X
  • 1998
  • R
  • Warner Bros.
  • 2 h 20 m
  • 1998
  • R
  • Warner Bros.
  • 2 h 20 m

Summary Maverick negotiator Danny Roman (Jackson) is framed for embezzlement and the murder of his partner and best friend. Newly married and faced with an unjust prison sentence, Roman turns hostage-taker to smoke out the guilty ones in his own squad. Brought in to square off against Danny is the respected and methodical negotiator Chris Sabian...

Directed By: F. Gary Gray

Written By: James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox

  • 1998
  • R
  • Warner Bros.
  • 2 h 20 m
  • 1998
  • R
  • Warner Bros.
  • 2 h 20 m

The Negotiator

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 24 Critic Reviews
62
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 153 User Ratings
8.2
My Score
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Where to Watch

Summary Maverick negotiator Danny Roman (Jackson) is framed for embezzlement and the murder of his partner and best friend. Newly married and faced with an unjust prison sentence, Roman turns hostage-taker to smoke out the guilty ones in his own squad. Brought in to square off against Danny is the respected and methodical negotiator Chris Sabian...

Directed By: F. Gary Gray

Written By: James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox

Where to Watch

Top Cast

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 24 Critic Reviews
62
63% Positive
15 Reviews
25% Mixed
6 Reviews
13% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 24 Critic Reviews
62
63% Positive
15 Reviews
25% Mixed
6 Reviews
13% Negative
3 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
88
This little-hyped thriller emerges as a dark-horse winner by reminding us of how pleasurably exciting a popcorn movie can be when it's populated by actors who are in it for more than an exorbitant fee.
By Peter Travers FULL REVIEW
80
This tough, crackling thriller from director Gary Gray is one of those rare action movies with something on its mind other than moviestar sneers and incessant big bangs.
By Manohla Dargis FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 153 User Ratings
8.2
83% Positive
127 Ratings
8% Mixed
12 Ratings
9% Negative
14 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 153 User Ratings
8.2
83% Positive
127 Ratings
8% Mixed
12 Ratings
9% Negative
14 Ratings

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
10
eva3si0n
Jun 19, 2022
Negotiator is a great thriller. Just one of the best movies I've seen. I didn't expect to see it at all. The level of suspense is perfect for a thriller, the ending and climax are great served. Gorgeous acting duo Samuel Jackson and Kevin Spacey. One of the best thrillers in cinematography
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10
Juanriera
Jun 19, 2021
Huge budget, huge actors, good pace, good script, and all that together and in order results in this great movie.
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70
Fortunately, Jackson and Spacey have enough sassy wit and crackling intensity between them to keep The Negotiator from becoming hostage to its own inanity.
By Michael O'Sullivan FULL REVIEW
70
Jackson gives an amazing, nuanced performance as he teeters on the edge of paranoia. Spacey gives a great, toned-down show as I guy who's in over his head trying to find out what the hell is going on.
By Ron Wells FULL REVIEW
60
Kudos to Anderson and Gilroy for making a low-action, dialogue-heavy geopolitical thriller in this day and age. But aside from finally giving its star some strong material to work with, it doesn’t live up to its promise.
By Nick de Semlyen FULL REVIEW
50
When the mystery is unraveled and the frame-up is revealed, I, personally, had no idea what anyone was talking about.
By Barbara Shulgasser FULL REVIEW
20
The Negotiator slogs on for two hours and 20 minutes, and there's hardly a real laugh or a genuine thrill in it.
By Charles Taylor FULL REVIEW
See All 24 Critic Reviews
10
Eulogist111
May 21, 2021
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10
Surpass80
Jan 24, 2020
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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10
Excommunicado
Jan 19, 2020
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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10
Outkast1980
Dec 5, 2015
Anyone who gives this underrated classic a bad score doesn't know movies. This movie is one of the most underrated movies of all time. It's a great movie!
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10
TylerDurden900
Jul 11, 2014
The Negotiator is a fantastic thriller with Samuel L. and Kevin Spacey. The movie has amazing suspense and the twists aren't decipherable until the final scenes of the movie. The Negotiator is hugely underrated and it is one of the best movies of the 90's
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See All 19 User Reviews

Details

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Production Company New Regency Productions, Mandeville Films, Monarchy Enterprises B.V., Taurus Film
Release Date Jul 29, 1998
Duration 2 h 20 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline Chicago's two top negotiators must face each other. One of them is holding hostages. The other is demanding surrender. And everyone's holding their breath.
Website https://www.hotstar.com/id/movies/the-negotiator/1260104096
View All Details

Awards

Acapulco Black Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
• 2 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 1 Nomination

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