The Last Thing He Wanted
Performance & Direction: The Last Thing He Wanted Review
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 4.9/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Last Thing He Wanted features a noteworthy lineup led by Anne Hathaway . Supported by the likes of Ben Affleck and Rosie Perez , 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?
Story & Plot Summary: The Last Thing He Wanted
Quick Plot Summary: The Last Thing He Wanted is a Drama, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. At the turning point of the Iran-Contra affair, Elena McMahon, a fearless investigative journalist covering the 1984 US presidential campaign, puts herself in danger when she abandons her assigned task in order to fulfill the last wish of her ailing father, a mysterious man whose past activities she barely knows. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: We meet the main character in their ordinary world, establishing the emotional baseline before the inciting incident disrupts their life.
- Character Arc: Character development is present but somewhat formulaic, following familiar patterns without adding fresh perspectives to the genre.
- Climax & Resolution: The emotional climax brings character arcs to their natural conclusion, providing catharsis while staying true to the story's core themes.
Ending Explained: The Last Thing He Wanted
Ending Breakdown: The Last Thing He Wanted attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, 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 drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Last Thing He Wanted reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Last Thing He Wanted?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: The Last Thing He Wanted
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Last Thing He Wanted Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixThe Last Thing He Wanted Parents Guide & Age Rating
2020 AdvisoryWondering about The Last Thing He Wanted age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Last Thing He Wanted is 116 minutes (1h 56m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 4.9/10, and global performance metrics, The Last Thing He Wanted is classified as a AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 2020 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Last Thing He Wanted worth watching?
The Last Thing He Wanted is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 4.9/10 and stands as a AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Last Thing He Wanted parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Last Thing He Wanted identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Last Thing He Wanted?
The total duration of The Last Thing He Wanted is 116 minutes, which is approximately 1h 56m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Last Thing He Wanted
This has to be the worst example yet of the Netflix gazillions buying a cast that looks great on paper, but that delivers badly on screen. It isn't necessarily their fault - the writing is as incoherent as it is facile and the direction is all over the shop. There are simultaneous threads to the story (journalist Anne Hathaway "Elena" ends up in Central America getting drawn into a story of US government/agency duplicity and espionage that she was meant to be there to report on, basically) that simply don't tie up - we have no context into which we can immerse ourselves! Ben Affleck can't need the cash this badly and though Toby Jones did make me smile; I'm not sure he was meant to. It's a decent enough book, so what happened with this poor adaptation to screenplay is anyone's guess, but please can we have more emphasis on the quality of the story and dialogue to make the A-list cast worth their money next time?
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
