The Siege

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2:06

The Siege

R

1998

1h 56m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

61 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

After terrorists attack a bus in Brooklyn, a Broadway theater and FBI headquarters, FBI anti-terrorism expert Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) teams up with CIA agent Elise Kraft (Annette Bening) to investigate. Soon, martial law is declared in New York City, and General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis), a sadistic racist, is put in command. When Devereaux begins rounding up Arab-Americans and forcing them into a detention camp, Hubbard and Kraft must fight back in the name of freedom.

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Critics Consensus

An exciting, well-paced action film.

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Ken Hollings

Sight & Sound

03/05/2002

The Siege attempts to update the bluffs and counterfeints of the Cold War spy thriller, not to advance any ideological point but to obscure the fact that it doesn't have one.

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

05/11/2001

It's difficult to sustain a responsible subtext when you're delivering the jolts required to keep butts in the seats.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

02/14/2001

3/5

Even at its most unbelievable, The Siege has the performances of Washington and Bening to fall back on, and a theme that understands that what's difficult is not choosing right from wrong but 'choosing the wrong that's more right.'

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Zaki Hasan

Zaki's Corner

02/16/2019

B-

Unfortunately, the movie's ignorant portrayals of other cultures while espousing a message of brotherhood comes across as not a little hypocritical.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

05/29/2016

1.5/4

...a solid concept in search of a consistent (and engaging) execution.

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Ryan Cracknell

Calgary Movies

06/21/2007

More political than entertaining, The Siege is a reflection of our heightened awareness and sensitivity to terrorism and the price of freedom.

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Ian R

@RT23899272 Jan 12

This film contained a typical Denzel Washington performance, which I found to be lazy. The premise is overly exaggerated and isn't enough to maintain the plot. I think the movie has become outdated (even at the time of release) with the end of the cold war. Consequently, it is a bit sanctimonious.

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Alex B.

@ALEXANDRIA123 Dec 13

The casting, direction, music, and storyline, although perhaps not as authentic as the true story was dynamic, heartrending and certainly worth watching! Kudos to Edward Zwick who’s directing made this an outstanding picture to watch!!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Nov 22

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, 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

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 1

Success in 1 hour and 56 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $40,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sheldon K

@RT67278434 Jun 12

Excellent movie. It is especially relevant today (2025).

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Farah R

@Farah 05/05/2025

I enjoyed watching Denzel Washington give another brilliant performance like he always does, but The Siege isn’t a good movie. The story is ridiculous.

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Edward Zwick

Director

Denzel Washington

Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard, Assistant Special Agent-in-charge FBI Counter-intelligence Task Force

Annette Bening

Elise Kraft

Bruce Willis

Major General William Devereaux

Tony Shalhoub

Agent Frank Haddad, Counter-intelligence Task Force

Sami Bouajila

Samir Nazhde

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The Siege: Trailer 1

2:06

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Synopsis

After terrorists attack a bus in Brooklyn, a Broadway theater and FBI headquarters, FBI anti-terrorism expert Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) teams up with CIA agent Elise Kraft (Annette Bening) to investigate. Soon, martial law is declared in New York City, and General William Devereaux (Bruce Willis), a sadistic racist, is put in command. When Devereaux begins rounding up Arab-Americans and forcing them into a detention camp, Hubbard and Kraft must fight back in the name of freedom.

Director: Edward Zwick
Producer: Lynda Obst, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Lawrence Wright, Lawrence Wright, Menno Meyjes, Edward Zwick
Distributor: Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Bedford Falls Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $40.9M
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital