The Spanish Prisoner
Seen it?1997 | 110 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Obsession or The Conversation, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An inventor of a secret process suddenly finds himself alone as both his friends and the corporation he works for turn against him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$14 million worldwide on a $10 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 53K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by David Mamet
- Steve MartinJimmy Dell
- Campbell ScottJoe Ross
- Ben GazzaraMr. Klein
- Rebecca PidgeonSusan Ricci
- Ricky JayGeorge Lang
- Felicity HuffmanPat McCune
- David PittuResort Manager
- J.J. JohnstonDoorman
- Ed O'NeillFBI Team Leader
- Clark GreggFBI Sniper