Fallen

R

Released Jan 16, 1998

2 hr. 4 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

40%

57 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After witnessing the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), whom he arrested, police detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), and his partner, Jonesy (John Goodman), are soon investigating another murderer whose mode of operation is eerily similar to Reese's. In the course of the investigation, Hobbes meets theology professor Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), who introduces him to the world of the occult and the possibility that an evil spirit is behind the killings.

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Critics Consensus

Has an interesting premise. Unfortunately, it's just a recycling of old materials, and not all that thrilling.

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Dan R

One of my favourite films of all time is 1998's 'Fallen'. SYNOPSIS: 'Homicide detective John Hobbes witnesses the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese. Soon after the execution, the killings start again, and they are very similar to Reese's style.' 'Fallen' never got the acclaim it deserved on its release, especially considering the quality within the acting cast. In recent years though it has taken on a life of its own as a brilliant supernatural thriller. And that's well deserved. This is a gloomy and dark city, very much akin to the world of 'Seven', and you could imagine both films existing in a shared universe. It's erratic in places, and Washington really hams it up in places, but ultimately it's a very stylish and dark thriller. One which could easily provoke nightmares. A creepy psychological classic with an excellent twist. And that Rolling Stones song will be stuck in your head for days. 8/10

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/03/24

Full Review

Paul K

Disappointing, could have been so much more.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Tom S

Good movie with good twists top tier movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Chief B

I don't know why rotten tomatoes keep giving serious bad horror movies scores up to 94 certified fresh but this underrated, criminally underrated movie a 40. I don't trust these ratings anymore I missed too much good movies because of that happily I like this one from the start when ratings on internet didn't or barely existed.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/23

Full Review

Charles S

None of the stars in this can elevate it when the plot is thinner and cheesier than a goosebumps book. Goodman's character got the closest to ringing true, but I'd only recommend this to his super fans.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

Rob A

I liked it! A brave cop (Denzel) pursues an immortal, homocidal demon who can switch bodies simply by touch. The demon keeps chirping "tiiiiiime is on my side - yes it is!" at Washington, driving him nuts. This hidden gem also features the late James Gandolfini, John Goodman and Donald Sutherland.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/21/23

Full Review

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Gregory Hoblit

Director

Denzel Washington

John Hobbes

John Goodman

Jonesy

Donald Sutherland

Lieutenant Stanton

Embeth Davidtz

Gretta Milano

James Gandolfini

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

Variety

Denzel Washington has the almost impossible task of holding together a convoluted picture that's only intermittently suspenseful and not very engaging emotionally or intellectually.

Jan 11, 2008

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

The first half of this movie holds some promise, but time is not on its side.

Jan 11, 2008

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Fallen is more of a cult film, one that seems to gain more fans each year, all falling under its wild narrative’s spell and unable to listen to a certain Rolling Stones song in quite the same way again.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 18, 2022

Full Review

Yael Shuv

Total Film

This overlong, rigidly boring affair suffers from a whole list of ailments.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 1, 2018

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an erratic yet rewarding thriller...

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 11, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

After witnessing the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), whom he arrested, police detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), and his partner, Jonesy (John Goodman), are soon investigating another murderer whose mode of operation is eerily similar to Reese's. In the course of the investigation, Hobbes meets theology professor Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), who introduces him to the world of the occult and the possibility that an evil spirit is behind the killings.

Director: Gregory Hoblit
Executive Producer: Robert Cavallo, Nicholas Kazan, Ted Kurdyla, Elon Dershowitz
Screenwriter: Nicholas Kazan
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Turner Pictures, Atlas Entertainment
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 16, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $25.2M
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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