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The Messenger poster

The Messenger (2009)

“The Scars of War Will Last Forever.”

6.7/10 · 502 votes 1h 53m r RomanceDramaWar

#111 of 242 films from 2009 #763 of 1371 in romance

Directed by Oren Moverman · Written by Oren Moverman, Alessandro Camon

▶ Trailer, images & where to stream

Overview

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia Pitterson, to whom he has delivered news of her husband’s death.

Cast

Ben Fosteras Will Montgomery
Woody Harrelsonas Tony Stone
Jena Maloneas Kelly
Eamonn Walkeras Stuart Dorsett
Samantha Mortonas Olivia Pitterson
Steve Buscemias Dale Martin
Dale Soulesas Cashier
Stevie Ray Dallimoreas Kelly's Father
Michael Chernusas Alan
Yaya DaCostaas Monica Washington
Marceline Hugotas Mrs. Flanigan
Lindsay Michelle Naderas Claire
Gaius Charlesas Recruiter Brown
Brendan Sexton IIIas Recruiter Olson

Facts

Release dateNovember 13, 2009
Runtime113 min (1h 53m) — about the same as the 2009 average of 105 min
GenresRomance, Drama, War
LanguageEN
Budget$6,500,000
Box office$1,595,417 (0.2× budget)
IMDbtt0790712

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Questions

How long is The Messenger?
The Messenger runs 113 minutes (1h 53m).
Is The Messenger worth watching?
TMDB users give it 6.7/10 across 502 votes, which places it #111 of 242 films released in 2009 in this index (top 55%) and #763 among 1371 romance titles.
Who directed The Messenger?
The Messenger was directed by Oren Moverman.
Who stars in The Messenger?
Ben Foster as Will Montgomery; Woody Harrelson as Tony Stone; Jena Malone as Kelly; Eamonn Walker as Stuart Dorsett; Samantha Morton as Olivia Pitterson; Steve Buscemi as Dale Martin.
What is The Messenger rated?
It carries a r certification in its home market. Ratings differ by country.
Where can I watch the trailer for The Messenger?
Open the title in the MTDb app for trailers, images and streaming links: https://mv.peoplentools.com/titles/21097.

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Film data and images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Ratings are TMDB user scores as of 2026-10-05.