Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Informers

Play trailer Poster for The Informers R 2009 1h 38m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Informers

The Informers

What to Know

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/12/2017
C
It was a series of randomness that don't really offer much information or contribute to the overall point. Go to Full Review Rob Nelson Variety 09/01/2009
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. Go to Full Review Cosmo Landesman The Times (UK) 07/24/2009
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. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 11/28/2020
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. Go to Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express 08/18/2011
Heaven protect us from any more Bret Easton Ellis versions of Tales of the Empty Lives of Los Angeles. Go to Full Review Burl Burlingame Honolulu Star-Advertiser 07/05/2011
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Sue R @Susanne818 Feb 20 '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 See more Demetris A @RT47166951 Dec 29 Blonds are awesome. I’m not sure why everyone hates blonds. Especially true blonds are exotic!!!! See more Stephen C @bob25009 Aug 31 Success in 1 hour and 38 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more David F @dfulmer 06/28/2025 I mean, the book was better but I guess that goes without saying. This film didn’t make much of an impression on me. See more Alain E @AlainE 11/27/2024 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. See more Peter G @PeterGabrielle 06/11/2024 A majorly misunderstood movie. A lovely dark and disturbing drama about the collapse of honest living. See more Read all reviews
The Informers

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Gregor Jordan

Director

Billy Bob Thornton

William Sloan

Kim Basinger

Laura Sloan

Mickey Rourke

Peter

Winona Ryder

Cheryl

Jon Foster

Graham Sloan

More Like This

View All
The Black Dahlia 32% 27% The Black Dahlia Watchlist Law Abiding Citizen 26% 75% Law Abiding Citizen Watchlist TRAILER for Law Abiding Citizen Gone Baby Gone 94% 86% Gone Baby Gone Watchlist Killer Joe 80% 61% Killer Joe Watchlist Mother 96% 89% Mother Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

The Informers

Jon Foster as Graham Sloan and Amber Heard as Christie in "The Informers." Mickey Rourke as Peter in "The Informers." (Standing) Austin Nichols as Martin in "The Informers." (Front L-R) Rhys Ifans as Roger and Mel Raido as Bryan Metro in "The Informers." Billy Bob Thornton as William Sloan and Kim Basinger as Laura Sloan in "The Informers." View more photos

Movie Info

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
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings