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The Insider

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for The Insider R Released Nov 5, 1999 2h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 137 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
After seeking the expertise of former "Big Tobacco" executive Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), seasoned TV producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) suspects a story lies behind Wigand's reluctance to speak. As Bergman persuades Wigand to share his knowledge of industry secrets, the two must contend with the courts and the corporations that stand between them and exposing the truth. All the while, Wigand must struggle to maintain his family life amidst lawsuits and death threats.
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The Insider

The Insider

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Critics Consensus

Intelligent, compelling, and packed with strong performances, The Insider is a potent corporate thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Nayman The Ringer Superbly shot and edited and boasting impeccable recreations of the 60 Minutes broadcast in which Wigand went public, The Insider matches Heat's intensity while raising the stakes. Mar 26, 2019 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Powerfully and elegantly, The Insider reveals a chilling reality: how hard it is to tell a simple truth when big business doesn't want it told. Mar 6, 2018 Full Review Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online ... the movie goes on a nail biting tear... Rated: A- Sep 12, 2017 Full Review Chuck Klosterman Akron Beacon Journal As a piece of entertainment, it works amazingly well -- the story never drags and it seems to get a little more interesting with every scene. Rated: 3/4 Oct 27, 2023 Full Review Ray Pride Newcity In a century of obscene compromise, The Insider stands as a titanic moral enterprise... through image and sound and reserved yet deliquescent performance, captures men's wills. It's Heat, hushed. Rated: 10/10 Sep 11, 2021 Full Review Caffeinated Clint Moviehole Pacino and Crowe, powerful performers in their own, singular right, make for an extremely dynamic duo in this absolutely riveting, intricately plotted true account of a jaw-dropper case from a few years back. Sep 3, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mate P The Insider is an epic story that takes place in the grounded reality. The beginning is slow because of the lack of exposition dump and thanks to that there were times during this film where I didn't understand what was happening and I only did after. When the movie gets going the audience has no choice but to lock their eyes on the screen. This film is captivating and I love how it's grounded in reality, but that's inevitable due to the fact that this is a real life story. Michael Mann doing his thing in his prime is as good as you'd expect. The cinematography is really good. I watched this on my phone, in a car and I was completely locked in. The editing is great too, I did not feel the length of the film. The score is absolutely epic. The casting is awesome. Two actors who were already legends in 1999 and Russel Crowe was in his absolute prime. The Insider is an amazing example of cinematic storytelling. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/07/25 Full Review Stephen C 2 hours and 37 minutes is too long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/25 Full Review Jackson M Truly a heartpounding gem of the 90s. Really perfectly walks the tightrope between thrilling and over the top. It's VERY hard to take mundane subjects like litigation, tobacco and old white guys and make them bingeable. Al Pacino really does a great job being interesting without doing his usual yelling, and Russell Crowe does a great job keeping you on pins the whole time. The music, the editing...truly underappreciated in hindsight. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/27/25 Full Review CR E My wife and I sat down tonight to revisit The Insider (1999), and it was even better than I remembered. Often, when I return to a film years later, it doesn't quite hold up, but The Insider absolutely does. In fact, it’s an underrated masterpiece. Based on the true story of Jeffrey Wigand, the whistleblower who exposed the dark truths and lies of Big Tobacco in the mid '90s, the film is as gripping and relevant as ever. The Insider is intelligent, compelling, bolstered by powerhouse performances, and it is a razors sharp corporate thriller. Director Michael Mann, along with Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, and Christopher Plummer, were all at the top of their game. The film earned multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Mann, and a career defining Best Actor nomination for Crowe. The Insider remains one of the finest films of its era. I’d give it an 8.8 out of 10. The Insider is currently streaming on Hulu. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/05/25 Full Review thiago s Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas de drama são mais ou menos, o elenco é bacana, mas ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao mais ou menos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 05/02/25 Full Review Louise C Well portrayed events of a whistle blower. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/25 Full Review Read all reviews
The Insider

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Movie Info

Synopsis After seeking the expertise of former "Big Tobacco" executive Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe), seasoned TV producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino) suspects a story lies behind Wigand's reluctance to speak. As Bergman persuades Wigand to share his knowledge of industry secrets, the two must contend with the courts and the corporations that stand between them and exposing the truth. All the while, Wigand must struggle to maintain his family life amidst lawsuits and death threats.
Director
Michael Mann
Producer
Michael Mann, Pieter Jan Brugge
Screenwriter
Eric Roth, Michael Mann
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Buena Vista (Walt Disney)
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.0M
Runtime
2h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround
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