Enemy of the State

Play trailer

2:01

Enemy of the State

R

Released Nov 20, 1998

2h 7m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

84 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) has a congressman assassinated to assure the passage of expansive new surveillance legislation. When a videotape of the murder ends up in the hands of Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), a labor lawyer and dedicated family man, he is framed for murder. With the help of ex-intelligence agent Edward "Brill" Lyle (Gene Hackman), Dean attempts to throw Reynolds off his trail and prove his innocence.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

An entertaining, topical thriller that finds director Tony Scott on solid form and Will Smith confirming his action headliner status.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Decent thriller; not suitable for kids.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

[Its] spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they've spawned.

Mar 30, 2009

Full Review

Time Out

Add Smith's lippy innocent and a host of subcontracted indie fresh faces, and you have the Bruckheimer formula: loud, lavish, seemingly efficient; over-large, over-long, over-plotted. Safe and sorry.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s a shame to see a film about the intelligence community executed with so little intelligence but it’s a fun ride.

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Far ahead of its time in educating society on its rapidly diminishing freedoms from governmental scrutiny, the screenplay favorably manages not to forget to entertain.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 11, 2020

Full Review

Michael Gaither

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Scott creates suspense by utilizing believable technology and realistic, well-grounded characters.

Rated: B+

Mar 25, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

This movie was a bit confusing. The whole story is that the 'enemy' is trying to pass a bill to gain control monitoring and seeing everything that goes on, but in the movie it looks like that already is the case. The movie itself isn't bad, it just depends to much on that big brother fenomenon and is just a bit too sci-fi for the genre/goal of the movie. The ending is smart yet lazy at the same time which makes me pretty confused as to what really happend. All in all the writing and acting is decent but it rely's just too much on that sci-fi aspect. 5/10 for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

Sarah C

It's so hard to like this movie when Robert (Will Smith) is bafflingly stupid. I understand not being apart of the spy world but the fact that he just doesn't listen. He NEVER listens and that's why there's so many problems because he's just brain dead and it ruins everyone else's lives; Rachel (Lisa Bonet) & Brill (Gene Hackman.) JUST. LISTEN. Dumbass.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Faiz D

A really good thriller.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

Tom F

The subject of the surveillance state is important but not well served by approaching it as an action thriller. Highly packed with acting talent and car chases, but the struggle seems quaint here in the post PATRIOT ACT world.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

Full Review

erdene c

The content, direction, and visuals of this movie are all good. I don't get bored watching it again and again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

Full Review

Munkhjargal A

The director and the actors have done a good job of showing how dangerous corruption is in this movie. It has become a very interesting movie that reminds us how corruption is still present in our lives and how to avoid it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Tony Scott

Director

Will Smith

Robert Clayton Dean

Gene Hackman

Edward 'Brill' Lyle

Jon Voight

Thomas Brian Reynolds

Lisa Bonet

Rachel F. Banks

Regina King

Carla Dean

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Jackal

24%

51%

The Jackal

Watchlist

Shadow Conspiracy

7%

20%

Shadow Conspiracy

Watchlist

Payback

56%

69%

Payback

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Payback

The Assignment

62%

62%

The Assignment

Watchlist

Conspiracy Theory

57%

64%

Conspiracy Theory

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Sherlock Season 4, Master of None Season 2, Enemy of the State, and More on Netflix This Week

24 Times The Government Overspent Your Money (In Film & TV)

Total Recall: RT Celebrates the Bill of Rights

Enemy of the State: Trailer 1

2:01

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) has a congressman assassinated to assure the passage of expansive new surveillance legislation. When a videotape of the murder ends up in the hands of Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), a labor lawyer and dedicated family man, he is framed for murder. With the help of ex-intelligence agent Edward "Brill" Lyle (Gene Hackman), Dean attempts to throw Reynolds off his trail and prove his innocence.

Director: Tony Scott
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter: David Marconi
Distributor: Buena Vista International [us], Touchstone Home Video, Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $111.5M
Runtime: 2h 7m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

Most Popular at Home Now