Equilibrium

Name: Equilibrium
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
Released: 2002-12-06
Cast: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Angus Macfadyen, Sean Bean

2002 | 107 min | Action, Science Fiction, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had just 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office loss. 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, sci-fi fans and action fans. If you loved V for Vendetta or Escape from New York, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
The mood: Tense, mind-bending.
The pace: Fast-moving, at 1 hr 47 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.
Critics were cooler on it than audiences.

In a dystopian future, a totalitarian regime maintains peace by subduing the populace with a drug, and displays of emotion are punishable by death. A man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system.

How it earned its rating

CriticsWeak
40% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
AwardsNot counted
Awards data unavailable, so this isn't counted
Box office & staying powerBelow par
$5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 323K people sought it out in the past year