Is Duplicity Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, Duplicity is likely a skip if you enjoy Romance movies.
It features a runtime of 125 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
Duplicity Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2009, Duplicity emerges as a significant entry in the Romance, Comedy, Crime domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Two romantically involved corporate spies team up to manipulate a race to corner the market on a medical innovation that will reap huge profits and allow them to lead an extravagant lifestyle together. Unlike standard genre fare, Duplicity attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Romance is often anchored by its ensemble, and Duplicity features a noteworthy lineup led by Julia Roberts . Supported by the likes of Clive Owen and Tom Wilkinson , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Duplicity (2009) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.9/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Duplicity Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: Duplicity is a Romance, Comedy, Crime film that explores the complexities of love and relationships with emotional depth and authenticity. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. Two romantically involved corporate spies team up to manipulate a race to corner the market on a medical innovation that will reap huge profits and allow them to lead an extravagant lifestyle together. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Duplicity Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: Duplicity attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to romance resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the romance themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Duplicity reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Duplicity Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Duplicity incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a romance, comedy, crime film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Duplicity adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Duplicity?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Romance films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Duplicity Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $60.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $78.2M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
Duplicity Budget
The estimated production budget for Duplicity is $60.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of Duplicity
- Julia Roberts – Claire Stenwick
- Clive Owen – Ray Koval
- Tom Wilkinson – Howard Tully
- Paul Giamatti – Richard Garsik
- Tom McCarthy – Jeff Bauer
Top Highlights
Julia RobertsClaire Stenwick
Clive OwenRay Koval
Tom WilkinsonHoward Tully
Paul GiamattiRichard Garsik
Tom McCarthyJeff Bauer
Denis O'HareDuke Monahan
Kathleen ChalfantPam Frailes
Wayne DuvallNed Guston
Carrie PrestonBarbara Bofferd
Oleg StefanBoris Fetyov
Where to Watch Duplicity Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
JioHotstar🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
Duplicity is rated PG-13. Parents should be aware that it contains mature themes, violence, romantic content. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.9/10, and global collection metrics, Duplicity stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2009 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duplicity movie hit or flop?
Duplicity has received mixed reviews with a 5.9/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is Duplicity worth watching?
Duplicity is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Romance, Comedy, Crime movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch Duplicity online?
Duplicity is currently available for streaming on JioHotstar. You can also check for it on platforms like JioHotstar depending on your region.
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Critic Reviews for Duplicity
Kind of a dumb movie. They were trying to commit espionage but failed. Even if it worked it was still a boring movie with no results.
This is a bit of a mess. It centres around the antics of former CIA operative "Claire" (Julia Roberts) and her ex-MI6 equivalent "Ray" (Clive Owen) who had a very brief dalliance five years earlier that saw him with an hangover and some egg on his face. Now, employed in the private sector, he encounters her at Grand Central station in New York whilst he is on a job only to discover that she is still in the same line of work too - and it's industrial secrets being bartered this time. They both know that a ground-breaking announcement is due imminently, so conclude that maybe the best plan is for them to do some of thieving for themselves and pocket a cool $35 million. The thing is that even though their romance is burgeoning, they still don't quite trust each other - and neither do we. Nor, I have to say, did I really care. Roberts tries quite hard here but Owen only ever really had eye-candy value and here is little different. Tom Wilkinson sports an unnecessary American accent as the owner of the magic formula and Paul Giamatti appears sparingly as the man determined to pinch it, but once we get the gist of the premiss the thing just recycles itself and for the next two hours we sort of keep going round the same block. The story is quite weakly written with some fairly formulaic attempts at comedy and a denouement that is hardly a surprise if you're still remotely paying attention. Perhaps it might have worked better with a stronger leading man but...
movieMx Verified
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
