Virtuosity

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2:25

Virtuosity

R

1995

1h 45m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

31%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

A former cop who has been imprisoned for murdering the psychopath who killed his family, Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington) is recruited to test out a new virtual-reality program where the goal is to apprehend a computer-generated being called SID 6.7 (Russell Crowe), who has been modeled on hundreds of deranged criminals. When SID manages to escape into the real world, Barnes must capture or destroy him before the soulless entity can go on a killing spree.

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Critics Consensus

Woefully deficient in thrills or common sense, Virtuosity strands its talented stars in a story whose vision of the future is depressingly short on imagination.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

The presence of Washington lends the picture a much-needed dose of authenticity. But in the end Virtuosity is disconnected and uninvolving.

Rated: 1/4

Jun 18, 2002

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Though Virtuosity connects all the dots to give audiences a roller-coaster ride, the movie begets nothing new: It's stillborn.

May 12, 2001

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Virtuosity doesn't always compute, but like last summer's Speed, it is far more fully realized cinematically than many less commercial, more serious pictures.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 13, 2001

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Washington gives it his all, remaining convincing as a tormented yet heroic policeman, while Crowe hams it up, enjoying the role but ultimately appearing just plain annoying.

Rated: 3/10

Aug 23, 2025

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Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

Leonard's vision tends to turn "Virtuosity" into a cartoon, which might connect for certain viewers, but promise of something more suspenseful and demented isn't met in this mediocre offering.

Rated: C

Mar 17, 2025

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...mostly watchable yet thoroughly erratic...

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 19, 2023

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Jack M

The Matrix with a serial killer. Delightfully unhinged, very 90's, excellent cast, but some parts of the simplistic story don't make sense.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/14/25

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Audience Member

While this is set in what is supposed to be in the realistic future- the story behind Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington's character) is gripping and tells his story of tragedy in dramatic form. It also shows us how tech can be corrupted in a next gen way letting loose a villain like Sid 6.7 (Russel Crowe's character) and how tough it would be to supposedly put him "back in the box". Also- Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco makes an appearance in this movie as Madison Carter's (Kelly Lynch's character's) daughter and Parker is sent on a mission to rescue her at the end of the movie. I give this movie 3.5/5 stars- because while the story is great for a 1990's action/sci-fi crime film- you have to admit- there still seems like something is missing.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

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Brad M

So terribly dated and dumb, that it's awesome!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/24

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Steve D

Shockingly inept given Washington's solid (as always) work. Terrible idea for a film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Jeffrey P

If you told me this was the main inspiration for The Matrix I would not be surprised. In addition to The Matrix, we've seen numerous films dealing with this subject in the last twenty years. With okay action and two Oscar winners engaged in a game of cat & mouse, the absurdity still cannot be hidden due to a few holes.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really like the part where Sid 6.7 reaches his final form and becomes Sid V.1C10U5 and gets the strap back from Booker T (played by Denzel Washington) at Starrcade. Too bad Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were stopped from forming the NWO with Hollywood Hogan in this movie as I thought this was a documentary and as we all know the NWO is a real life organization taking over the world still to this day, Steak really is a lot better when you eat it with Steven Seagal. Don;t believe me? Try it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Brett Leonard

Director

Denzel Washington

Lt. Parker Barnes

Kelly Lynch

Madison Carter

Russell Crowe

SID 6.7

Stephen Spinella

Lindenmeyer

William Forsythe

William Cochran

Virtuosity: Official Clip - Multiple Personality Disorder

1:42

Virtuosity: Official Clip - This One's for You

2:08

Virtuosity: Official Clip - Death TV

2:09

Virtuosity: Official Clip - I Will Not Be Shut Down

1:48

Virtuosity: Official Clip - I Ain't Going Nowhere

2:10

Virtuosity: Official Clip - SID 6.7 Disabled

2:11

Virtuosity: Official Clip - Bombshop 6.7

2:12

Virtuosity: Official Clip - SID's Symphony

1:25

Virtuosity: Official Clip - I Love To Play

2:13

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Virtuosity: Trailer 1

2:25

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Synopsis

A former cop who has been imprisoned for murdering the psychopath who killed his family, Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington) is recruited to test out a new virtual-reality program where the goal is to apprehend a computer-generated being called SID 6.7 (Russell Crowe), who has been modeled on hundreds of deranged criminals. When SID manages to escape into the real world, Barnes must capture or destroy him before the soulless entity can go on a killing spree.

Director: Brett Leonard
Producer: Gary Lucchesi
Screenwriter: Eric Bernt
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 11, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $23.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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