Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

The Spanish Prisoner

Play trailer Poster for The Spanish Prisoner PG 1998 1h 52m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Everything changes for rising corporate star Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) when he meets the wealthy and mysterious Jimmy Dell (Steve Martin) at a tropical resort. Dell offers to help Ross protect his new business process invention, but in short order Ross finds himself falsely accused of murder. Working with the FBI and his assistant, Susan Ricci (Rebecca Pidgeon), Ross sets out to prove his innocence and disentangle himself from the diabolical entrapment.
Watch on Peacock Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Spanish Prisoner

The Spanish Prisoner

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Spanish Prisoner delivers just what fans of writer-director David Mamet expect: a smart, solidly constructed drama that keeps viewers guessing... and entertained along the way.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (62)
Mike Clark USA Today There are enough twists and grown-up intrigue to keep one asking, "Hey, what's going on here?" Rated: 3/4 Jan 9, 2018 Full Review Leonard Klady Variety David Mamet has a penchant for sleight-of-hand thrillers, and The Spanish Prisoner is his craftiest to date. Nov 20, 2008 Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer The Spanish Prisoner shares with Glengarry Glen Ross a vision of life as a cosmic con game in which the victimizers feed the fantasies of the victims. Apr 27, 2007 Full Review Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight “The Spanish Prisoner” is the kind of film that makes you glad you went... Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 5, 2023 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault I realize this is a different kind of movie, one that demands to be plot-driven, not messy or discursive, but Mamet’s true gifts lie elsewhere. Rated: B Sep 1, 2022 Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times A neo-noir thriller cut from a fine bolt of Hitchcockian gabardine laced with silken Chekhovian thread, “The Spanish Prisoner” gets its title from a passage presented in the third act that Mamet calls “the oldest con in the book.” Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 3, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (435)
Jay B This movie was very good, but not great. The main character was likable, the mystery and intrigue were palpable and engaging, and it possessed a classic movie style. I also greatly appreciate how clean and accessible it was to any audience. However, this story was not as believable as I hoped. The scale of the con was greatly and unnecessarily inflated, and some of the particular, individual parts of the scam were simply untenable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/03/25 Full Review Larry R This feels and looks like a made for TV movie from years long passed. Simple easy to see through plot, bad lighting, bad sound, bad direction, mediocre acting, lightweight leading man, poor performances throughout. Does Mr. Mamet carry so much weight that the critics just go along with it all? A real stinker. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/27/25 Full Review Max W A very fun watch. Had me surprised at every twist that came. The end had a little deus ex machina to it, though! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/14/25 Full Review Alain E A tour de force by David Mamet at the peak of his power. If you want to feel paranoid and distrust everyone, this is the movie for you. The levels of deception build a highrise that reaches the sky. Even the title is supposedly explained halfway by the good guys, only the plot of the conspiracy is much more elaborate and the “good guys “ need a lot of polishing. Totally entertaining. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/25 Full Review Kyle J Keeps you twisting and turning to the very end. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Shioka O I want to like this thriller, but I couldn't get into it maybe because the characters are being bland and speak emotionless. Given that smart and theatrical dialogs, I would like to have more intensity. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/10/22 Full Review Read all reviews
The Spanish Prisoner

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Bob the Gambler 97% 90% Bob the Gambler Watchlist Machine Gun McCain 80% 38% Machine Gun McCain Watchlist Report to the Commissioner 55% 64% Report to the Commissioner Watchlist The Outfit 80% 74% The Outfit Watchlist Shamus 29% 38% Shamus Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Everything changes for rising corporate star Joe Ross (Campbell Scott) when he meets the wealthy and mysterious Jimmy Dell (Steve Martin) at a tropical resort. Dell offers to help Ross protect his new business process invention, but in short order Ross finds himself falsely accused of murder. Working with the FBI and his assistant, Susan Ricci (Rebecca Pidgeon), Ross sets out to prove his innocence and disentangle himself from the diabolical entrapment.
Director
David Mamet
Producer
Jean Doumanian
Screenwriter
David Mamet
Production Co
Jean Doumanian Productions, Magnolia Films, Jasmine Productions Inc., Sweetland Films
Rating
PG
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 22, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.6K
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
35mm
Most Popular at Home Now