The Usual Suspects

Name: The Usual Suspects
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: August 16, 1995
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Chazz Palminteri, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey

1995

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 692 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 692 Ratings

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The Usual Suspects

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Movie Details & Credits

Gramercy Pictures (I) | Release Date: August 16, 1995 | R

Starring: Chazz Palminteri, Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacey

Summary: Five career criminals in New York are rounded up for a standard police line-up. After release, they get together for a bit of revenge by pulling off a $3 million emerald heist. This scheme brings them to the attention of an underworld crime figure who convinces them to do a highly dangerous job.

Director: Bryan Singer

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 106 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Wilmington

A near-classic blend of mystery, personality, humor and terror, laced with one stunning shock after another. [18 August 1995, Friday, p.C]

100

G. Allen Johnson

This movie has everything but Humphrey Bogart, and I'm sure he's sorry he was unavailable. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

A movie with style to burn, and, initially, that is this crime drama's most mesmerizing aspect. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Goes straight to cult status without quite touching one important base: the audience's emotions. This movie finally isn't anything move than an intricate feat of gamesmanship, but it's still quite something to see. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

The Usual Suspects is a maze that moviegoers will be happy to get lost in, a criminal roller coaster with twists so unsettling no choice exists but to hold on and go along for the ride. Read full review

Film.com Sean Means

Something quite different: A movie that's smarter than you are.

Roger Ebert

To the degree that you will want to see this movie, it will be because of the surprise, and so I will say no more, except to say that the "solution," when it comes, solves little - unless there is really little to solve, which is also a possibility. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kiva

Aug 21, 2013

I really don't know where to start from. It's obviously one of the best films ever made and one of my favorites and it has like the very best twist I have seen in my life and I have seen a lot of films with great twists. The twist is even better than Prestige's one. At the beginning the filmI really don't know where to start from. It's obviously one of the best films ever made and one of my favorites and it has like the very best twist I have seen in my life and I have seen a lot of films with great twists. The twist is even better than Prestige's one. At the beginning the film is a little overcomplicated but when you start realizing what is happening you will not want to pause that film for any reason. It has action and suspense. It has everything that a film like that should have. It has great actors and an excellent storyline. The whole movie is interesting. I don't know what else to say just watch that movie and you will understand my words... It's a perfect masterpiece!… Expand

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

JaredPalmgren

Sep 7, 2016

I'll be honest. I had a long flight back from London and I came across this movie. I had heard it was good so I tried it out. Holy....crap.... I did not realize that I had stumbled upon one of my favorite movies of all time. The cast was perfect. The story was flawless. It kept me guessingI'll be honest. I had a long flight back from London and I came across this movie. I had heard it was good so I tried it out. Holy....crap.... I did not realize that I had stumbled upon one of my favorite movies of all time. The cast was perfect. The story was flawless. It kept me guessing until the final twist, which is up there with Vader being Luke's father. I feel this is a forgotten masterpiece that more needs to be seen more.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

FranzHcritic

Aug 24, 2013

One of the most original and surprising films. Kevin Spacey nails his oscar as this enigma Verbal Kint. The ending is one of the biggest shocks in cinema. It takes more than two and two to get the ending. If you don't believe me, then GIVE ME THE F***ING KEYS YOU F***ING C*****KER, MOTHER****A!!!

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

moslegend34

Jun 12, 2015

Chilling, breathtaking and absolutely brillant! While the wheels sometimes shud to a halt with these sorts of mystery flicks the pendulum kept swinging. Spacey was fantastic in arguably his best career performance alongside American Beauty (and House of Cards more recently). ThisChilling, breathtaking and absolutely brillant! While the wheels sometimes shud to a halt with these sorts of mystery flicks the pendulum kept swinging. Spacey was fantastic in arguably his best career performance alongside American Beauty (and House of Cards more recently). This German-American neo noir mystery film combines a chilling soundtrack, intricate but palatable plot, As well as dazzling performances from Stephen Baldwin and Benicio Del Toro.
The action sequences are unpredictable if not spectacular while the dialogue is at times, utterly mesmerising. I finished the movie in total awe and with renewed faith in this troubled medium. Kaiser Sose is watching!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Viper8787

Apr 21, 2014

A great thrilling movie. Great acting by all with a stand out performance by Kevin Spacey. The action was great in this film was awesome. And the way the stories were really cool and well done. And then the ending came and holy I can honestly say I didn't see that one coming that's all I amA great thrilling movie. Great acting by all with a stand out performance by Kevin Spacey. The action was great in this film was awesome. And the way the stories were really cool and well done. And then the ending came and holy I can honestly say I didn't see that one coming that's all I am going to say so that I don't give anything away.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

796712

Sep 24, 2010

this film was fantastic i loved the neonoir affect would highly reccomend watching this film my only negative feedback is the ending the twist in the film was over rated the film was famous because of its ending but the ending wasnt really for me

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

SEROJ

Feb 6, 2016

The Usual Suspects is just so usual, that i predicted the end in the beginning. So decent and boring, and i couldn't care less about the characters. But i think you should watch it, because all other people enjoyed it, and it may be just my point of view.

0 of 10 users found this helpful010

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27	#27 Best Movie of 1995
5	#5 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
8	#8 Most Shared Movie of 1995