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Equilibrium

Play trailer Poster for Equilibrium R 2002 1h 47m Sci-Fi Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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39% Tomatometer 87 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Clerick John Preston (Christian Bale) is a top-ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist these rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the one capable of overthrowing it.
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Equilibrium

Equilibrium

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Critics Consensus

Equilibrium is a reheated mishmash of other sci-fi movies.

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Critics Reviews

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Nathan Rabin AV Club 04/17/2019
Though ultimately silly, Equilibrium's shopworn but stylish synthesis of ammo and ideas is surprisingly engrossing. Go to Full Review
Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/24/2010
3/5
Violent post-nuclear sci-fi is Orwellian. Go to Full Review
Wally Hammond Time Out 01/26/2006
Bale is too self-conscious an action hero, and although the script may have the virtue of transparent plagiarism, it teeters both dramatically and conceptually. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 09/29/2020
7/10
The costuming, set designs, and music (by Klaus Badelt, which is actually spectacular) are far more impressive than anyone might expect. Go to Full Review
Leah Rozen People Magazine 04/17/2019
A balanced thriller. Go to Full Review
Philip French Observer (UK) 04/17/2019
Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium is a dreary sci-fi action movie set after the Third World War in a dystopia from which all dangerous human emotion has been drained by the daily injection of the drug Prozium and the burning of art and books. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Phil S Nov 25 It’s made on a budget and it shows, but it has some serious talent, solid acting, characters with a bit of depth and some excellent ones liners. Plus it looks pretty cool. Just don’t overthink it. See more Igor M Nov 11 Yet another example of movie critics overthinking and absolutely missing the point on this, at the time, misjudged masterpiece. Some even called it silly. This is required viewing for everyone that loves cinema. Blending a simple, yet strong cautionary tale with seriously good action, this movie, in a way, "has it all". The issue was with this movie being compared to The Matrix at the time. A couple of decades later, I'd say this has aged better than the overall Matrix "franchise", excluding the first and the only decent Matrix in my book. It is also, from my point of view, a testament of how good we had it back then, when a movie like this could be considered as meh. And yeah, gun katas are awesome. See more sarah l @SarahJ65 Oct 18 I love this film. I've watched it dozens of times, including at least once with the director's commentary. It's beautiful, sad, and relevant. See more Alexander G Sep 15 Als ich Equilibrium vor über 20 Jahren im Kino gesehen hatte, war ich nicht wirklich beeindruckt. Heute, als ich ihn nochmal sah, fand ich ihn sehr viel besser. Der Irrglaube, Gefühle seien das Problem der Menschheit und nicht ihr größter Schatz, wurde zwar auch in bekannteren Geschichten wie George Orwells "1984" oder Aldous Huxleys "Schöne Neue Welt" bereits behandelt, aber dennoch bietet "Equilibrium" eine neue Sicht auf dieses Thema. Nach einem dritten Weltkrieg werden Gefühle als die Ursache von Kriegen identifiziert und fortan nicht nur wie in Huxleys schöner neuer Welt medikamentiert, sondern zugleich wie im 1984 Orwells mit aller Gewalt bekämpft. Christian Bale spielt die Hauptrolle emotional sehr glaubwürdig, finde ich. Zunächst ist er dank täglicher Injektion von "Prozium" (eine Anspielung auf Prozac & Valium) voll auf Linie des Systems und tötet die "Sinnesverbrecher" gleichermaßen lakonisch, wie er auch die Verhaftung seiner Frau hingenommen hatte. Als er jedoch durch einen Kollegen (Sean Bean) mit verbotenen Materialien in Kontakt kommt und er zugleich vergisst, sein "Prozium" zu nehmen, nimmt die Geschichte ihren Lauf und das System kommt schließlich zu Fall. Was 2025 fast naiv wirkt, ist der Mangel an Überwachungstechnik, denn ob heute so ein Stunt noch möglich wäre, wage ich zu bezweifeln. Insofern vielleicht eher ein modernes Märchen und eine Ode an Kunst und Gefühle. See more Jon A Sep 10 39% from the critics is wild! This is probably one of my top 20 favorite movies of all time. Amazing movie! See more Anthony C Aug 11 Great sci-fi film, action packed with excellent fight scenes. See more Read all reviews
Equilibrium

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Equilibrium

Equilibrium: Official Clip - Sense Offender Equilibrium: Official Clip - Sense Offender 1:59 Equilibrium: Official Clip - The Incineration Equilibrium: Official Clip - The Incineration 1:52 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Joining the Resistance Equilibrium: Official Clip - Joining the Resistance 2:05 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Cleric Practice Equilibrium: Official Clip - Cleric Practice 2:13 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Ludwig van Beethoven Equilibrium: Official Clip - Ludwig van Beethoven 2:09 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Puppy Shootout Equilibrium: Official Clip - Puppy Shootout 2:11 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Why Are You Alive? Equilibrium: Official Clip - Why Are You Alive? 2:13 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Killed for Reading Equilibrium: Official Clip - Killed for Reading 2:13 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Face Off Equilibrium: Official Clip - Face Off 1:55 Equilibrium: Official Clip - Final Fight Equilibrium: Official Clip - Final Fight 1:43 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Clerick John Preston (Christian Bale) is a top-ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist these rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the one capable of overthrowing it.
Director
Kurt Wimmer
Producer
Jan de Bont, Lucas Foster
Screenwriter
Kurt Wimmer
Distributor
Gativideo, Buena Vista International [us], RCV Film Distribution, Amuse Pictures Inc., West Video, Miramax Films
Production Co
Blue Tulip, Dimension Films
Rating
R (Violence)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 6, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 9, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.2M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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