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The 355
A poster featuring five women standing in front of a wall covered with country flags of the world. Below them is the following text: "From the producers that brought you Jason Bourne", "The 355", "Work Together or Die Alone", "In theaters January 7".
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySimon Kinberg
Screenplay by
Story byTheresa Rebeck
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyTim Maurice-Jones
Edited by
Music byTom Holkenborg
Production
companies
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • January 7, 2022 (2022-01-07)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$75 million[1]
Box office$27.8 million[2][3]

The 355 is a 2022 American action spy thriller film directed by Simon Kinberg from a screenplay by Theresa Rebeck and Kinberg, and a story by Rebeck. The film features an ensemble cast, starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o as a group of international spies who must work together to stop a terrorist organization from starting World War III. Édgar Ramírez and Sebastian Stan also star. The title is derived from Agent 355, the codename of a female spy for the Patriots during the American Revolution.[4]

Chastain proposed the idea for the film while working with Kinberg on Dark Phoenix. The project was officially announced in May 2018, and distribution rights were acquired by Universal Pictures at the 71st Cannes Film Festival. Filming took place in Paris and London from June through September 2019. The 355 was theatrically released in the United States on January 7, 2022. It received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing $27.8 million worldwide against its budget of $75 million, resulting in Universal losing an estimated $93 million on the film.[5][6][7]

Plot

[edit]

At a location 150 miles (240 km) south of Bogotá, Colombia, a drug lord presents criminal mastermind Elijah Clarke with a special decryption program drive that can access any digital system on Earth. Clarke double-crosses and kills him just as the authorities raid the mansion. Amid the chaos, Colombian DNI agent Luis Rojas obtains the device. CIA operative Mason "Mace" Brown is assigned to purchase the drive from Rojas. She heads to Paris with longtime partner Nick Fowler, who is in love with her. The deal goes south when German undercover BND agent Marie Schmidt swipes the bag holding the money. Mace chases Marie, who escapes via the subway while Nick is confronted in an alley by Clarke.

At CIA headquarters, Mace learns that Nick was found dead in the alley. Her superior, Larry Marks, gives her his blessing to retrieve the drive by any means. Mace travels to London to recruit a longtime friend, retired British MI6 operative Khadijah Adiyeme. Rojas arranges to hand the drive over to Graciela Rivera, a DNI psychologist with no field experience. Marie is pushed to go after the drive by her boss, Jonas Muller, who brings up how Marie's father was a senior BND agent whom she personally turned after discovering that he was a Russian mole.

Mace and Khadijah track Luis and Graciela to a market only for the DNI agent overseeing the handoff to turn on them and kill Luis; before dying, he gives Graciela a phone only she can open that tracks the drive. Both Mace and Marie chase the thief, who escapes. Marie takes Graciela to a safe house with Mace and Khadijah arriving. Khadijah points out they all want the drive and are better off working together. The four track the thief to Morocco, apprehending him and taking out rival mercenaries before handing the drive over to Marks. While celebrating over drinks, news breaks of planes crashing, and cities hit by massive power outages—indicating the drive is in terrorists' hands. They return to the safe house to find Marks dead. After escaping from a CIA assault squad, the women realize they have been framed for Marks' death and the theft of the device.

Under interrogation, the thief reveals that the recent incidents are all part of a "demonstration" for prospective buyers at an illegal black-market auction in Shanghai. The group infiltrates the auction where Mace is shocked to discover that not only is Nick alive, but is secretly Clarke's mole in the CIA. The group fails to prevent him from obtaining the device, but a mysterious Chinese woman helps them escape the auction. She identifies herself as Lin Mi Sheng of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, and explains that the drive was used as bait to allow her agency to identify the criminals in attendance. She also tells Mace that Marks had been on Clarke's payroll, and that she took the device from Nick during their escape.

Clarke punishes Nick for bringing him a worthless decoy device but gives him a second chance. Nick then captures the group, revealing that he has Muller, Khadijah's boyfriend Ahmed, and Graciela's family as hostages. Nick executes Lin's elderly father in front of the group and has Muller and Ahmed executed on camera. To spare Graciela's family, Lin surrenders the drive and is abducted by Nick who needs her to authenticate the device.

The other women quickly overcome their grief when they realize that Lin is transmitting her location through a camera in her glasses. Arming themselves, they rescue Lin, shoot Nick, and destroy the drive before getting arrested by local police.

Two months later, Nick, now promoted to a senior rank in the CIA for killing Clarke, returns home to find Mace and the group waiting for him after escaping from custody. Nick passes out from a drug in his drink, having been told he will pay for his crimes by spending the rest of his life in a foreign prison. The women go their separate ways, but suspect they will somehow reunite to fight the corruption of their various agencies.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]
Simon Kinberg in 2017
Co-writer and director Simon Kinberg

Jessica Chastain proposed the idea for a female-led spy film in the same spirit as the Mission: Impossible and James Bond series to her Dark Phoenix director Simon Kinberg while in production on that film. The concept was built upon and in May 2018, it was announced that Kinberg would direct the film with Chastain producing, in addition to her starring alongside Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, and Lupita Nyong'o. The project was pitched to buyers during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, with Global Road Entertainment and Amazon Studios bidding for the distribution rights,[8][9] and Universal Pictures ultimately winning the U.S. and U.K. distribution rights for $20 million.[10][11]

In February 2019, Chastain put out a request for suggestions in regard to the casting of male actors.[12] In May 2019, it was announced Sebastian Stan and Édgar Ramírez had joined the cast of the film, with Cotillard dropping out.[13] Diane Kruger was added in June, replacing Cotillard.[14] Filming began in July 2019, shooting between Paris, Morocco and London,[15][16][17] using locations including Senate House.[18] In September 2019, Emilio Insolera joined the cast of the film.[19] Additional filming took place in London in July 2020 with precaution protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20] Tom Holkenborg composed the musical score of the film.[21] After the trailer's release in October 2020, the casting of Cruz, a Spanish actress, as a Colombian psychologist attracted criticism. Chastain defended the decision, saying she wanted to evaluate "the international common thread that connects us all" and emphasize the importance of characters that "all come together to form an alliance beyond borders".[22][23][24]

Release

[edit]

Theatrical

[edit]

The film was released by Universal Pictures on January 7, 2022. It was originally scheduled to be released on January 15, 2021, but was pushed back a year from January 15, 2021, to January 14, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[25] before moving up by a week from January 14, to January 7.[26] The film was released through video-on-demand on January 28, 2022.[27] The film began streaming on Peacock on February 22, 2022. It was released on DVD and Blu-ray that same day, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.[28] In the United Kingdom, it was released on DVD and Blu-Ray by MediumRare Entertainment, a division of Fremantle on April 24, 2022.[29]

Marketing

[edit]

The film's marketing across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter made around 120 million impressions online before The 355 opened in theaters. RelishMix said reactions to its promotional content were "mixed-negative as fans feel like they're being served a bit of a cliché cookie-cutter action package in the spirit of Charlie's Angels or 'James Bond's daughters' with a diverse mix of kick-ass supercharged women. Fans of Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o and Penelopé Cruz are super supportively cheering for success, but amidst the COVID resurge, moviegoers are tapping their finger for Peacock or another streaming service drop date."[30]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

The 355 grossed $14.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $13.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $27.8 million.[2][3]

In the U.S. and Canada, The 355 was projected to gross $2–7 million from 3,145 theaters in its opening weekend. Variety and Boxoffice Pro both said the film would underperform at the box office, in part due to its 45-day theatrical timeframe, the ongoing success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and the rising spread of the Omicron variant.[31][32]

The film earned $1.72 million on its first day, including an estimated $350,000 from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $4.6 million, finishing third at the box office behind holdovers Spider-Man: No Way Home and Sing 2.[33] The film went on to earn $2.3 million in its second weekend,[34] $1.6 million in its third,[35] $1.3 million in its fourth,[36] and $698,275 in its fifth.[37] The 355 dropped out of the box office top ten in its sixth weekend, finishing 23rd with $99,615.[38]

Audiences during its opening were 56% female, 73% above the age of 25, 40% between 25 and 44, and 33% above the age of 45. The ethnic breakdown of the audience showed that 50% were Caucasian, 21% Hispanic or Latino, 17% African American, and 12% Asian/other.[30]

Critical response

[edit]

The 355 garnered negative reviews from critics.[39][40] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 24% of 226 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "It has a stellar cast and it's conceptually progressive, but The 355 squanders it all on a forgettable story, unremarkably told."[41] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 40 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[42] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 76% of audience members gave it a positive score.[30]

Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph described the film as "standard spies-gone-rogue fare repackaged in girl-power wrapping" and "despite the strong cast, this is the film equivalent of a corn-syrup based fizzy drink being passed off as chic in taller, slimmer cans".[43] Mark Olson of the Los Angeles Times praised the performances of the cast and the "attempt to acknowledge that these women have, need to have, lives outside their jobs, even with an occupation like international intelligence" but concluded the film "feels familiar and a bit tired. Simply having women star in a sluggish iteration of an airport dad-novel espionage-action story is not inspiring on its own."[44]

Kevin Maher of The Times criticized it as "lazy" and "box ticking".[45] Empire's Helen O'Hara said "Jessica Chastain and director Simon Kinberg team up here to give the world a charismatic, female-centric team of super-spies to balance all those male-led spy thrillers. You just wish the story had been as innovative as the casting, and the twists less screamingly obvious to even those without secret-agent training."[46] Benjamin Lee in The Guardian described the plot and action sequences as "generic" and concluded "simply replacing male action heroes with women and then standing back waiting for applause isn't quite enough".[47] Clarissa Loughrey in The Independent compared The 355 negatively to other female-led action thrillers Atomic Blonde and Wonder Woman and argued that despite the film's premise of reversing stereotypical portrayals of women in spy movies, it's "a mark of progress only in how wholly unremarkable it feels".[48] David Rooney writing for The Hollywood Reporter summarized the film as "not without suspense", praising the score and editing, but found the characters underdeveloped and opined "the impulse to put kickass women in charge for a change is commendable, but the journeyman result suggests the pitfalls of starting with the packaging instead of the storytelling inspiration."[40] Christy Lemire of RogerEbert.com gave the film a score of one out of four stars, criticizing the action sequences, plot and writing. She furthermore added the film "squanders" the main actresses and described the dialogue as "inane".[49]

In a more positive review, Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly said the film was "starry, silly escapism with pop-feminist flare and a passport".[50] Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote, "As action storytelling, The 355 is generic, over-the-top, and 20 minutes too long, kind of like a Netflix movie. But it's the well-made version of that corporate brew."[51] Kate Erbland of IndieWire wrote "'The 355 might not be the boundary-busting breakthrough it was sold as, it's something better: a solid spy flick that adds something new to the genre without totally upending it. That's refreshing in its own way."[52]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The 355

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 355 is a American action spy thriller film directed by from a screenplay co-written with , based on a story by Rebeck. The film centers on a CIA operative who teams up with an international group of female agents to recover a dangerous top-secret weapon that has fallen into mercenary hands. Released theatrically on January 7, , by , it draws its title from , the codename of a female spy in George Washington's during the . With a production budget of $75 million, The 355 grossed $27.8 million worldwide at the , marking it as a commercial disappointment amid the pandemic's impact on theaters. However, it later gained popularity on streaming platforms, reaching the top 10 on in the United States by August 2025. The plot follows Mace Brown (Jessica Chastain), a skilled but rogue CIA agent, who partners with German operative Marie (Diane Kruger), Colombian psychologist Graciela (Penélope Cruz), British MI6 tech expert Khadijah (Lupita Nyong'o), and Chinese agent Lin Mi (Fan Bingbing) after a high-stakes hacking device is stolen. Their mission takes them across global locations, including Paris, Morocco, and London, as they navigate betrayals and intense action sequences to prevent a catastrophic threat. Supporting roles include Jason Flemyng as a ruthless arms dealer and Sebastian Stan as Mace's handler, with Edgar Ramírez in key antagonistic and allied parts. The ensemble emphasizes themes of female empowerment in espionage, positioning the story as a female-led counterpart to franchises like Mission: Impossible and Charlie's Angels. Principal photography began in June 2019 and wrapped in September, with filming locations spanning London, Paris, Morocco, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom's Kent region. The project originated from Kinberg's desire to create an original spy thriller featuring a diverse, all-female lead cast, produced by Freckle Films, CAA Media Finance, and FilmNation Entertainment in a U.S.-China co-production. Kinberg, known for his work on the X-Men franchise including directing Dark Phoenix (2019), aimed to blend high-octane action with character-driven narratives inspired by his early screenwriting roots. Challenges during production included COVID-19 restrictions, which limited reshoots and influenced visual effects work by companies like Union VFX to complete scenes remotely. Upon release, The 355 received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who praised the strong performances and action choreography but criticized the formulaic script and lack of originality, resulting in a 24% approval rating on based on 229 reviews. Audiences were more favorable, giving it a 5.6/10 average on from over 42,000 user ratings and a higher audience score on . The film earned a PG-13 rating for violence and language, running 122 minutes, and was noted for its diverse international cast, though some commentary highlighted representation issues in casting non-Latin American actors for certain roles. Despite its theatrical underperformance—opening to $4.6 million domestically and facing competition from the Omicron variant surge—its availability on platforms like and Max has sustained viewer interest into 2025.

Synopsis and Cast

Plot Summary

In , ruthless arms dealer Clarke murders a local and his son to seize a prototype digital weapon capable of hacking into any electronic system worldwide, from power grids to nuclear arsenals. The device ends up in the hands of rogue Colombian intelligence operative Luis , who flees to intending to auction it on the . CIA agent Mason "Mace" Brown (), a skilled but impulsive operative, teams up with her partner and sometime-lover () to intercept by posing as wealthy buyers at a café. Their plan unravels when German BND agent Marie Schmidt (), a disciplined former assassin, ambushes the meeting to claim the device for her agency, sparking a chaotic shootout. dies in the crossfire but slips a burner phone revealing the weapon's next location to Graciela Rivera (), a mild-mannered Colombian dispatched by her government to rein in . Desperate to recover the drive, Mace traces the phone to and enlists the aid of Khadijah Adiyeme (), a brilliant but reclusive cyber expert still mourning her husband's recent death. The four women, initially clashing due to national rivalries and personal distrust, reluctantly unite as an off-the-books team dubbed "The 355" after a historical female spy code name. They pursue leads from Morocco's bustling markets—where a brutal tests their skills—to Shanghai's high-stakes , uncovering that Clarke plans a private auction among global criminals. Along the way, a mysterious Chinese operative, Lin Mi (), joins their effort, providing crucial tech support during a daring heist at an opulent . As betrayals emerge from within their intelligence communities, including shocking involvement by trusted allies, the team battles Clarke's mercenaries in high-octane sequences involving car chases, , and improvised weapons. They ultimately destroy the drive to avert global catastrophe, forging an unbreakable bond that transcends their agencies and sets the stage for future missions.

Principal Cast

The 355 features an international of leads portraying a team of spies from various agencies who unite to prevent a global catastrophe. The principal cast includes as Mason "Mace" Brown, a CIA operative who assembles the group after a mission goes awry. Lupita Nyong'o plays Khadijah, a skilled computer expert and former agent recruited for her technical prowess in hacking and intelligence gathering. portrays Marie Schmidt, a precise and tactical agent from Germany's BND (), bringing expertise in surveillance and combat. stars as Graciela, a Colombian DNI agent and psychologist whose interpersonal skills aid in interrogation and team dynamics. depicts Lin Mi Sheng, a cunning operative from China's MSS (Ministry of State Security), specializing in deception and high-stakes negotiations. Sebastian Stan rounds out the core group as Nick Fowler, Mace's reliable CIA colleague and occasional romantic interest, providing support in fieldwork and logistics. This diverse lineup emphasizes the film's theme of global cooperation among intelligence professionals.

Production

Development

The development of The 355 began during the production of X-Men: Dark Phoenix in 2018, when actress and producer proposed the idea of a female-led spy thriller to director , noting the genre's historical lack of such projects. Kinberg, who had previously collaborated with Chastain on Dark Phoenix, embraced the concept as a return to original storytelling after years of franchise work, drawing inspiration from films like the series and the Bourne trilogy while emphasizing global collaboration among . The film's title pays homage to , the codename of an unidentified female spy for the Patriots during the , symbolizing unsung contributions by women in . In May 2018, the project was formally announced at the market as a large-scale thriller, with acquiring distribution rights. Kinberg was set to direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with , who focused on subverting traditional spy tropes by centering authentic female dynamics and international partnerships rather than romantic subplots. The initial ensemble cast included Chastain as a CIA operative, alongside as a French agent, as a Colombian DNI analyst, as a Chinese MSS hacker, and as a former operative. Production was handled by Chastain's , Kinberg's , , and , with a budget of $75 million to support its globe-trotting scope. Casting underwent changes in 2019 amid scheduling conflicts and external issues. Cotillard departed due to personal reasons, leading to being cast in the role, which was rewritten as a German BND agent to fit her background. , who had faced a high-profile scandal in resulting in a temporary disappearance from public view, confirmed her participation in April 2019, marking her return to international cinema. Additional roles were filled by as a CIA handler and Edgar Ramírez as a , rounding out the ensemble. advanced quickly, with the project greenlit for filming by July 2019, positioning it as a timely response to calls for more diverse representation in action genres.

Filming

Principal photography for The 355 began on July 8, 2019, in , , where the production team captured key sequences, including a breakfast scene at a café that escalates into a high-stakes chase. The shoot continued through September 2019, spanning multiple international locations to reflect the film's global espionage narrative. A significant portion of filming took place in , , starting shortly after the Paris leg, with interiors and exteriors shot at notable sites such as Freemasons’ Hall on Great Queen Street for temple and corridor scenes, Senate House Library on Malet Street for an event sequence, and the for additional action setups. Additional UK filming occurred at Fairbourne Reservoir near Harrietsham in , dressed to represent a rural property tied to Penélope Cruz's character, Graciela. served as a primary location for intense action sequences, leveraging its diverse landscapes for North African settings. The production also incorporated locations in the United States, with establishing shots filmed in , to depict American intelligence hubs. In Asia, scenes were shot in , , and , , including Changsha Street, which stood in for a belonging to the character Lin Mi Sheng. Due to the , reshoots were conducted in 2020 under strict health protocols, ensuring the film's completion without major delays to its timeline.

Release

Theatrical Release

The 355 was initially scheduled for a wide theatrical release on January 15, 2021, by , following the studio's acquisition of U.S. distribution rights in May 2018 at the for a reported $20 million. Due to the ongoing and its impact on theater operations, Universal delayed the release by a full year to January 14, 2022, as announced in November 2020, to allow for a more stable exhibition environment. In May 2021, the date was adjusted forward by one week to January 7, 2022, positioning it as the sole new that weekend amid a recovering landscape. The film premiered theatrically in the United States on January 7, 2022, with early international releases beginning January 5 in markets including and , followed by and on January 6. Universal handled distribution domestically, while international rights were managed through various partners, reflecting the film's global production scope.

Home Media and Streaming

The 355 was released on digital platforms, DVD, and Blu-ray on February 22, 2022, by in the United States. The physical edition featured a combo pack including Blu-ray, DVD, and a digital HD code, offering high-definition visuals and audio for home viewing. Special features on the disc included behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and commentary tracks with director and the cast. In the , the film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on April 25, 2022, by MediumRare Entertainment. Following its theatrical run, it became available on Peacock in March 2022. As of November 2025, The 355 is streaming on in the United States and select international markets, which became available on Netflix on , 2025, and has since gained renewed popularity, reaching the top 10 in the United States. It is also accessible via and Netflix's ad-supported tier for subscribers. For purchase or rental, the film remains available on digital storefronts such as , Apple TV, and Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), typically priced at $14.99 for outright ownership or $3.99–$5.99 for 48-hour rentals.

Marketing

Promotional Campaigns

The promotional campaign for The 355 began with early behind-the-scenes teasers shared by star and producer on in July 2019, offering fans a first glimpse of the ensemble cast—including Chastain, , , , and —alongside director during production in . This informal rollout emphasized the film's all-female spy team dynamic and generated initial buzz ahead of formal marketing efforts. A key event in the campaign was the virtual panel at in October 2020, featuring Chastain, Nyong'o, , and Bingbing, where the cast discussed the project's focus on female-led and shared , as no trailer had been released at that point. This appearance served as an early engagement tactic amid pandemic-related delays, highlighting the film's international scope and collaborative spirit. Universal Pictures launched the first official trailer on October 6, 2020, showcasing high-stakes action sequences across global locations and underscoring the theme of women spies uniting against a common threat. A second trailer followed on October 7, 2021, building anticipation for the January 2022 theatrical release with intensified glimpses of fight choreography and the ensemble's chemistry. Accompanying these were TV spots aired starting in October 2020, promoting the film's premise of a rogue CIA agent teaming with international operatives to recover a dangerous weapon. In the lead-up to the release, Universal released behind-the-scenes featurettes focusing on stunt work and production, such as a January 5, 2022, video highlighting Chastain's practical fight training to add authenticity to the action scenes. Additional content included clips on the film's official social media channels, such as Instagram and YouTube, featuring cast interviews and location shoots to maintain momentum through visual storytelling of the spies' high-octane missions. These efforts collectively positioned The 355 as a fresh, empowering take on the spy thriller genre, leveraging the star power of its diverse cast.

Premiere Events

The 355 had its world through a wide theatrical release in on January 6, 2022, under the title Agentes 355, followed by its debut the next day on January 7, 2022. Given the timing amid the variant surge of the , the eschewed traditional in-person galas or festival screenings in favor of virtual and limited promotional activities to build anticipation. Promotion centered on a virtual press junket held on January 4, 2022, where key cast members including , , , and fielded questions about the ensemble spy thriller's themes of female empowerment and international collaboration. However, withdrew from the event after testing positive for , highlighting the challenges of mounting publicity during the . The junket emphasized the film's high-stakes action sequences and the cast's rigorous stunt training, with sharing insights into producing the project through her banner. Prior to the release, earlier events helped generate buzz during the film's delayed production timeline. At on October 10, 2020, Chastain, Nyong'o, Kruger, and Bingbing participated in a , where they elaborated on the screenplay's focus on diverse female agents and Chastain explained the title's nod to the historical "," a Revolutionary War-era spy. The session, moderated remotely due to pandemic restrictions, also addressed the film's potential to reshape gender dynamics in the spy genre. In May 2018, during the Film Market, hosted a on the Grey Goose Terrace to pitch the then-in-development project to buyers and media, attended by Chastain and director . The event underscored the film's ensemble appeal, securing a $20 million U.S. distribution deal shortly after.

Reception

Box Office Performance

The 355 had a of $75 million. The film was released theatrically by in the United States on January 7, 2022, following limited international releases starting January 5 in markets like . In its opening weekend, the film earned $4.62 million domestically from 3,145 theaters, marking a modest debut overshadowed by the ongoing variant surge and competition from Spider-Man: No Way Home. This figure represented 31.7% of its eventual domestic gross, with a Friday opening of approximately $4.3 million. Domestically, The 355 concluded its run with a total gross of $14.57 million after eight weeks in theaters, achieving a legs multiplier of 3.15—indicating steady but limited holdover performance amid a challenging post-holiday environment. The film's average run length was 4.5 weeks across theaters. Internationally, the film generated $13.26 million across various markets, with key contributors including ($1.42 million, released February 4, 2022), ($1.69 million), the ($1.24 million), and ($0.95 million). Other notable territories were ($0.71 million) and ($0.68 million, released January 13, 2022). , , and accounted for the majority of overseas earnings. The film's worldwide gross totaled $27.83 million, falling short of recouping its budget and positioning it as a commercial disappointment for .

Critical Response

Upon its release, The 355 received predominantly negative reviews from critics, who praised the film's but lambasted its formulaic storytelling and lack of originality. On , the film holds a 24% approval rating based on 229 reviews, with the consensus stating that it "squanders stellar cast... on a forgettable story, unremarkably told." Similarly, assigns it a score of 40 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reviews from 40 critics, with common complaints centering on weak execution despite the strong female-led premise. Critics frequently highlighted how the movie wasted its talented performers—, , , , and —in a generic thriller that borrowed heavily from established spy franchises without innovation. Roger Ebert's review described it as a film that "amasses some of the most talented and electrifying actresses in the world, then squanders them in a generic and forgettable action flick," awarding it 1 out of 4 stars. called it "slick but banal," noting that the globe-trotting plot felt rote and failed to capitalize on the actors' chemistry. echoed this, labeling the caper "frustratingly rote" and as "forgettable as its title," despite the impressive lineup. A few reviewers found modest merits in the film's energetic action sequences and its emphasis on female collaboration in a male-dominated genre, though these were overshadowed by pacing issues and underdeveloped characters. Variety described it as a "generic but energized out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire thriller that mostly holds your attention," appreciating the vigor but critiquing the lack of depth. Vulture noted its exploration of women being underappreciated in roles involving state-sanctioned violence, but ultimately viewed it as a superficial take on empowerment tropes. Overall, the critical consensus positioned The 355 as a missed opportunity for a fresh female spy ensemble, settling instead for derivative thrills.

Audience Reception

Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave The 355 an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale. Comscore/Screen Engine PostTrak reported that 76% of viewers gave the film a positive score, with 52% recommending it. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 86% audience approval rating based on over 1,000 verified ratings, indicating broad appeal among general viewers who praised its high-energy action and all-star female ensemble. Common positive sentiments include the film's entertaining pace, stylish fight scenes, and strong performances from leads like Jessica Chastain and Lupita Nyong'o, with one verified reviewer noting it as a "stylish, good action [film with a] great cast" suitable for a fun night out. However, some audience members found the story predictable and lacking emotional depth, describing it as "not very deep but very entertaining." In contrast, user scores on other platforms reflect more divided opinions. users rate the film at 5.6 out of 10 from over 42,000 votes, with feedback highlighting its solid action but criticizing the formulaic plot and uneven direction. aggregates a lower user score of 3.7 out of 10 from 37 reviews, where negative comments dominate, calling it a "generic action movie" with "forgettable characters" and a plot that "nothing makes sense," though a minority appreciated the "phenomenal female cast" and "nice action parts." Overall, audience reception emphasizes The 355's strengths as a lighthearted spy thriller driven by its cast chemistry, despite criticisms of its superficial narrative. The film experienced a resurgence in popularity on streaming platforms in 2025, reaching the top 10 on in the United States in August.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8356942/
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_355
  3. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/355-The-%282021%29
  4. https://www.primetimer.com/news/simon-kinberg-s-box-office-flop-the-355-finds-a-new-life-as-a-netflix-top-10-hit
  5. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8356942/fullcredits/
  6. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-355
  7. https://discussingfilm.net/2022/01/19/simon-kinberg-on-returning-to-his-original-roots-with-the-355-exclusive-interview/
  8. https://www.flixist.com/review-the-355/
  9. https://www.unionvfx.com/work/the-355/
  10. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt8356942/
  11. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-355-movie-review-2022
  12. https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/the-355-review-jessica-chastain-penelope-cruz-sebastian-stan-diane-kruger-1235147843/
  13. https://screenrant.com/355-movie-cast-character-guide/
  14. https://www.newsweek.com/jessica-chastain-shook-spy-genre-355-director-simon-kinberg-interview-1665406
  15. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/355-movie-screenwriter-theresa-rebeck-spy-genre-gender-1235073576/
  16. https://deadline.com/2018/05/female-spy-film-355-jessica-chastain-marion-cotillard-penelope-cruz-fan-bingbing-lupita-nyongo-simon-kinberg-cannes-market-1202380078/
  17. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/china-fan-bingbing-return-jessica-chastain-355-1203185605/
  18. https://theplaylist.net/355-marion-cotillard-stan-ramirez-20190514/
  19. https://www.movieinsider.com/m16398/355
  20. https://thecinemaholic.com/where-was-the-355-filmed/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8356942/locations/
  22. https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/filmed-in-kent/2022/01/the-355-2022/
  23. https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jessica-chastain-spy-thriller-355-sells-to-universal-1202808145/
  24. https://deadline.com/2018/05/universal-pictures-355-cannes-jessica-chastain-marion-cotillard-penelope-cruz-fan-bingbing-lupita-nyongo-simon-kinberg-1202388471/
  25. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/355-movie-release-date-jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo-1234838214/
  26. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-355-delays-theatrical-release-a-year-to-january-2022-4096348/
  27. https://deadline.com/2021/05/the-355-simon-kinberg-femme-action-ensemble-heads-to-mlk-weekend-2022-1234620498/
  28. https://collider.com/the-355-trailer-cast-release-date-jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8356942/releaseinfo/
  30. https://www.universalpictures.co.uk/micro/the355
  31. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/522016-the-355?language=en-US
  32. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-355-Blu-ray/308849/
  33. https://www.bestbuy.com/product/the-355-with-dvd-blu-ray/JJ8LTCQRV3
  34. https://www.uphe.com/press-release/the-355-press-release
  35. https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/dvd/the-355-%281%29
  36. https://decider.com/2022/01/06/where-to-watch-the-355-streaming-hbo-max/
  37. https://www.netflix.com/title/80999724
  38. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-355
  39. https://www.amazon.com/355-Jessica-Chastain/dp/B09K9PHGRB
  40. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/355-behind-the-scenes-look-jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo-1203261122/
  41. https://collider.com/jessica-chastain-355-teaser-video/
  42. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-355-nycc-panel
  43. https://ew.com/events/comic-con/ew-nycc-2020-virtual-panels-walking-dead-black-horror-the-355/
  44. https://variety.com/2020/film/news/the-355-first-trailer-jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo-1234793155/
  45. https://deadline.com/video/the-355-trailer-jessica-chastain-universal-pictures-video/
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0s2S9reT0
  47. https://www.ispot.tv/ad/tkes/the-355-movie-trailer
  48. https://www.motionpictures.org/2022/01/this-the-355-stunt-video-packs-a-mean-punch/
  49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrBa4NkQf_M
  50. https://variety.com/2022/film/news/lupita-nyongo-tests-positive-for-covid-19-drops-out-of-the-355-virtual-press-day-1235146594/
  51. https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-355-jessica-chastain-lupita-nyongo-new-york-comic-con-1234595228/
  52. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/scene-at-cannes-all-looks-red-carpet-1110448/
  53. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-universal-lands-jessica-chastain-led-female-fronted-spy-film-355-1111314/
  54. https://collider.com/the-355-box-office-opening-friday-no-way-home/
  55. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-355/
  56. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/movies/the-355-review.html
  57. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jan/06/the-355-jessica-chastain-penelope-cruz-action-thriller
  58. https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-jessica-chastains-the-355.html
  59. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-355-box-office-struggles-omicron-1235071821/
  60. https://deadline.com/2022/01/weekend-box-office-spider-man-no-way-home-the-355-1234906089/
  61. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_355/reviews?type=user
  62. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-355/user-reviews
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