Enemy of the State

R

Released Nov 20, 1998

2 hr. 7 min.

Mystery & Thriller

Action

TRAILER

for Enemy of the State: Trailer 1

List

71%

84 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Jan 03

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Enemy of the State on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

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

Russell C

The nerdiest and flashiest hi-tech movie that features the nerdiest cast of characters. And, frankly, Tony Scott is a nerd for cannibalizing the ending from a pervious movie he filmed, True Romance, which was originally created & written for the screen by Quentin Tarantino.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/19/24

Full Review

la-deche a

Rare you fine a movie with one flaw. Just will smith stunt double was visibly a stunt double lol

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Paul F

Captivating the whole time, great watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Izaac A

A strong thriller entry. Smith, as usual, is the perfect person for this role. Action-packed and thrilling. Well worth a watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

Full Review

Kliff H

I keep coming back to this techno-thriller, one of the best 90s thriller, actually before its time! Open your eyes.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

Will G. F

It's easy to see why political enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists love this film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

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

24%

51%

The Jackal

7%

17%

Shadow Conspiracy

56%

69%

Payback

TRAILER

for Payback

62%

61%

The Assignment

57%

64%

Conspiracy Theory

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

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

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
Executive Producer: Andrew Z. Davis, Chad Oman, James W. Skotchdopole
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
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

Most Popular at Home Now