The Informers

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The Informers

R

2009

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

13%

Tomatometer

104 Reviews

18%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In the 1980s Los Angeles, a group of self-absorbed hedonists drift through their lives without the benefit of a moral compass. A movie executive (Billy Bob Thornton) carries on an affair with a newscaster, while his son (Jon Foster) tries to sort out his relationship with his promiscuous girlfriend (Amber Heard). Meanwhile, a sleazy ex-con (Mickey Rourke) hatches a plan to sell a kidnapped child for some quick cash.

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Critics Consensus

As miserable and insipid as its protagonists, The Informers fails to provide anything to think about after the sheen of fake blond is gone.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Sep 12, 2017

C

It was a series of randomness that don't really offer much information or contribute to the overall point.

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Rob Nelson

Variety

Sep 1, 2009

Rating less than zero on the sophistication scale, The Informers is thus a totally faithful adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' novel--and an accurate look at early '80s-era Los Angeles.

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Cosmo Landesman

The Times (UK)

Jul 24, 2009

2/5

It has a good cast and a terrific 1980s soundtrack (Devo, Simple Minds), but it also has the superficiality of a TV soap. The Informers is not so bad that you can't sit back and enjoy it, but nor is it good enough to go and see.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 28, 2020

3/10

Compounding the lack of intrigue is a storyline that is all introduction and setup, leaving the audience waiting for a third act that never comes.

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Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

Aug 18, 2011

Heaven protect us from any more Bret Easton Ellis versions of Tales of the Empty Lives of Los Angeles.

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Burl Burlingame

Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Jul 5, 2011

1/4

Brad Renfro in his last movie role, playing a wannabe film actor who sprays out filthy perspiration like a collie emerging from a sewer. It's possible this role killed Renfro.

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Sue R

@Susanne818 Feb 20, 2026

'The Informers' showed the energy and lifestyle of 1980's Los Angeles to be spot on....but the storyline was dull, the acting was not great and the movie itself seemed just thrown together without thinking

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Demetris A

@RT47166951 Dec 29, 2025

Blonds are awesome. I’m not sure why everyone hates blonds. Especially true blonds are exotic!!!!

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 31, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 38 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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David F

@dfulmer Jun 28, 2025

I mean, the book was better but I guess that goes without saying. This film didn’t make much of an impression on me.

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Alain E

@AlainE Nov 27, 2024

As a movie accused of nihilism the ideal approval rating should be 0%, so the 10% positive reviews it accumulated indicates failure. What it actually shows is, that it went way above the comprehension level of the audience. Strangely, the other movie based on a Bret Easton Ellis book American Psycho, which describes a character without any redeeming values except the ability to recognize the best in consumption goods, was universally praised. The main differences with the present movie is that the director then was female and the Christian Bale character mutilated dead women. In the present film the Mickey Rourke miscreant abducts a little boy in a foolish plan to ask for ransom, but eventually the child is set free. Maybe the reviews would be more positive if the child was murdered. The film describes the hedonistic society that is about to be upended by the emergence of AIDS. Cinematography is excellent with very good music and first class actors. But people want to watch realistic movies like the Avatar and Avengers sagas.

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Peter G

@PeterGabrielle Jun 11, 2024

A majorly misunderstood movie. A lovely dark and disturbing drama about the collapse of honest living.

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Gregor Jordan

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

William Sloan

Kim Basinger

Laura Sloan

Mickey Rourke

Peter

Winona Ryder

Cheryl

Jon Foster

Graham Sloan

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Synopsis

In the 1980s Los Angeles, a group of self-absorbed hedonists drift through their lives without the benefit of a moral compass. A movie executive (Billy Bob Thornton) carries on an affair with a newscaster, while his son (Jon Foster) tries to sort out his relationship with his promiscuous girlfriend (Amber Heard). Meanwhile, a sleazy ex-con (Mickey Rourke) hatches a plan to sell a kidnapped child for some quick cash.

Director: Gregor Jordan
Producer: Marco Weber
Screenwriter: Bret Easton Ellis, Nicholas Jarecki
Distributor: Senator Film
Production Co: Senator Entertainment
Rating: R (Nudity|Drug Use|Pervasive Language|Some Disturbing Images|Strong Sexual Content)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 9, 2009
Runtime: 1h 38m

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