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Poster for The Negotiator

The Negotiator

Seen it?

1998 | 140 min | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Audiences rate it highly (7.1 out of 10). 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 crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved Inside Man or The Outfit, start here.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 20 min.
What might put you off
Rated R: expect violence.

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    74% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    2 wins and 4 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $88 million worldwide on a $50 million budget; spent 1 week in Netflix's global Top 10; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 186K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by F. Gary Gray

  • Samuel L. JacksonLt. Danny Roman
  • Kevin SpaceyLt. Chris Sabian
  • David MorseCdr. Adam Beck
  • Ron RifkinCdr. Grant Frost
  • John SpencerChief Al Travis
  • J.T. WalshInsp. Terence Niebaum
  • Siobhan Fallon HoganMaggie
  • Paul GiamattiRudy
  • Regina TaylorKaren Roman
  • Bruce BeattyMarkus