No Way Out

Name: No Way Out
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Released: August 14, 1987
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Gene Hackman, Kevin Costner

1987

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	Your Score
8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Orion Pictures | Release Date: August 14, 1987 | R

Starring: Gene Hackman, Kevin Costner

Summary: A coverup and witchhunt ensue after a politician (Gene Hackman) accidentally puts his mistress (Sean Young) in jeopardy.

Director: Roger Donaldson

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

Rating: R

Runtime: 114 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

William Thomas

Good performances from a strong cast and paranoid plotting enough to keep even the staunchest of remake nay-sayers quiet. Hitchockian production with a modern twist. Read full review

100

Jay Boyar

A thriller that grabs you even before the ironies of its plot kick in is a thriller you don't want to miss. No Way Out is that sort of movie, a thriller that's thrilling throughout. Read full review

Hal Hinson

In thriller terms it's close to irresistible and enormously entertaining. And the movie's lack of weight is part of what makes it work, part of its gripping purity. What this movie, which as a political thriller has more in common with "Three Days of the Condor" or "Seven Days in May" than "All the President's Men," has going for it is a great premise: the mainspring of this big clock is built to run. Read full review

Jay Scott

Timeliness aside, it's an electrifying and erotic film-noir thriller in the Hitchcock tradition - James Stewart could have been cast as Tom Farrell - right up to the final five minutes, which feature a surprise ending that is a shock primarily because it makes little logical sense; surprise endings should click satisfyingly into place once the shock has worn off, but this one stirs up questions that refuse to settle. [14 Aug 1987]

A worthy remake of the film noir classic THE BIG CLOCK, NO WAY OUT adds, among other things, a delightfully subversive twist ending. Good performances from a strong cast. Read full review

David Sterritt

The action is tight and suspenseful, and the plot culminates in the most astounding last-minute switch of the decade. Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman shine as the main characters, and Will Patton leads a solid supporting cast. Read full review

Pauline Kael

This is a film noir without malevolence or mystery. It's a Yuppie thriller: it has no psychological layers.

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User Reviews

bdjude

Dec 16, 2017

It is getting good, better and better by the time and when it's over you ought to say: Brilliant Noir. The cast makes it spicy, especially Kevin is the live-wire.

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

timone

Apr 23, 2019

No Way Out is one of those movies that'll get you in suspence. The theme song from No Way Out is pretty good also, and yeah, years ago I love this film since I watched it and the chase scenes are a lot of fun and the twist in the end really messes the audiences up. Other than that this isNo Way Out is one of those movies that'll get you in suspence. The theme song from No Way Out is pretty good also, and yeah, years ago I love this film since I watched it and the chase scenes are a lot of fun and the twist in the end really messes the audiences up. Other than that this is one of the favorite films of all time and Kevin Costner and Gene Hackman are good in it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

KVTheCritic

Sep 6, 2020

The parts focusing on the romance are terrible, but the rest of the film is solid.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Jan 25, 2019

One of the strangest movies I've seen in recent memory, and for many reasons. Firstly, it happens to be one of the rare filmic occurrences where a second act can tower largely over its bookending acts in terms of quality. "No Way Out's" central conceit -- once it finally gets going -- is aOne of the strangest movies I've seen in recent memory, and for many reasons. Firstly, it happens to be one of the rare filmic occurrences where a second act can tower largely over its bookending acts in terms of quality. "No Way Out's" central conceit -- once it finally gets going -- is a perfectly engrossing game of cat and mouse, featuring a valued use of dramatic irony and some terrific plotting. Acts one and three, however, are far from perfect, with the former falling into the realm of humdrum 80's cheese and the latter implementing a mindbogglingly unnecessary twist that honestly leaves more questions than answers. Throw in one of the most distractingly dated scores I've ever heard and you've got yourself quite the experience. Was it an experience that I regret? Not at all. But its flaws are just too flagrant to ignore.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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