🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Tate Taylor
- Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Release year: 2020
- Runtime (length): 1h 36min
- IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (67k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 17%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A troubled assassin takes family drama a little *too* seriously while also trying to not get murdered by her boss.
🍿 Ava: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction to Ava Faulkner
Ava Faulkner, portrayed by Jessica Chastain, is a highly skilled assassin working for a clandestine organization. The film opens with Ava executing a hit in France, showcasing her deadly efficiency. However, unlike typical assassins, Ava grapples with moral questions, often questioning her targets about their actions before eliminating them.

Return to Boston and Family Drama
Following her mission, Ava returns to Boston to reconnect with her estranged family, including her mother Bobbi and sister Judy. This homecoming is fraught with tension, stemming from Ava’s past struggles with addiction and her abrupt departure years prior. She also learns that her former fiancé, Michael, is now in a relationship with her sister, adding further complexity to the situation. Ava’s attempts to reconcile are complicated by the reappearance of her past.

Betrayal and a Fight for Survival
As Ava delves into her personal life, she becomes a target herself. Her superiors, particularly Simon, deem her a liability due to her questioning nature and potential instability. This sets off a chain of events where Ava must use all her skills to survive attacks from her own organization. The film culminates in a showdown where Ava confronts her betrayers and fights to protect herself and her loved ones.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Ava (Jessica Chastain): A skilled assassin grappling with her conscience and a troubled past, leading her to question her assignments.
- Duke (John Malkovich): Ava’s mentor and father figure within the organization, who tries to protect her from internal threats.
- Simon (Colin Farrell): A superior in the organization who views Ava as a liability and orders her termination.
- Michael (Common): Ava’s ex-fiancé, now in a relationship with her sister, who struggles with gambling debts.
- Bobbi (Geena Davis): Ava’s estranged mother, with whom she attempts to reconnect while dealing with her dangerous life.
- Judy (Jess Weixler): Ava’s sister, who is in a relationship with Michael and is pregnant.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Bobbi: “You should choose carefully what you tell me, Ava, because you can’t un-say it, and I can’t un-hear it.” – Bobbi says this to Ava, highlighting the complex and strained relationship between mother and daughter and the weight of their words.
- Duke: “Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.” – Duke warns Ava about the dangers of questioning her targets, emphasizing the brutal and detached nature of their profession.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $25,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $497,747
- Worldwide Gross: $3,293,783
💥 Ava Reviews
Personal Review
I really wanted to love Ava, especially with Jessica Chastain in the lead, but it just didn’t click for me. The action scenes were okay, but the family drama felt shoehorned in and distracted from the main plot. I felt like there were some plot holes and I wish they had focused more on Ava’s internal struggles as an assassin. Overall, it was a decent watch, but not one I’d rush to see again. It’s worth watching once for sure, but don’t go in expecting an action-packed thriller like John Wick.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of action thrillers”
- “Those who enjoy movies with strong female leads”
- “Viewers interested in stories about assassins with a conscience”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Strong violence”
- “Drug and alcohol use”
- “Mature themes”
- “Some language”
Professional Reviews
- Variety: “While Chastain delivers a committed performance, the film struggles to balance its action sequences with its melodramatic family subplot. The fight choreography is competent, but the story lacks originality and emotional depth.
- The Hollywood Reporter: “Ava offers passable action sequences and a strong cast, but the convoluted plot and underwritten characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. The film feels like a missed opportunity to explore the complexities of its protagonist.
- IGN: “Jessica Chastain’s performance is the highlight of Ava, but the film is weighed down by a predictable plot and uneven pacing. The action is serviceable, but the emotional moments feel forced and unearned.
Audience Reactions
Jessica Chastain’s performance was a major draw for many viewers.: Most people agreed that Jessica Chastain did a very good job.
Action scenes are good.: Many found the action entertaining but unoriginal.
Overall Consensus: While Jessica Chastain’s performance is praised, ‘Ava’ is generally considered a passable but ultimately forgettable action thriller due to its predictable plot and uneven execution.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “During shooting, Ava’s name was Eve, but due to similarity to Killing Eve (2018), the studio changed the name after the film wrapped, requiring additional audio and shooting.”
- “Tate Taylor, known for directing dramas, took on this action thriller to explore a different genre, bringing his character-driven approach to the assassin narrative.”
🖥️ How to Watch Ava?
Ava is available to rent or buy on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand options. Some streaming services may offer it as part of a premium channel subscription.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Ava, you might like these similar films:
- Salt (2010): Features a female CIA agent who must evade capture after being framed as a Russian spy, similar to Ava’s fight for survival.
- Colombiana (2011): Focuses on a young woman who becomes a trained assassin to avenge her parents’ death, sharing the theme of a driven female killer.
- The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996): Features a woman with amnesia who discovers she was once a trained assassin, with Geena Davis playing the lead role.
- Atomic Blonde (2017): Charlize Theron as MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton is dispatched to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.
🛒 Ava Related Products
- Atomic Blonde [4K Ultra HD]: Charlize Theron is great in this spy action movie. A sexy female spy is sent to Berlin to investigate the death of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. This film has better action than Ava, and it has better story telling.
- John Wick [4K Ultra HD]: Keanu Reeves is great in this action movie. An ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. This film has better action and storytelling than Ava.
- Glock 17 Airsoft Gun: Realistic replica of the iconic handgun, perfect for tactical simulations and target practice.
- Black Leather Jacket: A stylish black leather jacket similar to the one worn by Jessica Chastain in the film, made from high-quality materials.
🎧 Soundtrack
Ava features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Ava is available for streaming or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check availability based on your region.
As of the current date, there are no confirmed plans for a sequel to Ava. However, the ending leaves the possibility open, depending on audience reception and studio interest.
The main cast of Ava includes Jessica Chastain as Ava Faulkner, John Malkovich as Duke, Colin Farrell as Simon, and Geena Davis as Bobbi.
Ava is about an assassin who begins to question her assignments, leading her to become a target of her own organization. She must fight to protect herself and reconnect with her estranged family.
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