Conspiracy Theory

Name: Conspiracy Theory
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Crime
Released: August 8, 1997
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson

1997

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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6.7

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6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 46 Ratings

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Conspiracy Theory

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: August 8, 1997 | R

Starring: Julia Roberts, Mel Gibson

Summary: Mel Gibson is a New York cabbie whose fascination with "conspiracies" in everyday life enmeshes him and a Justice Department attorney (Roberts) in a dangerous situation when one of his paranoid theories may indeed be true.
(Warner Bros.)

Director: Richard Donner

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 135 min

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Critic Reviews

Dallas Observer Michel Sragow

Even when Conspiracy Theory is jammed or rushed or overly jittery, Gibson's command--of Jerry's fractured psyche, his freak perceptions, and his ardor--gives the picture blue-eyed soul. Read full review

David Sterritt

Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts contribute major star power to the uneven tale, but it never becomes as convincing as a real conspiracy theory should. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

You're set up for when director Richard Donner -- who worked with Gibson on all three audience-pleasing Weapons -- switches the movie from a really interesting, jittery, literate, and witty tone poem about justified contemporary paranoia (and the creatively unhinged dark side of New York City) to an overloaded, meandering iteration of a Lethal Weapon project that bears the not-so-secret stamp of audience testing and tinkering. Read full review

Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

The film isn't really about much and so feels patchy and forced, with elements more calculated than inspired, more urgent than exciting. Read full review

James Berardinelli

In the end, Conspiracy Theory fails to work as an action film, a romance, or a mystery -- all of which it aspires to be. Read full review

Charles Taylor

Conspiracy Theory doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy, a political thriller, a romance or a satire. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

It might even have made a good film, but it hasn't. In the hands of stars in denial about their stardom and a director who can't be bothered to take things seriously, it has come out implausible and unsatisfying, a comic thriller that is not especially funny or thrilling. Read full review

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User Reviews

Copa

Aug 23, 2015

What's the matter with you people??Did you see what i see?Because this is one of the best movie ever...Not only Mel Gibson is absolutely perfect at his role and he showed us what talent means,but this movie has some great drama,crime,mystery and something like action a little bit!I recommendWhat's the matter with you people??Did you see what i see?Because this is one of the best movie ever...Not only Mel Gibson is absolutely perfect at his role and he showed us what talent means,but this movie has some great drama,crime,mystery and something like action a little bit!I recommend everyone to see it and in my opinion the 137,000,000 $ it took are not enough!… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Myon-Neutrino

Dec 5, 2020

Overwhelmingly well performed acting, really impressive. I love the setting and how you slowly figure out what´s going on. I had no problems matching the different groups and their interests like other reviewers criticized. Lovely Soundtrack. Also the chemistry between the protagonistsOverwhelmingly well performed acting, really impressive. I love the setting and how you slowly figure out what´s going on. I had no problems matching the different groups and their interests like other reviewers criticized. Lovely Soundtrack. Also the chemistry between the protagonists respectively the love story does look very good and delivers perfectly, it´s really heart touching, a match made in heaven. I don´t believe in those conspiracy theories in real life, but within the movie it´s pretty nicely done and fits in. You got action, drama, love story and even some kind of mystery in this movie. Some critics mentioned the predictability of this film, but I didn´t see many things coming so at least for me it was always pretty thrilling. Excellent movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BarbaMan

Jan 31, 2021

This movie is so underrated, it's very cool! This movie is so underrated, it's very cool! This movie is so underrated, it's very cool!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Compi24

Jul 25, 2013

Suffering heavily from an overall lack of chemistry and believability between its two leads, "Conspiracy Theory" also lugs a hefty amount of predictability and iffy writing across the finish line.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Voodoo123

May 17, 2021

On paper this should be a great movie. The cast, the cinematography, the plot. But the shame of it is it never finds a consistent tone and the chemistry just isn't there between the leads. Add to the that some terrible soundtrack choices and a screenplay that meanders around its complexOn paper this should be a great movie. The cast, the cinematography, the plot. But the shame of it is it never finds a consistent tone and the chemistry just isn't there between the leads. Add to the that some terrible soundtrack choices and a screenplay that meanders around its complex characters and situations with little grace. Huge missed opportunity.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieGuys

Aug 22, 2016

Conspiracy Theory isn't bad when it comes to most of the details, it's when we see the big picture that it becomes sloppy looking and barely pasted together. Roberts and Gibson have less-than-believable chemistry with an even less believable love story. The movie makes it look like MelConspiracy Theory isn't bad when it comes to most of the details, it's when we see the big picture that it becomes sloppy looking and barely pasted together. Roberts and Gibson have less-than-believable chemistry with an even less believable love story. The movie makes it look like Mel Gibson isn't even acting, the actor is just going through everyday life as a crazy, psycho conspiracy theorist.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

May 2, 2020

Il y avait de l'idée dans ce personnage complètement parano, exemple parfait de la théorie du complot ou plutôt des (innombrables) théories du complot et des (innombrables) complots (au super pluriel) ourdis sans arrêt par des salopards de comploteurs qui passent leur vie à comploter enIl y avait de l'idée dans ce personnage complètement parano, exemple parfait de la théorie du complot ou plutôt des (innombrables) théories du complot et des (innombrables) complots (au super pluriel) ourdis sans arrêt par des salopards de comploteurs qui passent leur vie à comploter en cachette, partout et tout le temps !

Et qui visent essentiellement ce pauvre chauffeur de taxi, lui le seul à savoir; à connaître la vérité sur les super comploteurs qui mettent en péril le monde entier... lui seul a vu les envahisseurs un soir dans son taxi et même qu'il aurait été enlevé par les "Roswell", les **** hommes gris, les proctologues de l'espace pour une série de tests très invasifs !

Et donc depuis lors, il l'a mauvaise, car il sait que les proctologues sont payés par la CIA ! et qu'ils ont tout organisé, tout planifié, exprès pour lui et contre lui...

Et donc... si seulement... mais non, hélas ! car dans ce film du cave Richar Donner avec ici un Mel Gibson insupportable de surjeu et de beauferie comploteuse à deux dollars, tout est vrai, vraiment vrai et le super débile parano a raison, voyez-vous ! et la grue à grande et sale gueule est là pour écouter ses conneries et le suivre !

Si seulement, c'était du 3ème, 4ème, 8ème degré... mais non, non, non : ce film entier est un dîner de cons non-stop bloqué entièrement au tout premier degré. Et ça, c'est hallucinant, aussi hallucinant qu'ultra consternant, très con-sternant, infniment consternant, pathétique et pitoyable...… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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57	#57 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
81	#81 Most Shared Movie of 1997