The Spanish Prisoner

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The Spanish Prisoner

PG

1998

1h 52m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Kyle J

Keeps you twisting and turning to the very end.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

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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

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David Mamet

Director

Campbell Scott

Joseph A. "Joe" Ross

Rebecca Pidgeon

Susan Ricci

Steve Martin

Julian "Jimmy" Dell

Ricky Jay

George Lang

Ben Gazzara

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Bob the Gambler

97%

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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

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