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Contraband

Contraband

What would you hide to protect your family?

2012109 minRMidcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Director
Baltasar Kormákur
Starring
Mark Wahlberg, Kate Beckinsale, Ben Foster, Giovanni Ribisi

When his brother-in-law runs afoul of a drug lord, family man Chris Farraday turns to a skill he abandoned long ago—smuggling—to repay the debt. But the job goes wrong, and Farraday finds himself wanted by cops, crooks and killers alike.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Contraband?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Contraband streaming on Netflix and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Contraband?

Contraband earns 6 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Box Office Hit.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is Contraband worth watching?

Contraband's Midcredits score is the 53rd percentile of all films, from 165K ratings across 6 sources. 53% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

53rd percentile

Better received than 53% of films

69th percentile among Action53rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)49th
Approval (how many liked it)56th

61 /100

49th percentile of all films

66th percentile among Action49th percentile among 2010s

Critics 51 · Audience 62

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.6 — solid but not unanimous.

53% liked it

56th percentile of all films

70th percentile among Action56th percentile among 2010s
53% rated it 7–1047% rated it 1–6

Critics 50% · Audience 57%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 1 wins / 0 noms overall

96th percentile

164K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Action96th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 49% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$25M
Opening weekend$24M
Domestic gross$67M
Worldwide gross$96M

Returned 3.9× its budget — 84th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A slick but formulaic action-thriller that relies on star power and genre tropes.

Fans praised

  • solid action sequences and gritty tone
  • strong cast performances, especially Ribisi as villain
  • well-paced thriller that stays entertaining

Detractors panned

  • laughably implausible plot and magic luck
  • derivative and clichéd heist narrative

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Wahlberg solid in action/drama; Ribisi steals scenes as menacing villain

Pacing65

decent momentum but slow first half

TensionDivisive62

some gripping sequences but familiar stakes

Atmosphere60

gritty tone with realistic New Orleans and Panama settings

CinematographyDivisive58

some unique shots but drab digital look

Plot and storyDivisive40

convoluted and predictable one‑last‑job setup

Characters38

two‑dimensional stereotypes with no backstory

Originality25

formulaic heist thriller with borrowed concepts

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 9 points apart

Watch experience

What is Contraband like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDread
Heaviest: middle
Register
Hardboiled · 1% of films: Terse, unsentimental, noir-inflected.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film is played straight as a gritty, no-nonsense thriller, with a serious tone and realistic stakes.
The rideThe film maintains a sustained tense, grim atmosphere with pressure building to a climactic middle stretch.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically from the inciting incident through the mission to the resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

FunCathartic · 6% of films
Why it leaves you this wayIt's an entertaining, straightforward thriller that delivers a satisfying comeuppance.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% (this title) · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA former smuggler is forced back into the game to rescue his brother-in-law from a drug lord, embarking on a high-stakes smuggling mission to Panama.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4% (this title)
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsLoyalty · 4% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe protagonist is drawn back into criminal life to protect his brother-in-law and family from a dangerous drug lord.
StanceThe film warns about the allure and danger of the criminal life, showing how family loyalty can lead into peril.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Clinton Shorter
Settingsmuggling routes between the US Gulf Coast and Panama
MusicA tense, synthesized score underscores the action.

Content guide

Is Contraband okay for kids?

R

Contraband is rated R: “Rated R for violence, pervasive language and brief drug use” (MPAA). As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (63/100), sexual content at minimal (14/100), language at severe (85/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (53/100) and frightening material at moderate (37/100). Overall it is heavier than 45% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 18 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland15A
  • JapanPG12
  • Brazil16
  • Czechia15+
  • Denmark15
  • GreeceΚ-18
  • Hungary16
  • KZЕ16
  • LTN-13
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • PortugalM/16
  • RO15
  • Spain12
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 67% of all filmsHeavier than 45% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 41%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 8%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 83%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 67%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 21%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Contraband have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Contraband?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Mark Wahlberg
as Chris Farraday
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kate Beckinsale
as Kate Farraday
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ben Foster
as Sebastian Abney
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Giovanni Ribisi
as Tim Briggs
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
Lukas Haas
as Danny Raymer
Caleb Landry Jones
as Andy
newcomer then · star now
Diego Luna
as Gonzalo
J.K. Simmons
as Captain Camp
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
David O'Hara
as Jim Church
William Lucking
as Bud Farraday

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Contraband?

Movies like Contraband include 2 Guns (2013), Punisher: War Zone (2008) and Stolen (2012). Of the 12 closest matches, several are heist films, and half are films about loyalty.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its story type: gangster. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Contraband?

1.2K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: thief. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.