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The Negotiator

Play trailer Poster for The Negotiator R 1998 2h 18m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 57 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.
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The Negotiator

The Negotiator

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Critics Consensus

The Negotiator's battle of wits doesn't wholly justify its excessive length, but confident direction by F. Gary Gray and formidable performances makes this a situation audiences won't mind being hostage to.

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Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety Teaming for the first time Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, arguably the two best actors of their generation, in perfectly fitting roles is a shrewd move and the best element of this fact-inspired but overwrought thriller Rated: B- Sep 11, 2006 Full Review Time Out A hybrid action-drama featuring the choreographed pyrotechnics of director Gray and a battle of words between contrasting hostage negotiators Jackson and Spacey. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times ike Mr. Jackson, Mr. Spacey cuts an impressively cryptic figure even when dealing in platitudes, and the two stars do get to make the sort of declarations that rarely crop up in everyday life. Rated: 3/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal When, in a weary moment, Danny says “you can’t beat the system,” Samuel L. Jackson underlines the underpinnings that still distinguish "The Negotiator" and that there could have been no more perfect project for Jackson’s leap into leading-man status. Rated: 3.5/5 Dec 13, 2023 Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) A big, dumb, lumbering cop thriller that works through a very familiar, very basic formula, very, very slowly indeed. Rated: 2/5 Jul 28, 2020 Full Review Kevin Carr 7M Pictures It's not perfect, but it's enjoyable enough to be one of those movies I might stop channel surfing to watch on late-night television. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 27, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/18/25 Full Review Alejandro E La historia de un tenso escenario de rehenes, por parte de un policía difamado, tiene sus buenos momentos en el que mantiene en vilo al espectador. No está entre las mejores actuaciones de Samuel L. Jackson pero se desempeña bien. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Sharang L Must have been a slick thriller back in the day. Hasn't aged particularly well, I am afraid. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/11/25 Full Review M B Exciting with an intelligent storyline and dialogue. Well directed, brilliantly cast and acted! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/06/25 Full Review Todd B I liked the character Nebaum that was emphasized by Sam Jackson. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review Martin W Great conspiracy movie. Probably too cerebral for modern audiences! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/01/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Negotiator

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Movie Info

Synopsis Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.
Director
F. Gary Gray
Producer
Arnon Milchan, David Hoberman
Screenwriter
James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox
Distributor
Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 29, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.7M
Runtime
2h 18m
Sound Mix
SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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