The Negotiator

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The Negotiator

R

1998

2h 18m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.

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Critics Consensus

The Negotiator's battle of wits doesn't wholly justify its excessive length, but confident direction by F. Gary Gray and formidable performances makes this a situation audiences won't mind being hostage to.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Sep 11, 2006

B-

Teaming for the first time Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jackson, arguably the two best actors of their generation, in perfectly fitting roles is a shrewd move and the best element of this fact-inspired but overwrought thriller

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Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

A hybrid action-drama featuring the choreographed pyrotechnics of director Gray and a battle of words between contrasting hostage negotiators Jackson and Spacey.

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Charles Taylor

Salon.com

Jan 1, 2000

"The Negotiator" slogs on for two hours and 20 minutes, and there's hardly a real laugh or a genuine thrill in it.

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Dec 13, 2023

3.5/5

When, in a weary moment, Danny says “you can’t beat the system,” Samuel L. Jackson underlines the underpinnings that still distinguish "The Negotiator" and that there could have been no more perfect project for Jackson’s leap into leading-man status.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Jul 28, 2020

2/5

A big, dumb, lumbering cop thriller that works through a very familiar, very basic formula, very, very slowly indeed.

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Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Jun 27, 2011

3.5/5

It's not perfect, but it's enjoyable enough to be one of those movies I might stop channel surfing to watch on late-night television.

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Zane T

@ZaneThind 4 days ago

A riveting crime thriller that keeps you in the driver's seat at all times. Backed by great performances, especially from Samuel L Jackson, Paul Giamatti, and Kevin Spacey. They deserved Oscar recognition for this.

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Ian R

@RT23899272 Aug 30, 2026

Tediously long film. Preposterous presumption to begin the story. Sam Jackson is again type cast as the token black actor. Okay, if you have nothing better to do with over 2 hours.

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Teddy S

@Teddy_S Aug 25, 2026

Basic and predictable story but well executed. Elevated into must-watch territory by Jackson and Spacey, who are both utterly compelling.

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 May 4, 2026

Entertaining. The kind of movie you throw on to decompress at night. Crime, mystery, action, and a solid cast. Still, it drags its feet, and the thrill factor isn’t really there. An average popcorn film.

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Frans B

@FransB Mar 24, 2026

Brilliant! Edge of your seat anticipation. Great work by F. Gary Gray in directing and bringing this to screen. Very well written. Great cinematography and visually appealing. Whole cast very convincing in character with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey deserving commendation. Lots of action, intrigue, suspense, drama, emotion and twists. Classic and noteworthy

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Nicholas T

@nicktalbert2025 Mar 15, 2026

Crime action movie drama

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F. Gary Gray

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Lt. Danny Roman

Kevin Spacey

Lt. Chris Sabian

David Morse

Cmdr. Adam Beck

Ron Rifkin

Cmdr. Grant Frost

John Spencer

Chief Al Travis

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Synopsis

Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) is considered the best police hostage negotiator in Chicago. After a friend warns him that someone is embezzling from a disability fund, the person is found dead. Internal affairs investigator Niebaum (J.T. Walsh) discovers the gun used had been handled by Roman. When no one believes his innocence, Roman takes Niebaum hostage. When Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) arrives to hear Roman's demands, the two skilled negotiators begin a tense stand-off.

Director: F. Gary Gray
Producer: Arnon Milchan, David Hoberman
Screenwriter: James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers, New Regency Pictures, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.7M
Runtime: 2h 18m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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