Arrival currently beats Sicario 57–43
The linguist comes out ahead of the agent.
The Verdict Director's Cut
The quieter performance wins this one on what it leaves behind. Blunt's work in Sicario is remarkable, but it's a study in powerlessness — she's carried through the story more than she drives it, which is the film's grim point. Adams is kept just as far from the truth, yet Arrival lets the person nobody briefed become the one who cracks it. It tips toward the film where the woman in the dark ends up holding the key. Blunt's dread is the more gripping thing in the moment, but Adams is the one who walks out having changed the outcome.
The Numbers
| Sicario | Arrival | |
|---|---|---|
| Head-to-Head | 43% | 57% |
| Overall Win Rate | 38% | 59% |
| Championships | 56 | 153 |
| Avg Decision | 3.8s | 3.2s |
| Budget | $30M | $47M |
| Box Office | $85M | $203M |
Where This Matchup Sits
In the 2010s on BingeBracket: Sicario is in the lower half and Arrival is in the top quarter, out of 53 films.
Among Denis Villeneuve's 8 films on BingeBracket, Arrival sits at #3 and Sicario at #5.
Looking at shared opponents, Enemy draws a line between them: Sicario dominates that matchup, but Arrival comes out on the wrong side.
Arrival grossed $203M to Sicario's $85M. On BingeBracket, the result runs the same direction — commercial success and bracket preference align here.
The decision time splits by film: 2.9s to vote for Sicario, 8.0s to vote for Arrival. People don't reach for both films the same way.
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Where to Watch
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