Based on true events, this film chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis--the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. It's a plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies. He and his team, some of whom are actual Hollywood crew, go into Iran under the pretense of shooting a new science fiction action movie titled "Argo." They hope to slip the hostages out as part of the film crew. Affleck also directed the film and maintains the edge-of-your-seat tension and humor throughout the story as the team tries to bluff and trick their way to safety and freedom.