Why Matt Lied To Emily About The ICS Key In Back In Action

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Back in Action.Matt (Jamie Foxx) lies to Emily (Cameron Diaz) about the ICS Key for an important reason in Back in Action. The ICS key is the movie’s Macguffin, which has the ability to manipulate any electronic system. Matt and Emily’s CIA jobs require them to locate the ICS Key before it is seemingly lost during a plane crash. The fate of Back in Action‘s ICS Key remains unresolved for fifteen years, during which Matt and Emily get married, have two children, and build a life that has nothing to do with espionage.

The new lives Matt and Emily have built for themselves are upended when a video of them at a nightclub is seen by their allies and enemies. While being pursued, Matt reveals to Emily that the ICS Key was not lost in the plane crash fifteen years earlier and that he took it because he did not want it falling into the wrong hands. Matt hid the ICS Key in a surprising location, leading all of Back in Action‘s characters to race toward this location to acquire the Key.

Matt Knew That Emily Would Oppose The Dangers Of Keeping The ICS Key

He Hid It For Long-Term Reasons

Even though Matt loves and trusts Emily, he did not confide in her about keeping the ICS Key because he knew she would be worried about the danger of taking this action. Matt wanted to keep the ICS Key as an insurance policy that he and Emily could rely on if their covers were blown. He wanted to believe that the past would not come back to haunt him, Emily, or their children, but he needed to take steps to protect their family if this plan did not work out.

While Matt’s thinking makes sense, at the same time, keeping the ICS Key left him and Emily still tethered to the lives that they left behind. The danger they face in Back in Action proves that Emily’s concerns about the dangers of keeping the ICS Key were warranted. Fortunately, Matt concealing this information does not destroy his relationship with Emily, and they are able to retrieve the ICS Key and help save the day during Back in Action‘s ending.

Why Matt Kept The ICS Key At Emily’s Mother’s House

It Was Well-Guarded


Ginny (Glenn Close) holding a glᴀss in Back in Action

Image via Netflix

Matt hid the ICS Key at the home of Emily’s mother, Ginny (Glenn Close), in England. He explains that he hid the ICS Key at Ginny’s home because it is always heavily protected. Ginny was an unparalleled MI6 sniper and now runs her own military firm. As seen when Matt, Emily, and their children travel to England to retrieve the ICS Key, Ginny’s estate is guarded by state-of-the-art security, making it an ideal location to hide the Key.

Given how easily Chuck (Kyle Chandler) and his mercenaries break through the security, Emily’s mother’s home is not as impenetrable as Matt believed it to be.

Given how easily Chuck (Kyle Chandler) and his mercenaries break through the security, Emily’s mother’s home is not as impenetrable as Matt believed it to be. The hiding place still works out, though, as it brings Ginny and her boyfriend, Nigel (Jamie Demetriou), into the fight, and both prove to be invaluable in stopping Chuck and preventing the ICS Key from unleashing global catastrophe. Hiding the ICS Key there in Back in Action also allows Ginny to meet her grandchildren and for her and Emily to work through their longstanding issues with each other.

Related Posts

Superman’s Box Office Pᴀsses All Other 2025 Superhero Movies

Superman’s Box Office Pᴀsses All Other 2025 Superhero Movies

As of its third weekend in theaters, James Gunn’s Superman is the highest-grossing superhero film of 2025. Intended to launch the new DC Universe, it stars David…

Every 60s Animated TV Show Reference In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Every 60s Animated TV Show Reference In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps pays rich homage to the team’s animated past, particularly the 1967 The Fantastic Four cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera. First Steps makes a…

Fantastic Four: First Steps Has A Moment As Good As Avengers: Endgame’s Final Scene

Fantastic Four: First Steps Has A Moment As Good As Avengers: Endgame’s Final Scene

Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The Fantastic Four: First Steps opened with a scene on par with the beautiful ending…

After Decades Of Controversy, Marvel & DC Have Fixed The Biggest Superhero Movie Problem

After Decades Of Controversy, Marvel & DC Have Fixed The Biggest Superhero Movie Problem

Both the DC Universe and the MCU have just dealt with the same superhero movie problem that has caused controversies and generated complaints for decades of the…

7 Martial Arts Movie Franchises You Probably Haven’t Seen

7 Martial Arts Movie Franchises You Probably Haven’t Seen

Martial arts movies feature some of the most memorable moments in cinema history, yet there are many great franchises the average viewer has never even heard of,…

Keira Knightly Sleeper Hit Is Getting A Sequel 23 Years Later – But The .3B Grossing Actor Hasn’t Signed On

Keira Knightly Sleeper Hit Is Getting A Sequel 23 Years Later – But The $6.3B Grossing Actor Hasn’t Signed On

A sequel is officially in the works for Bend It Like Beckham, the British cult sports hit starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley. The original movie, which…