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Will Smith, Gene Hackman, Jon Voight, Lisa Bonet, Regina King ... see more see more... , Stuart Wilson , Tom Sizemore , Loren Dean , Barry Pepper , Ian Hart , Jake Busey , Scott Caan , Jason Lee , Gabriel Byrne , James LeGros , Lillo Brancato Jr. , Seth Green , Jason Robards , Jack Black , Jamie Kennedy , Ivana Milicevic , Laura Cayouette , Jack

The action producing-directing team of Jerry Bruckheimer and Tony Scott is back with another thrill-a-minute ride called Enemy of the State. Taking its "innocent man accidentally caught up in politica... read more read more...l corruption" story from such films as Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Sydney Pollack's Three Days of the Condor, they turn up the high-tech volume in an attempt to create the ultimate action film. Robert Clayton Dean, played by Will Smith, is a devoted father, husband, and attorney shopping for a sexy gift for his wife. What he doesn't know is that he was given a videotape from a friend (Jason Lee) regarding the recent murder of a U.S. senator led by corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight). Now Reynolds is after Dean to cover his tracks or, as the audience soon finds out, frame Dean for Rachel's murder. Since Dean isn't up on his high-tech gadgetry, he needs the aid of ex-intelligence operative Brill (Gene Hackman). Between the explosions and chases is the subtext of George Orwell's 1984 mantra "beware of big brother," as Dean realizes that in the modern world, there is no such thing as total privacy. ~ Arthur Borman, Rovi

Flixster Users

76% liked it

346,391 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

83 critics

R, 2 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Tony Scott

Release Date: November 20, 1998

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DVD Release Date: June 15, 1999

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Stats: 10,566 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (10,566)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 9, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    As far as action are concerned, Enemy of the State is pure mindless popcorn flick from start to finish. The film has flaws, but it makes up for it with exciting action. I thought this film fun from start to finish, and with every other Tony Scott flick, he delivered a good action... read more film. The cast do a fine job, and despite the fact that Enemy of the state relies on the traditional innocent man involved in political corruption explored in so many other films, this is still a must see film for action film buffs. The film is pure popcorn fare. What do you expect from a Tony Scott film? Will Smith is good as the lead and really delivers something memorable here. Tony Scott as usual delivers the thrills that you'd expect, and he does it well. Although this is far from perfect, Enemy of the State is a good action film for what it is. I was very much entertained, even though the film follows the usual formula of so many other films of this genre. The plot doesn't do anything new or original, thus it's kind of predictable. Despite this, Enemy of the State is still worth watching for a mindless, fun Friday evening. The cast make this film watchable and despite its flaws, this is purely a fun film that has awesome action. A very well done action film, not perfect, but good nonetheless. If you're looking for a good action film that is pure mindless fun, Enemy of the State is the film that you should watch. The cast are good, and the plot despite it's nothing original, it delivers on excitement, face paced action; and it does it well.
  • romy861
    October 15, 2011
    romy861
    Not my idea of an enthralling movie, but okay for it's genre, I guess. I was too bored to tell for certain.
  • ironclad1609
    September 27, 2011
    ironclad1609
    High adrenaline paranoia thriller making great use of the technological potential of the big brother state. While it slowly sets up Will Smith as the innocent man stumbling into this conspiracy, things speed up once his life is taken from him on a technological level. Music, came... read morera work and editing all add up to a really exciting thriller that doesn't take many breaks for catching your breath. The showdown even brings a quantum Tarantino into the mix. The result is satisfying, fast, sometimes spectacular and surprisingly smart.
  • thmtsang
    January 8, 2011
    thmtsang
    Will and Gene are excellent in this movie. Will's character's life is turned upside down when he is left with a video tape of a congressman's assassination. He doesn't know that he has the tape and is pursued by National Security Agents who use satellites to track him. Everyone a... read moreround him is in danger. Great cast and plot.
  • 3niR
    December 30, 2010
    3niR
    This was awe-freaking-some I tell you. I love Will Smith's movie. They are always entertaining. Even though this was a serious kind but I enjoyed every moment of it.
  • cosmo313
    August 18, 2010
    cosmo313
    Mostly solid (but not perfect) paranoid thriller from Tony Scott. Even though it's got some issues, this is one of his better movies (of the ones of his I've seen). WIll Smith does a pretty good job as the evertman caught up in extraordinary circumstance that turn his world upsi... read morede down. I wish I could make comparisons of Gene Hackman's role here to the one he played in The Conversation, but I can't since I haven't seen it yet. From what I've read though, theu seem to be kinda similar sorta. Voigt is pretty good, as are some of the other fairly big players.

    I liked that this had soe good action scenes, but that it wasn't a total mindless ride like I thought it was gonna be. It's actaully a little brainy, and shows that Scott can be a little like his bro Ridley from time to time.

    It's been a while since I last saw this, but I recall the camera work and locaton shooting being good. I also rememebr being quite entertained, not getting bored, and having everything be mostly logical and pan out. Good stuff, even if it's not entirely original.
  • ythelastman89
    April 12, 2010
    ythelastman89
    At heart, it's an incredibly fun and light action movie that all kinds of people can enjoy. While it might not be as edgy as it claims, it's still pretty alarming to see the NSA at work (especially when they employ psychos like Jake Busey). The acting is very decent, it's probabl... read morey the best early Will Smith performance. Gene Hackman is really the one that makes the movie for me, it's almost as if his character from The Conversation kept getting more and more paranoid. Tony Scott created a movie that is both suspenseful and exciting to watch.
  • deano
    November 26, 2009
    deano
    Will Smith and Gene Hackman are a great team in this high-powered suspense thriller where nonstop action meets cutting-edge technology.
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    A inferior version of The Conversation in many ways, Gene Hackman even lowers himself to star in it.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Will Smith and Gene Hackman are brilliant in this movie! Will Smith proves that he can be just as good of an actor when it comes to action movies as he can in comedy movies. Mr. Dean (Will Smith) doesn't know it at first, but he has became the prime target for a politician and hi... read mores group of thugs when he accidentally obtains major evidence of a politically motivated crime. Soon, his life is gonna do more than fall apart. The only way he can possibly even have half a chance to get his life back is with the help of an expert named Brill (Gene Hackman).
    "Enemy of the State" is one of the best all around movies I've ever seen. It has some of the most intense suspense ever seen in a movie. It is thought provoking and it's jammed full of non-stop action and suspense. I recommend anybody who likes action or suspense movies to pick up a copy of "Enemy of the State" right now. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. This and Independence Day made Will Smith one of my favorite movie actors of all time.

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector
March 30, 2009
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

[Its] spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they've spawned. Full Review

Jeff Millar
July 21, 2005
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle

Since Scott could not make this film snap, crackle or pop faster or more loudly, you might find the evening a bit light. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Hard to sit through. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 19, 2002
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

From there, with the mystery entirely gone and the thrills fading fast, the rest is pretty much a two-hour chase sequence, culminating in a hilariously maladroit shoot-out. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

What do you say about a movie that sends you home in a frenzy to search for bugs? In the new age of Big Brother, that's entertainment.

Kenneth Turan
February 14, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Practically an elder statesman compared to the technobrats Bruckheimer usually employs, Scott also pays attention to the acting and it pays off. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

It has a hurtling pace, nonstop intensity and a stylish, appealing performance by Will Smith! Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie is fast-paced, centered around two big chase scenes, and ending in a clever double-cross that leads to a big shootout. Full Review

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

An exciting if often overheated thriller! Full Review

Robert Horton
January 1, 2000
Robert Horton, Film.com

How idiotic!

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Facts

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    • Robert Clayton Dean: What the hell is happening?
    • Brill: I blew up the Building.
    • Robert Clayton Dean: Why?
    • Brill: Because you made a phone call!
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Enemy of the State Trivia

  • His nickname was "Prince" because he could always charm his way out of trouble. He battled aliens wearing only black, saved a country on Independence Day and then became an Enemy of the State. Who is he?  Answer »
  • name the movie in which Will Smith played a lawyer who gets mixed into trouble with computer spys and killers  Answer »
  • In which movie feature all of this actor:Will Smith,Jack Black,Gabriel Byrne,Jason Lee,Scott Caan,Jamie Kennedy,Gene Hackman,Jon Voight and Regina King?  Answer »
  • Which movie stars the following actors: Jake Busey Scott Caan Jason Lee Barry Pepper Jamie Kennedy Tom Sizemore Jon Voight Jack Black Will Smith Regina King  Answer »
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