National Security

PG-13

Released Jan 17, 2003

1h 28m

Comedy

Action

List

11%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

45%

Audience Score

50,000+ Ratings

Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn), a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

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Critics Consensus

The action in National Security is mindless, while the humor says nothing insightful about racial issues.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Indistinguishable dumb action comedy.

Rated: 1/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

This is lowest common dominator filmmaking in every sense of the word, which shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone familiar with the oeuvre of director Dennis Dugan.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 19, 2003

Full Review

Alan Morrison

Empire Magazine

This is a two-star movie dragged down a star because of its unrepentant racism.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 21, 2003

Full Review

Jae-Ha Kim

Jae-Ha Kim

If you want to get philosophical about "National Security," you could ask yourself this: Would you be able to forgive and perhaps even befriend the man who wrongly accused you of a crime that got you sent to prison?

Rated: 2/4

Jul 28, 2023

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

All the good stuff can be guffawed at in the opening half-hour. After that, you're on your own.

Rated: 2/5

May 5, 2020

Full Review

Mark Halverson

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 1/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

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alan g

Martin Lawrence at his best. Which means it is a very bad, unfunny movie. A plague is better.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Joshua O

It's a solid campy police action film. The previous reviews I don't agree with here. Ya gotta see the movie at least once. Don't expect a great movie or a masterpiece, but seriously if you are okay with a standard cop film with a little bit of societal commentary [which I sense is a little bit of people's motivation to negative reviews] I think it pissed a lot of people off which is exactly what it's designed to do. Don't fault a movie for doing exactly what it set out to do. If you don't like those kinds of movies don't watch them by all means. But the movie's fun it's worth a watch if you're not overly sensitive. It's a lot of fun if you don't take it too seriously.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Jay P

Critics are sensitive and usually cannot fathom offensive humor being funny. Cry about it and get offended.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Amie C

Lots of action, lots of fun, great acting, uplifting! It was made when a comedy was allowed to be a comedy! Very enjoyable!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/24

Full Review

Billy L

Martin Lawrence is the funniest guy to watch by the way he acts and giggling was the funniest part I laughed a lot. 😅😅

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/23

Full Review

Herry S

You know what that is hillarious comedy I ever seen, I have been seen couple of time never be bored of it because being dump comedy but funny. Not just racial issue but there is corrupt detective were involved that is why it won't notice ending scene.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

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Dennis Dugan

Director

Martin Lawrence

Earl Montgomery

Steve Zahn

Hank Rafferty

Colm Feore

Detective Frank McDuff

Bill Duke

Lieutenant Washington

Eric Roberts

Nash

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National Security: Official Clip - Soda Factory Shootout

1:36

National Security: Official Clip - You're a Pig!

3:19

National Security: Official Clip - Junkyard Chase

1:40

National Security: Official Clip - Officer Down!

1:33

National Security: Official Clip - Police Academy Chase

3:04

National Security: Official Clip - Traffic Stop

1:33

National Security: Official Clip - Hotwire Hijinks

2:48

National Security: Official Clip - Clifftop Showdown

2:27

National Security: Official Clip - Explosive Shootout

1:47

National Security: Official Clip - Meeting His Ex

1:57

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Synopsis

Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn), a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

Director: Dennis Dugan
Producer: Bobby Newmyer, Jeffrey Silver, Michael Green
Screenwriter: David Ronn, Jay Scherick
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia, Intermedia Films, Outlaw Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sensuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $35.8M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR

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