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Enemy of the State

Play trailer 2:01 Poster for Enemy of the State R 1998 2h 7m Mystery & Thriller Action Adventure Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 82 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) has a congressman assassinated to assure the passage of expansive new surveillance legislation. When a videotape of the murder ends up in the hands of Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), a labor lawyer and dedicated family man, he is framed for murder. With the help of ex-intelligence agent Edward "Brill" Lyle (Gene Hackman), Dean attempts to throw Reynolds off his trail and prove his innocence.
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Enemy of the State

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Critics Consensus

An entertaining, topical thriller that finds director Tony Scott on solid form and Will Smith confirming his action headliner status.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/24/2010
3/5
Decent thriller; not suitable for kids. Go to Full Review Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader 03/30/2009
[Its] spirited action is balanced by an almost contemplative attitude toward surveillance phobias and the movie cliches they've spawned. Go to Full Review Time Out 01/26/2006
Add Smith's lippy innocent and a host of subcontracted indie fresh faces, and you have the Bruckheimer formula: loud, lavish, seemingly efficient; over-large, over-long, over-plotted. Safe and sorry. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
It’s a shame to see a film about the intelligence community executed with so little intelligence but it’s a fun ride. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 09/11/2020
7/10
Far ahead of its time in educating society on its rapidly diminishing freedoms from governmental scrutiny, the screenplay favorably manages not to forget to entertain. Go to Full Review Michael Gaither Santa Cruz Sentinel 03/25/2020
B+
Scott creates suspense by utilizing believable technology and realistic, well-grounded characters. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bruce F @bruce999 Aug 4 nicely crafted movie, with lots of suspense, all the way through. enjoyable. See more Jason R @J-Rush1411 Jun 25 Probably Will Smith at his best acting wise, quite the storyline See more AJ L @aj9843 Jun 9 Gunfight scene at the end was straight comedy. Completely didn't match the tone of the rest of the film lol See more Mark B @Thelaser555 May 19 Will Smith is in his element as he fills the screen with an electrifying performance as the hunted working man lawyer in this fast paced thriller. Didn't see the need for Hackman's overbearing character in this movie. It was all going along very nicely with the excellent Jon Voigt who plays the corrupt agency official Thomas Reynolds until Hackman shows up. Two's company and three's a crowd in this one. Still, it all turned out as it should have done with Smith's gritty determination to survive climaxing this great flick. See more Kirsten W @kirght Feb 17 Great fun from beginning to end. Moving performances. See more Raphaël T @Salbataaar Feb 13 Good action, decent plot, this action thriller as a good plot and the cast delivers appropriate performances. Keep in mind that this movie predates the Snowden leak by 15 years. Nowadays, everybody knows about NSA and surveillance, yet, back in the day it wasn't such common knowledge. The unfolding of the plot is relatable, even if the film looses some steam here and there, it's worth a watch. See more Read all reviews
Enemy of the State

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Cast & Crew

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Tony Scott

Director

Will Smith

Robert Clayton Dean

Gene Hackman

Edward 'Brill' Lyle

Jon Voight

Thomas Brian Reynolds

Lisa Bonet

Rachel F. Banks

Regina King

Carla Dean

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Enemy of the State

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Enemy of the State

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Movie Info

Synopsis Corrupt National Security Agency official Thomas Reynolds (Jon Voight) has a congressman assassinated to assure the passage of expansive new surveillance legislation. When a videotape of the murder ends up in the hands of Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith), a labor lawyer and dedicated family man, he is framed for murder. With the help of ex-intelligence agent Edward "Brill" Lyle (Gene Hackman), Dean attempts to throw Reynolds off his trail and prove his innocence.
Director
Tony Scott
Producer
Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter
David Marconi
Distributor
Touchstone Home Video, Buena Vista International [us], Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 4, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$111.5M
Runtime
2h 7m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
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