Blackhat

Name: Blackhat
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: January 16, 2015
Duration: 133 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Lee-Hom Wang, Viola Davis, Wei Tang

2015

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 37 Critics

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 125 Ratings

See All

5.3

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.3	Your Score
5.3	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 125 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Blackhat

Autoplay On Off

Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: January 16, 2015

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Lee-Hom Wang, Viola Davis, Wei Tang

Summary: Set within the world of global cybercrime, Blackhat follows a furloughed convict (Chris Hemsworth) and his American and Chinese partners as they hunt a high-level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta.

Director: Michael Mann

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 133 min

See All Details and Credits

Awards & Rankings

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com - Matt Zoller Seitz

Jan 14, 2015

Slick and sometimes goofy as it is, Blackhat is an odd, fascinating movie: a high-tech action thriller about the human condition. I can think of no better current illustration of the notion that, to quote this site's founder, it's not what a movie is about, it's how it's about it. Read full review

Time Out - Joshua Rothkopf

Jan 14, 2015

Unlike most directors, style is hardly a side dish with Michael Mann—it’s the main entrée. No one captures city lights at night or luxury cars slinking down the highway like the creator of Miami Vice, and his conversion to digital video continues to yield breathtaking results. Read full review

The Telegraph - Robbie Collin

Feb 19, 2015

Only Michael Mann could have made it. And thank goodness he did. Read full review

Christian Science Monitor - Peter Rainer

Jan 16, 2015

Watching actors tap out code as big buzzing screens of digital data flash on the screen just doesn’t cut it. Read full review

Variety - Peter Debruge

Jan 13, 2015

The film is a snarl of contradictions, starting with the discrepancy between Mann’s obsessive demand for realism and the consistently implausible screenplay. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Louis Black

Jan 15, 2015

Blackhat plays a surprisingly flat and ever-flatter cinema texture against the careful roll-out of an elaborate plot. Not only is the pacing deliberate, but Mann often supplies only about 80% of the information needed to understand what is going on in a scene. Read full review

Washington Post - Michael O'Sullivan

Jan 15, 2015

Blackhat is also one of the most visually unattractive movies I’ve ever seen. Read full review

SEE ALL 37 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Proteus

Jan 16, 2015

What do all film critics have in common? Answer: they have never made a movie. Look at the reviews by the uninformed. Seriously there should be a certification criteria for film critics like with other professions.

This is a brilliant movie like most or all of Micheal Manns movies. TheWhat do all film critics have in common? Answer: they have never made a movie. Look at the reviews by the uninformed. Seriously there should be a certification criteria for film critics like with other professions.

This is a brilliant movie like most or all of Micheal Manns movies. The set pieces are meticulously stage and have a particular pleasing geometry. The mood, the cities, the cinematography is classic Mann and classic excellence. Just go see the movie. There are very (very) few directors working with the level of artistic excellence that we see throughout this movie...in every edit, every performance, music choice and every frame we've been given. Bravo and thank you once again Mr. Mann.… Expand

14 of 30 users found this helpful1416

Greg1970

Feb 20, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Point 1 - this is visually entertaining. It has the Michael Mann wide-screen look like Heat and Collateral. I feel as though I am in a city (Box ticked). This conjures the feeling of alienation and that I am nothing but a drop of water in the ocean with my own little life.

Point 2 - the problem. Thor actor is all beef cake and perhaps limited in convincing me he is intelligent enough to be a hacker yet I like Chris Hemsway - as though I know him personally in the same way I feel I know Tom Hanks (the master).

Point 3 - in comparison to the odd worthwhile movie I watch at the flicks this is worth the ticket money. The panoramic scenes does achieve a lot and gives that sensory experience of 'lost in the vast buzzing city which could be any modern city in the world (Box ticked) and this is MM hallmark.

Point 3 - again (why not since the movies keep doing part 2s an 3s?). Birdman, Theory of Everything and Whiplash - the only great movies of 2015 so far. Outstanding. This does not hold candle to them but comparing the multitude of drivel I have watched in recent years at least I don't regret parting with my hard earned dosh.

Verdict: decent enough to view at the flicks, particularly for the visual style of MM.… Expand

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

RichardGonci

Apr 4, 2015

I have to go with "Proteus" here and celebrate the return of Michael Mann. God, nobody gets mise-en-scene like him! I will suffer through a fair number of plot anomalies just to be rewarded by scenes actually staged by a a master. For those of us who make moving images for a living, MichaelI have to go with "Proteus" here and celebrate the return of Michael Mann. God, nobody gets mise-en-scene like him! I will suffer through a fair number of plot anomalies just to be rewarded by scenes actually staged by a a master. For those of us who make moving images for a living, Michael Mann will always be a "draw." He is a "director's director." I don't denigrate those who are looking for more... but, honestly folks, there really is so much less already out there!… Expand

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

Bshop

Jan 16, 2015

Good pacing, average story. Keep me entertained, but not much else. Reminded me of the Taken series, except with more computers and supporting characters.
There are a few good twists, but the love story felt forced (not sure why, it just did alright!). A few of the fellow patrons gasped atGood pacing, average story. Keep me entertained, but not much else. Reminded me of the Taken series, except with more computers and supporting characters.
There are a few good twists, but the love story felt forced (not sure why, it just did alright!). A few of the fellow patrons gasped at the fighting/explosion scenes, so there's that as well.
In summary, wait for rental or VOD. If you must see a movie in the near future, American Sniper provides more emotional acting and realism than this movie. I'm hungry for Chinese food now.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

quincytheodore

Jan 21, 2015

There's no sugar coating it, Blackhat is terrible. It has agonizingly slow pace, stupid logic and a barrage of tech lingo which withers your will to watch it till the end. It's surprising that this is the work of Michael Mann who produced much superior film, Collateral, more than a decadeThere's no sugar coating it, Blackhat is terrible. It has agonizingly slow pace, stupid logic and a barrage of tech lingo which withers your will to watch it till the end. It's surprising that this is the work of Michael Mann who produced much superior film, Collateral, more than a decade ago. Chris Hemsworth as lead is willing, he makes the best out of his character, even if it seems he's lost most of the time.

The story revolves around a cyber terrorist attack on Hong Kong nuclear plant. Chris Hemsworth, because his screen name isn't memorable enough, is called to consult on apprehending the hacker responsible for this act. At first glance this is supposed to be cerebral endeavor, but it does not even come close. In fact, regular mundane investigation requires arduous effort. Finding the simplest clues will take five minutes of narrative, and this is done with incredibly alienating script. Plenty of terms that might not be familiar to audience, and even if that's not an issue, the movie repeats itself too many times without adding much.

There is no satisfying master plan, or even basic plan at all. Characters make the bad decisions such as not taking cover in fire fight or doing illicit deed in public, these are supposed to be agents sent to resolve international incident and mastermind behind it. In no realistic realm these scenarios could work, but they stupidly do, only for the sake of the plot. It disappoints in every turn, after all the nifty computer screen, I daresay Fast & Furious 5 plan of dragging bank vault makes more sense.

If the movie does anything right, it's the use of setting and cinematography. Michael Mann has a certain style which produces an authentic feel of any place the characters play in. Some scenes extenuate the long pace with unbridled view of buildings and the city. Unfortunately, with such thin substance it feels like a long boring drive at best.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

BITESCREEN

Jun 22, 2017

Lange war Michael Mann der Inbegriff stilvollen Actionkinos: Filme wie Heat erzeugten mit fast dokumentarischen Stadtbildern und perfekt getimter Action eine hypnotische Wirkung. Auch der Thriller Blackhat beginnt vielversprechend: Den Hacker-Angriff auf ein Atomkraftwerk inszeniert Mann alsLange war Michael Mann der Inbegriff stilvollen Actionkinos: Filme wie Heat erzeugten mit fast dokumentarischen Stadtbildern und perfekt getimter Action eine hypnotische Wirkung. Auch der Thriller Blackhat beginnt vielversprechend: Den Hacker-Angriff auf ein Atomkraftwerk inszeniert Mann als berauschende Kamerafahrt über Lüfter, Platinen und glühende Kühlstäbe – so nah war man der digitalen Bedrohung noch nie. Doch als Hauptdarsteller Chris Hemsworth das erste Mal seinen Mund öffnet und ein peinlicher Hollywood-Oneliner herausplumpst, dämmert es: Blackhat spielt in einer ganz anderen Liga. Der klischeehafte Plot um einen ex-kriminellen Hacker, der dem Zu-dumm-für-seinen-Job-FBI aus der Cyber-Terrorismus-Patsche hilft, garantiert 133 Minuten Langeweile. Mit Fußfessel und hübscher Begleitung reist man durch halb Asien und tut nichts als auf Tastaturen zu hämmern. Selbst die wenigen Schießereien – eigentlich Manns Steckenpferd – sind peinlich, unlogisch und nicht einmal packend. Nach Nolan und Scott driftet mit Michael Mann scheinbar ein weiterer Visionär in die Belanglosigkeit ab.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheSantSantSant

Sep 26, 2016

This movie was so terrible I regret watching it at all. I feel like I lost part of my life, that I wont ever get back. This movie is full of so much racism I cringed so bad. Why do white people still believe that 1. All asian women are attracted to them just because they are white? and 2.This movie was so terrible I regret watching it at all. I feel like I lost part of my life, that I wont ever get back. This movie is full of so much racism I cringed so bad. Why do white people still believe that 1. All asian women are attracted to them just because they are white? and 2. Asian men are unattractive, evil and unwanted? I've had enough of the useless propaganda coming out of the US. Chris Hemsworth, you should've known better, because i'm starting to believe that you are really as dumb as you seem in that new Ghostbusters remake.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

SEE ALL 30 REVIEWS