# Knight and Day

> 2010 film by James Mangold

**Wikidata**: [Q679918](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q679918)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_and_Day)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/knight-and-day

## Summary
Knight and Day is a 2010 American action-comedy film directed by James Mangold and starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. The film follows a secret agent who drags a woman into a series of international adventures after they meet on a flight.

## Key Facts
- Release date: July 22, 2010 (United States)
- Director: James Mangold
- Writers: Patrick O'Neill
- Main cast: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis
- Production companies: 20th Century Fox, Regency Enterprises, Tree Line Films
- Budget: $117 million
- Box office: $261.9 million worldwide
- Runtime: 109 minutes
- Country of origin: United States
- Genre: Action, adventure, comedy
- IMDb ID: tt1013743
- Rotten Tomatoes: 52% critics, 46/100 Metacritic
- IMDb rating: 5.6/10
- Language: English
- Color: Color
- Sound mix: Dolby Digital

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Knight and Day?**
The film follows June Havens (Cameron Diaz), who meets charming secret agent Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) on a flight. When the plane is attacked, she becomes entangled in his mission to protect a powerful battery while evading government agents and arms dealers across multiple countries.

**Who are the main actors in Knight and Day?**
The film stars Tom Cruise as Roy Miller, a rogue secret agent, and Cameron Diaz as June Havens, a classic car restorer who becomes his reluctant partner. The supporting cast includes Peter Sarsgaard as the antagonist Fitzgerald and Viola Davis as CIA Director Isabel George.

**What genre is Knight and Day?**
Knight and Day is primarily an action-comedy film that blends elements of adventure, romance, and spy thriller genres. It combines high-octane action sequences with comedic elements and romantic tension between the leads.

**How was Knight and Day received by critics and audiences?**
The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 52% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 46/100. However, it performed moderately well at the box office, grossing $261.9 million worldwide against a $117 million budget.

**Where was Knight and Day filmed?**
Filming took place in multiple locations including Massachusetts, California, Spain, and Jamaica. The production utilized various international settings to create the globetrotting adventure feel of the story.

## Why It Matters
Knight and Day represents a significant entry in the action-comedy genre, showcasing the star power of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in a high-budget, globe-trotting adventure. The film demonstrates the continuing appeal of star-driven action vehicles in Hollywood, even as the industry was shifting toward franchise-based blockbusters. Its production involved multiple international locations, highlighting the increasingly global nature of major film productions. The movie also exemplifies the action-comedy hybrid that became popular in the 2000s and early 2010s, combining spectacular stunts with romantic comedy elements. Despite mixed critical reception, its commercial performance validated the market for mid-budget action films starring established actors.

## Notable For
- Starring Tom Cruise in a rare comedic action role
- Featuring Cameron Diaz in a leading action heroine role
- Combining multiple genres (action, comedy, romance, adventure)
- Filming in multiple international locations
- Being one of the last major star-driven action films before the franchise era
- Featuring elaborate practical stunts performed by the lead actors
- Representing a collaboration between 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises
- Achieving moderate box office success despite mixed reviews

## Body

### Production and Development
Knight and Day was developed by 20th Century Fox as a star vehicle for Tom Cruise, who had recently experienced career challenges. The project was initially titled "Wichita" and later "Trouble Man" before settling on "Knight and Day." Patrick O'Neill wrote the original screenplay, which was designed to showcase Cruise's action abilities while allowing him to display comedic timing. James Mangold, known for character-driven dramas, was brought on to direct, marking a departure from his usual style. The film was produced by Tree Line Films, James Mangold's production company, in association with Regency Enterprises, Arnon Milchan's production company.

### Cast and Characters
The film features Tom Cruise as Roy Miller, a secret agent who may be rogue or simply misunderstood. Cameron Diaz plays June Havens, a classic car restorer who becomes entangled in Miller's adventures. Peter Sarsgaard portrays John Fitzgerald, the primary antagonist working for the CIA. Viola Davis plays CIA Director Isabel George, who pursues Miller across the globe. The supporting cast includes Jordi Mollà as Antonio, a Spanish arms dealer, and Paul Dano as Simon Feck, a young inventor who creates the film's MacGuffin, a perpetual energy battery.

### Filming and Locations
Principal photography for Knight and Day took place from September to December 2009. The production utilized multiple international locations to create the film's globetrotting narrative. Filming locations included Worcester, Massachusetts, which stood in for various American settings; Seville, Spain, for the film's Spanish sequences; and Jamaica for tropical scenes. Additional photography occurred in California, including at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The production employed extensive practical effects and stunts, with Cruise performing many of his own action sequences, including motorcycle chases and fight scenes.

### Plot and Themes
The narrative follows June Havens, who meets Roy Miller on a flight to Boston. After Miller dispatches the entire plane's crew and passengers (revealed to be assassins), the plane crashes, and June becomes a target. Miller reveals he's protecting Simon Feck, who has invented a perpetual energy battery called the Zephyr. As they travel from the U.S. to Austria, Spain, and Jamaica, June must determine whether Miller is a hero or a delusional rogue agent. The film explores themes of trust, identity, and the blurred lines between heroism and vigilantism, all wrapped in a romantic comedy framework.

### Critical Reception and Box Office Performance
Upon release, Knight and Day received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 52% approval rating based on 233 reviews, with the consensus stating the film "features two likable stars, but director James Mangold fails to craft a coherent movie out of their appealing performances." Metacritic assigned the film a score of 46 out of 100 based on 37 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." However, the film found more favor with general audiences, earning a B+ CinemaScore. Commercially, the film grossed $76.4 million in the United States and Canada and $185.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $261.9 million against a production budget of $117 million.

### Technical Specifications
The film was shot using Super 35mm film with Panavision cameras and lenses. John Powell composed the musical score, blending action-oriented themes with lighter, romantic elements. The cinematography by Phedon Papamichael employed a vibrant color palette to enhance the film's adventurous tone. The editing by Quincy Z. Gunderson and Cameron O. Seng helped maintain the film's brisk pace, essential for the action-comedy genre. The film's sound design, supervised by Paul N.J. Ottosson, played a crucial role in creating the immersive action sequences.

### Distribution and Marketing
20th Century Fox handled the film's distribution, launching a marketing campaign that emphasized the star power of Cruise and Diaz. The promotional materials highlighted the film's action sequences and the chemistry between the leads. The studio faced the challenge of positioning Cruise following his controversial public behavior in previous years, making the film's performance particularly important for his career trajectory. The marketing campaign included traditional trailers, television spots, and extensive online promotion across social media platforms of the era.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
While not achieving classic status, Knight and Day represents an interesting moment in Hollywood's transition period. It was one of the last major star-driven action films before the industry's full pivot to franchise-based blockbusters. The film demonstrated that established stars could still draw audiences, even if critical reception was mixed. It also showcased Cruise's willingness to embrace more lighthearted material and perform his own stunts, a hallmark of his career. The movie's blend of action and comedy influenced subsequent films in the genre, though few achieved the same level of star power or budget.

### Related Entities and Connections
The film is connected to several major entertainment entities. 20th Century Fox, one of the production companies, was a major Hollywood studio later acquired by The Walt Disney Company. Regency Enterprises, another production company, has produced numerous high-profile films since its founding in 1982. The film's director, James Mangold, has directed other notable films including "Walk the Line" and "Logan." The lead actors, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, were at the peak of their careers during the film's production, with Cruise being one of Hollywood's biggest action stars and Diaz known for both comedic and action roles.

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