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Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Dagmara Dominczyk, Richard Harris, Luis Guzman ... see more see more... , James Frain , Henry Cavill , Albie Woodington , Michael Wincott , Alex Norton , Freddie Jones , Helen McCrory , Christopher Adamson

The classic tale of swashbuckling adventure by the senior Alexandre Dumas comes to the screen in its umpteenth incarnation, this time from Kevin Reynolds, directing his first feature in five years. Ja... read more read more...mes Caviezel stars as Edmond Dantes, an honest sailor who plans to marry his beautiful lover Mercedes (Dagmara Dominczyk). Edmond doesn't know that his best friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) secretly desires Mercedes for himself and schemes with fallen aristocrat Villefort (James Frain) to frame Edmond for a crime he didn't commit. Sentenced to life on the remote island prison of D'If, Edmond becomes consumed by plans for revenge. Thirteen years pass and he meets a fellow innocent convict, Abbe Faria (Richard Harris), who becomes Edmond's mentor in swordfighting, finance, and escape, confiding that a vast treasure awaits a discoverer on the island of Monte Cristo. Eventually, Edmond is able to get away using Faria's tunnels and makes his way to Monte Cristo, where he retrieves the fortune and uses it to make himself over as the wealthy "Count of Monte Cristo." With the help of a loyal sidekick (Luis Guzman), Edmond insinuates himself into French royalty and sets about getting revenge on Villefort and Fernand, who is now married to Mercedes. The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) also stars Michael Wincott and Albie Woodington. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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85% liked it

184,670 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

143 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 11 min.

Directed by: Kevin Reynolds

Release Date: January 25, 2002

Keywords: revenge, adventure

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DVD Release Date: September 10, 2002

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Stats: 10,522 reviews

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The Count of Monte Cristo JB Blanc as Luigi Vampa the count of monte cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo Edmond Dantes Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo Mercedes and Edmond The Count of Monte Cristo Dagmara Dominczyk The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo The Count of Monte Cristo
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Flixster Reviews (10,522)

  • fb535316333
    September 22, 2011
    fb535316333
    A somewhat promising first half, but the films "climatic" end unfolds like a terrible TV-drama so convenient in its staging and so static in its direction. YOU ONCE CALLED ME FRIEND, YOU BETRAYED ME, HE IS YOUR SON, BLAAAAAAAH!

    Seriously?

    The casting was great, but the un-profo... read moreund script and cliche themes of classicism completely fails to give the story any credible depth. Nothing but a polished period piece of rehash.
  • fb100001048934982
    June 20, 2011
    fb100001048934982
    'The Count of Monte Cristo' is a well-made film with great performances from all its actors. The movie fails, however, with its pacing issues and boring dialogue. It should earn credit for achieving what it set out to do, but it loses so much entertainment value along the way.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 29, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Count Of Monte Cristo is a terrific film filled adventure, action, deception and of course revenge. Based on Alexandre Dumas' work of the same name, Count Of Cristo tells the story of Edmond Dantes an honest sailor who is betrayed by his best friend who wants to steal Edmonds... read more fiancee for himself. Edmond is accused of conspiring against the French government after he encounters Napoleon on the island of Elba. For this he spends thirteen years in misery in the prison Chateau D'if. Edmond meets a priest in the prison who reveals that he stole a treasure. Dantes vows to escape and find the treasure and use it to exact revenge. He finds the treasure and becomes the Count of Monte Cristo. James Caviezel gives an electrifying performance as Edmond Dantes. Starring alongside Caviezel is Guy Pearce who is equally impressive in his role of Fernand Mondego, Edmonds best friend that betrayed him. Pearce gives a chilling, intense performance. I read Dumas book, and the film is fairly different of course, but both the book and this adaptation are action packed, thrilling and makes you want more. The Count Of Monte Cristo is an underrated film that should get more praise because it's a solidly acted film with good pacing. Both the book and this film are enjoyable, sure some key elements are missing, but like every book adaptation, things are changed to fit a two hour film instead of a three hour film. If every single detail of the book was in the film, you'd have a film thats 3 hours in length. A solidly paced, well acted and entertaining film thats a delight everytime I watch it. Count on revenge.
  • flixsterman
    March 31, 2011
    flixsterman
    Polished and over-produced but still better than I expected it to be. A pretentious, slightly hammy facsimile of the classic literature from which it sprang.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    December 6, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    Revenge is best served cold. Now, granted I've never read the book. In fact I think my only exposure to the story is the Wishbone version which greatly sweetens somethings. However, I actually really liked it. Revenge, Guy Pearce, swordplay, young Henry Cavill, what's not to like?
  • paulsandberg
    November 25, 2010
    paulsandberg
    Let me preface this review by saying that this film is a prime example of how what you want in a film effects how one will rate it.

    It's silly, often absurd, with a script painting the message in very broad strokes, but... if you are looking for good, old fashioned Earl Flynn ... read moretype adventure, with just enough intrigue and swordfights to keep things going; then this film works very well.

    Of course what one expects from a film should be obvious when considering it's source material (if you have any liberal arts education you should be well aware of Alexander Dumas, who in the mid 1800's penned this and such other well remembered and often filmed tales as The Man In The Iron Mask and the classic tale about a candy bar; the 3 Musketeers...hmm, a book about a candy bar and this one about a sandwich maker - if only the Iron Mask was renamed the Iron Chef - we'd definatly have a theme going on here).

    Roger Ebert gave this film high praise and I was looking for some escapist fare, which the film delivered. The sets were marvelous and the scenery breathtaking. The scene in which the Count makes his arrival into Paris society by descending from an air baloon while fireworks explode in the backround is a wonderful piece of classic filmmaking.

    The acting, for the most part was solid, from James Caviezel in the lead, to his slimey friend, the silver spooned count aptly portrayed by Guy Pierce. But it's two minor roles that really shine - the first "the Priest", another unfortunate soul unjustly imprisoned in the same hell hole as Caviezel, is a captivating performance by long time thespian Richard Harris, while the second is a fine comic performance by Louis Guzman who, after Caviezel saves him from death, swears fealty on the souls of his dead relatives and "those who aren't feeling so good".

    There is enough story here to keep you intrigued, with just enough dash and comic frivolity to remind you that this is just a bedtime story, and not something dripping in gravitas.

    The only times that the film really stumbles are mainly due to the source material - plot points that cannot be avoided, yet are just too pat and obvious, including the prequel to the final swordfight, nicely staged in a series of ruins, that unfortuntely has to include all of the main charactors, each with secrets to reveal. That the film rebounds with the nice final battle amongst the tall green fields is a testament to the directorial hand, giving you an approving nod to the film, especially if you are willing to simply settle in and be entertained in the good old fashioned way. I was only hoping that the Count of Monte Cristo at some point had a confrontation with the Earl of Sandwich - what an epic battle that would have been.
  • Tomassgringo
    September 23, 2010
    Tomassgringo
    This was one of the classics I never read. It was interesting to see how revenge can drive a person.... even my vengeance cannot motivate me like it did this guy! I wish I had read the book and will go back and do that because if I enjoy the book more than the movie like usual ... read moreit will be a great read.
  • Gx7
    September 19, 2010
    Gx7
    review to follow
  • gatorgirl13
    September 11, 2010
    gatorgirl13
    One of my favorites. It's based off of a book that I haven't read, so I can't compare the two, but I loved the film. It's heartbreaking at times, but the story ends in a fantastic way.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 7, 2010
    YosemiteSamFan
    Superb, high-quality version of this literary classic. It's very well done. I really got into the well-acted characters. The musical score is awesomely dramatic. The direction was top-notch. I really got involved in the story of revenge. The grungy dungeon scenes were a bit long,... read more but 13 year confinement needed to be stressed. Great sword fighting. The scenery is lovely. Napoleon could've been better depicted. The love story was dynamic and believable. Kids in school should be watching this quality drama. A powerful adaptation; I'm sure crappier film versions of this exist, but this isn't one of them. I'm surprised I didn't remember this being at theatres.

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Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington
July 20, 2002
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A big, vacuous, sometimes exciting glamour-puss of a movie. Full Review

Don Irvine
March 19, 2002
Don Irvine, Globe and Mail

All in all, it's a pretty good execution of a story that's a lot richer than the ones Hollywood action screenwriters usually come up with on their own. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
February 3, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Old-form moviemaking at its best.

Owen Gleiberman
January 30, 2002
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

There's a thin line between likably old-fashioned and fuddy-duddy, and The Count of Monte Cristo ... never quite settles on either side. Full Review

Joe Leydon
January 25, 2002
Joe Leydon, Variety

A rousingly old-fashioned swashbuckler with an abundance of vigorous action and nary a trace of wink-wink irony. Full Review

Claudia Puig
January 25, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

[A] pleasant diversion. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
January 25, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

[An] above average piece of junk. Full Review

Bob Graham
January 25, 2002
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

This new movie version of the Alexandre Dumas classic is the stuff of high romance, brought off with considerable wit. Full Review

Roger Moore
January 25, 2002
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Betrays the author's intent and makes wholesale changes in the well-known plot.

John Anderson
January 25, 2002
John Anderson, Newsday

It's a Count for our times.

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Facts

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    • Fernand: What happened to your mercy?
    • Edmond Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo: I'm a count, not a saint.
    • Abbe Faria: The stronger swordsman does not necessarily win. It is speed! Speed of hand, speed of mind.
    • Edmond Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo: I have seventy-two thousand five-hundred and nineteen stones in my walls. I've counted them many times.
    • Abbe Faria: But have you named them yet?
    • Jacopo: Once again, Zatarra, God sees you out of the corner of His eye.
    • Edmond Dantes/The Count of Monte Cristo: If you ever loved me, don't rob me of my hate. It's all I have.
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The Count of Monte Cristo Trivia

  • Name the movie with this quotation: "You're the son of a clerk; and I'm not supposed to want to be you."  Answer »
  • In 2000, James Frain played the loveable hero Forney Hull to Natalie Portman's Novalee Nation in "Where the Heart Is". Two years later he played the crooked prosecuter Villefort to Jim Caviezel's Edmund in what movie?  Answer »
  • This is the tagline: Prepare for adventure. Count on revenge   Answer »
  • Starring Jim Cavizel. Parts of this movie were filmed in Malta. What is it?  Answer »
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