The Bone Collector

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The Bone Collector

R

Released Nov 5, 1999

1h 53m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

30%

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90 Reviews

63%

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100,000+ Ratings

Policewoman Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) is in hot pursuit of a serial murderer whose calling card is a small shard of bone extracted from each of his victims. Unable to decipher the cryptic clues the killer leaves behind at the scene of the crime, Amelia calls upon quadriplegic forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) to help. With Amelia acting as Rhyme's able-bodied go-between, the pair piece together disparate clues, hoping they will learn who the next victim is.

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Critics Consensus

A talented cast is wasted on a bland attempt at a suspenseful, serial killer flick.

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Chris Bennion

The Times (UK)

There are shades of David Fincher’s Se7en to the game-playing, clue-leaving psycho plot, while Washington’s immobile sleuth will remind you of Hitchcock’s Rear Window.

Dec 6, 2023

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

The film never really gathers suspense and tension.

Jan 1, 2000

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Lou Lumenick

New York Post

Jeremy Iacone's script is riddled with plot holes you could drive a train through.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

'The Bone Collector' is not a perfect movie. However, it scratches the itch for those of us who loved 1990s thrillers based on books we were too young to read. It also proves Denzel Washington can command a movie without getting out of bed.

Rated: 3/5

May 23, 2025

Full Review

Chuck Klosterman

Akron Beacon Journal

The Bone Collector is an example of everything bad about the serial-killer genre -- it's gruesome and needlessly complex, only to end with a sudden avalanche of simplicity that teaches us nothing about the people involved.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 26, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s never boring and I always enjoy watching great performers do their thing. But the film is lined with too much silliness, too many contrivances, and a lack of originality...

Rated: 2.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Eric J.

My type of suspense. Definitely one of my repeat offenders.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/25/25

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Jeremy H

I rented it when it first came out on home video.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

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Pedro Henrique C

The Bone Collector (1999) is a very interesting adventure to follow, the film starts off a little weak but then as the story unfolds it gets better. The cast full of personality gives it a charm, the film itself is not bad, it's just underrated.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

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Jerod S

It's not the smartest crime thriller, but Denzel playing detective from being paralyzed in bed and Angelina being a rookie cop keeps it interesting.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

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Emil P

Don't listen to the critics... This movie is is so good to watch

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

Full Review

Rosana B

Parecia mais interessante no início dos anos 2000, revendo agora, parece tão forçado obrigar a pobi Angelina Jolie a ser perita e medica legista, sendo que existem vários profissionais experientes e competentes, e fora que o motivo que a levou a isso foi banal, ter lido o livro de Denzel Washington (?!?!)... Quase torcemos pelo algoz, se não fossem as vítimas. A boa trama, é suficiente para prender a tenção, e o casting de sucesso ajuda muito... Assistindo antes de 2012 e reassistindo em 2024.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Denzel Washington

Lincoln Rhyme

Angelina Jolie

Amelia Donaghy

Queen Latifah

Thelma

Michael Rooker

Captain Howard Cheney

Michael McGlone

Detective Kenny Solomon

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Synopsis

Policewoman Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) is in hot pursuit of a serial murderer whose calling card is a small shard of bone extracted from each of his victims. Unable to decipher the cryptic clues the killer leaves behind at the scene of the crime, Amelia calls upon quadriplegic forensic criminology expert Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) to help. With Amelia acting as Rhyme's able-bodied go-between, the pair piece together disparate clues, hoping they will learn who the next victim is.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Producer: Louis A. Stroller, Michael Scott Bregman, Martin Bregman
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Deaver, Jeremy Iacone
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $66.5M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround, SDDS, DTS, Dolby EX

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