X
- 1995
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 46 m
- 1995
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 46 m
Summary Five career criminals in New York are rounded up for a standard police line-up. After release, they get together for a bit of revenge by pulling off a $3 million emerald heist. This scheme brings them to the attention of an underworld crime figure who convinces them to do a highly dangerous job.
Directed By: Bryan Singer
Written By: Christopher McQuarrie
- 1995
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 46 m
- 1995
- R
- Gramercy Pictures (I)
- 1 h 46 m
The Usual Suspects
76
8.4
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Summary Five career criminals in New York are rounded up for a standard police line-up. After release, they get together for a bit of revenge by pulling off a $3 million emerald heist. This scheme brings them to the attention of an underworld crime figure who convinces them to do a highly dangerous job.
Directed By: Bryan Singer
Written By: Christopher McQuarrie
Where to Watch
Coming Soon
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 22 Critic Reviews
76
82% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
14% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 22 Critic Reviews
76
82% Positive
18 Reviews
18 Reviews
14% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
5% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
A near-classic blend of mystery, personality, humor and terror, laced with one stunning shock after another. [18 August 1995, Friday, p.C]
A movie with style to burn, and, initially, that is this crime drama's most mesmerizing aspect.
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 564 User Ratings
8.4
90% Positive
510 Ratings
510 Ratings
7% Mixed
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
2% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 564 User Ratings
8.4
90% Positive
510 Ratings
510 Ratings
7% Mixed
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
2% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
Oct 20, 2024
"The Usual Suspects" is an ironic, bang-up thriller about the wages of crime. A terrific cast of exciting actors socks over this absorbingly complicated yarn that's been spun in a seductively slick fashion by director Bryan Singer and writer Christopher McQuarrie future master of Mission: Impossible series. 30 years later it's still a near-classic blend of mystery, personality, humor and terror, laced with one stunning shock after another that still amazes you every time you watch.
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Mar 10, 2022
As an avid cinephile, who watches a lot of films to help me to be distracted from the pressures of everyday life, old and new and of all genres (have never had a bias against any genre and never love older films and dismiss new films, or vice versa), 'The Usual Suspects' was one of the finest films personally seen in a while. Other films to have that effect on me (and garnered 10/10 ratings, a rare rating for me these days) are 'LA Confidential', 'Amores Perros', Orson Welles' version of 'The Trial', 'City of God' and 'The Song of Bernadette', though some films came close as well as re-watches of favourites like 'Se7en', 'Much Ado About Nothing' (1993) and 'The Remains of the Day'. Simply put, 'The Usual Suspects' is a magnificent film all round that deserves to be re-watched over and over again, one of the few films seen recently to not find any fault with it. Fully deserving of its reputation as one of the best modern, and perhaps overall, films ever made. Not everybody is going to disagree and that is fine. 'The Usual Suspects' is slickly and audaciously made, filmed with a lot of style and is atmospherically directed. It is also hauntingly scored. It is intricately and intelligently written by Christopher McQuarrie, some of the best screen-writing he ever did. It is beautifully and deftly directed by Bryan Singer. If remembered correctly, neither McQuarrie or Singer were well known at the time and it was 'The Usual Suspects' that put them on the map. Film is famous for the iconic line-up scene, the noticeboard that haunts everybody forever and its killer twist, one for the ages and not one to forget in the long one. Twists have wildly varied in film, there are some ingenious ones but also some naff ones, 'The Usual Suspects' is one of the ingenious ones. 'The Usual Suspects' as said before doesn't just have its twist going for it. The flashback-packed story is similarly intricate and never feels muddled or convoluted. It has some of the finest ensemble acting there has ever been. This is especially true for a mesmerising Kevin Spacey in one of the most deserved Oscar Wins that year. Spacey is just one of the all round brilliant performances. Pete Postelthwaite, an always dependable actor who is still very much missed, is suitably mysterious, and Dan Hedaya and Chazz Palminteri make their mark as the confused cops. Steven Baldwin doesn't have a particularly challenging role but has never been better, Gabriel Byrne is also solid. Overall, magnificent film in every sense. Recommended with no hesitation. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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The Usual Suspects is a maze that moviegoers will be happy to get lost in, a criminal roller coaster with twists so unsettling no choice exists but to hold on and go along for the ride.
Dense with plot intricacies, thick with atmosphere, and packed with showy roles for a hip ensemble.
Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie's tough-guy dialogue and Bryan Singer's crisp direction give the ensemble cast every opportunity to shine, and they do.
To the degree that you will want to see this movie, it will be because of the surprise, and so I will say no more, except to say that the "solution," when it comes, solves little - unless there is really little to solve, which is also a possibility.
Nov 12, 2024
This has a fantastic ending. The build-up is interesting and exciting. Once you know the ending though it kinda ruins the whole film so I don’t see me watching this again. I am not a huge fan of gangster films but this one is better than most of the others and is actually enjoyable. Some might even call it a cinematic masterpiece but due to the lack of rewatchability I personally would not call it that.
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Feb 22, 2021
It’s a good movie, the most dated movie I’ve seen, ever. The entire twist is absolutely absurd. The whole premise of the movie is STUPID to be frank, but it is entertaining
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Production Company
- Polygram Filmed Entertainment
- Spelling Films International
- Blue Parrot
- Bad Hat Harry Productions
- Rosco Film GmbH
Release Date Aug 16, 1995
Duration 1 h 46 m
Rating R
Tagline The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Awards Circuit Community Awards
• 2 Wins & 5 Nominations
