Rotten Tomatoes Logo Do you want to see ‘The Usual Suspects’?

The Usual Suspects (1995)

tomatometer

89

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Reviews Counted: 54
Fresh: 48 | Rotten: 6

Expertly shot and edited, The Usual Suspects gives the audience a simple plot and then piles on layers of deceit, twists, and violence before pulling out the rug from underneath.

81

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 3

Expertly shot and edited, The Usual Suspects gives the audience a simple plot and then piles on layers of deceit, twists, and violence before pulling out the rug from underneath.

audience

95

liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 385,169

My Rating

Movie Info

Near the end of The Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey, in his Oscar-winning performance as crippled con man Roger "Verbal" Kint, says, "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." This may be the key line in this story; the farther along the movie goes, the more one realizes that not everything is quite what it seems, and what began as a conventional whodunit turns into something quite different. A massive explosion rips through a ship in a San Pedro, CA,

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Christopher McQuarrie

Dec 9, 1999

Gramercy Pictures

Cast

All Critics (54) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (60) | Rotten (6) | DVD (38)

I didn't believe this story for a minute, even in movie terms -- though it's less offensive than a piece of junk like Apt Pupil, Singer's subsequent feature.

March 28, 2011 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (14)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A terrific cast of exciting actors socks over this absorbingly complicated yarn that's been spun in seductively slick fashion by director Bryan Singer.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This movie finally isn't anything more than an intricate feat of gamesmanship, but it's still quite something to see.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Usual Suspects is the freshest, funniest and scariest crime thriller to come along since Pulp Fiction.

May 12, 2001 Comment
Rolling Stone
Top Critic IconTop Critic

But like a tale from the Arabian Nights, told for the sheer pleasure of storytelling, this elegant puzzle not only enjoys showing off, it also has something to show.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | Comment
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Nothing is what it seems in this layered, velvety movie (which was shot in handsome wide-screen format) -- the truth keeps shifting -- and nothing matters either.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | Comment
Sacramento Bee
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A masterpiece of the modern film noir genre, a terrific performance piece for everyone involved and an absolutely outstanding directorial effort.

January 29, 2012 Full Review Source: IGN DVD | Comment
IGN DVD

Overpraised though it is, Bryan Singer's twisty debut is still worth a look on Blu-ray for both its minor, diabolical pleasures and the solid job MGM has done on the transfer.

June 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

While it's fair to call The Usual Suspects a gimmick in search of a movie, one could say something similar of, say, an Agatha Christie mystery. [Blu-ray]

June 1, 2011 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | Comment

Anything but usual, Singer's movie is pretty damn near untouchable. Next to this, most other crime films feel petty.

March 28, 2011 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie's tough-guy dialogue and Bryan Singer's crisp direction give the ensemble cast every opportunity to shine, and they do.

March 28, 2011 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bryan Singer's poker face is worthless at best.

February 27, 2010 Full Review Source: Projection Booth | Comments (10)
Projection Booth

Profane, violent crime thriller has novel twists.

December 1, 2009 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

This movie stands up under (and even invites) multiple viewings.

July 25, 2007 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis | Comment
Movie Metropolis

Stylishly made but narratively hollow and dramatically derivative, Bryan Singer's neo-noir puzzle owes its existence to Tarantino.

September 1, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comments (5)

To many young film buffs, this is where film history begins and ends.

July 8, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

McQuarrie's script is a scurrying lizard of a yarn, scaly, swift and difficult to follow.

July 7, 2006 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | Comment
Arizona Daily Star

Singer creates a classy, thought-provoking mystery that is pleasingly old-fashioned and absolutely modern in the sly, slightly self-conscious play it makes with myth and methods of storytelling.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

If ever a movie got extra points for a strong, unexpected conclusion it's The Usual Suspects.

January 23, 2006 Comment
Fantastica Daily

Not to be believed for a NYC second.

December 9, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No one is out of place or out of line here, and that is what makes the final payoff so sweet.

July 23, 2005 Full Review Source: Bullz-Eye.com | Comment
Bullz-Eye.com

One of the most ingenious, unpredictable films in recent memory... and one of the biggest cheats.

December 22, 2004 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comments (7)
TheMovieReport.com
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Usual Suspects

A group of hardened career criminals find themselves in the same police line up and decide to use the opportunity to pull a lucrative heist, little knowing that their strings are being pulled by a notoriously ruthless underworld figure. Bryan Singer's debut was a beautifully crafted crime thriller taking a lot of cues

October 20, 2006
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

A great noir film for any fan of good twist and turns. The cast is fantastic with gabriel byrne leading the gang of misfits. Definitely a gem of the 90's!

October 27, 2011
paul o.
paul oh

Super Reviewer

    1. Todd Hockney: Hand me the keys, you fucking cocksucker.
    2. Arresting Officer: #2, step forward.
    3. McManus: Give me the fuckin' keys, you fuckin' cocksucka. Motherfucka, blahhhhhhh!!!!
    4. Arresting Officer: Knock it off, get back. #3, step forward.
    5. Fred Fenster: Give me the keys, ya cocksucka.
    6. Arresting Officer: In English, please?
    7. Fred Fenster: Excuse me?
    8. Arresting Officer: In English.
    9. Fred Fenster: Give me the fuckin' keys, you cocksucka. What the fuck?
    – Submitted by Michael C (40 days ago)
    1. Roger "Verbal" Kint: You think you can catch Keyser Soze? You think a guy like that comes this close to getting caught and sticks his head out? If he comes up for anything, it will be to get rid of me. After that... my guess is you'll never hear from him again.
    – Submitted by Sam B (7 months ago)
    1. Roger "Verbal" Kint: Well I believe in God, and the only thing that scares me is Keyser Soze.
    – Submitted by Briain d (8 months ago)
    1. Roger "Verbal" Kint: And like that... he's gone.
    – Submitted by Briain d (9 months ago)
    1. Roger "Verbal" Kint: The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.
    – Submitted by Raja S (10 months ago)

Latest News for The Usual Suspects

December 20, 2011:
Five Favorite Films with Emile Hirsch
Whether he's piloting futuristic racing cars around a kaleidoscopic funhouse or perishing earnestly...

January 4, 2009:
Video Exclusive: Benicio del Toro talks Che and Wolf Man
Benicio Del Toro faced his greatest acting challenge when he took on the role of Ernesto "Che"...

What's Hot On RT

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray
RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

<em>Amazing Spider-Man</em>
Amazing Spider-Man

See the all-new action-packed trailer!

The Avengers!
The Avengers!

Five new Marvelous pictures

Total Recall
Total Recall

Unconventional Superheroes

Top Movie Quizzes

LEGO Mania: 2011 Best Picture Nominees
by natalie - 18,515 taken
created 12 months ago
How Much Do You Know About Leonardo DiCaprio?
by natalie - 44,313 taken
created 15 months ago
Pixar Movies!
by jdikwlzviv - 27,078 taken
created 15 months ago
The Wizards of Harry Potter
by jdikwlzviv - 27,589 taken
created 15 months ago
Help | About | Jobs | Newsletter | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Blog | Developers | Mobile