration across more than two decades. The ensemble also features Gal Gadot (then rising toward Wonder Woman fame), Alice Eve, Ryan Reynolds in an early role that sets the plot in motion, and Michael Pitt rounding out the supporting cast. The film was shot across Bulgaria, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, giving it an international scope that matches its globe-trotting spy-thriller ambitions. With a runtime of 113 minutes and an R-rating, Criminal was positioned as a serious, violent action vehicle—not a quip-laden blockbuster. While it didn't become a box-office phenomenon, the film found its audience among viewers who appreciate high-concept premises and committed performances over formulaic plotting.
What Makes Criminal Stand Out: Performance and Premise
Here's the thing about Criminal—it's not subtle, and it doesn't pretend to be. The film leans hard into its science-fiction conceit: the notion that you can surgically download one person's expertise into another person's skull and expect coherence. Costner, never an actor to mail it in, treats the dual-consciousness premise seriously, playing Jericho as a man genuinely fractured between his own violent instincts and the foreign memories flooding his brain. Gary Oldman, chewing scenery with characteristic gusto, brings a bureaucratic menace to his CIA handler role. The supporting cast—particularly Gal Gadot's presence as a young woman caught in the crossfire—grounds the absurdity with human stakes. What doesn't always work is the emotional architecture. Audience reviews suggest that while the film delivers on action sequences and technical craftsmanship—the stunts are legitimately impressive, the cinematography is slick—it struggles to make viewers care about Jericho's internal struggle in a way that justifies the high-concept setup. One viewer noted the film borrows DNA from Face/Off and Hardcore Henry, hitting familiar beats but without the emotional payoff that makes those films linger. The chase sequences are relentless (perhaps too relentless), but they can feel like filler between plot points. That said, if you're willing to meet Criminal on its own terms—as a stylish, brutal action film that doesn't pretend to reinvent the wheel—there's genuine entertainment value here.
Where to Stream Criminal Online
Criminal is currently available on Prime Video, making it easy to access if you're already subscribed to Amazon's service. You can check Movie OTT for the most up-to-date streaming availability across all platforms, since licensing agreements shift frequently. The film's 113-minute runtime makes it a solid evening watch—long enough to feel substantial, short enough not to test your patience if the premise isn't grabbing you. Prime Video's library includes a wide range of action thrillers, so Criminal sits comfortably within that ecosystem if you're browsing for something with real stakes and committed performances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who directed Criminal?
Ariel Vromen directed Criminal. Vromen is known for his work in action and crime thrillers, bringing a kinetic visual style to the film's globe-trotting spy narrative.
Q: Is Criminal based on a true story?
No. Criminal is an original screenplay by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg, built entirely around the fictional premise of memory implantation technology. The concept is pure speculative fiction.
Q: What's the runtime of Criminal?
Criminal runs 113 minutes, making it a standard-length action thriller that moves at a brisk pace without overstaying its welcome.
Q: Why does Ryan Reynolds appear in Criminal if he dies early?
Ryan Reynolds plays the CIA operative whose death sets the entire plot in motion. His character's demise is what prompts the desperate decision to implant his memories into Jericho, making his presence essential to the story even though he's not on screen for the bulk of the film.
Q: How is Criminal rated?
Criminal carries an R rating, reflecting its violence, language, and brutal action sequences. It's definitely a film for adult audiences comfortable with intense physical conflict.
Final Thoughts on Criminal
Criminal won't blow your mind, but it won't bore you either—assuming you're okay with a film that prioritizes spectacle and premise over emotional depth. It's the kind of movie that works better if you don't overthink it, if you're in the mood for Kevin Costner playing a dangerous man with another man's secrets rattling around in his skull. The cast is genuinely committed, the action is well-executed, and the central conceit—however implausible—is genuinely interesting. If you're hunting for a solid action thriller on a Friday night, Criminal delivers what it promises. Just don't expect it to haunt you afterward.
