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National Security

Play trailer Poster for National Security PG-13 2003 1h 28m Comedy Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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11% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 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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National Security

National Security

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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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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/26/2010
1/5
Indistinguishable dumb action comedy. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 06/19/2003
2/4
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. Go to Full Review Alan Morrison Empire Magazine 04/21/2003
1/5
This is a two-star movie dragged down a star because of its unrepentant racism. Go to Full Review Jae-Ha Kim Jae-Ha Kim 07/28/2023
2/4
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? Go to Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 05/05/2020
2/5
All the good stuff can be guffawed at in the opening half-hour. After that, you're on your own. Go to Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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Brayden C Aug 9 One of my favorite movies Steve Zahn and Martin Lawrence had great acting,it’s a funny movie to I would just ignore all the old heads saying complaining about Martin Lawrence being “racist” it’s really not that big of a deal See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 21 Funny in 1 hour and 28 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Sensuality, Language and Violence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $35,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed throughout Southern California and Baja California in Northern Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in 2003 in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more José M Mar 31 The Apocalypse NOW(1979) of Buddy cop comedies, with funny scenes for example Earl Montgomery hitting his partner to scare a Bumblebee... See more Jadan J Feb 25 Great Movie Martin Lawrence Funny was always wish we go a sequel 💯 See more Farah R @Farah 10/11/2024 Not funny in the slightest. See more alan g @agenser 04/08/2024 Martin Lawrence at his best. Which means it is a very bad, unfunny movie. A plague is better. He can't act. Only scream. He isn't now and never was funny. Only annoying. See more Read all reviews
National Security

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Cast & Crew

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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

Movie Clips

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National Security

National Security: Official Clip - Soda Factory Shootout National Security: Official Clip - Soda Factory Shootout 1:36 National Security: Official Clip - You're a Pig! National Security: Official Clip - You're a Pig! 3:19 National Security: Official Clip - Junkyard Chase National Security: Official Clip - Junkyard Chase 1:40 National Security: Official Clip - Officer Down! National Security: Official Clip - Officer Down! 1:33 National Security: Official Clip - Police Academy Chase National Security: Official Clip - Police Academy Chase 3:04 National Security: Official Clip - Traffic Stop National Security: Official Clip - Traffic Stop 1:33 National Security: Official Clip - Hotwire Hijinks National Security: Official Clip - Hotwire Hijinks 2:48 National Security: Official Clip - Clifftop Showdown National Security: Official Clip - Clifftop Showdown 2:27 National Security: Official Clip - Explosive Shootout National Security: Official Clip - Explosive Shootout 1:47 National Security: Official Clip - Meeting His Ex National Security: Official Clip - Meeting His Ex 1:57 View more videos

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National Security

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Movie Info

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, Outlaw Productions, Intermedia Films
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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