The Negotiator Poster
MOVIEmeter
Top 5000
Down 686 this week

The Negotiator (1998)

R  140 min  -  Action | Crime | Drama   -  29 July 1998 (USA)
7.2
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 7.2/10 from 58,811 users   Metascore: 62/100 
Reviews: 260 user | 121 critic | 23 from Metacritic.com

In a desperate attempt to prove his innocence, a skilled police negotiator accused of corruption and murder takes hostages in a government office to gain the time he needs to find the truth.

Director:

F. Gary Gray
Watch Trailer
 Loading Watchlist 

Watch now

Buy it from Amazon »

Watch on TV

Related Lists

image of title
a list of 969 titles by ultra_madness created 2 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 1,784 titles by andythompson1999 created 2 weeks ago
 
image of title
a list of 1,971 titles by django-16 created 7 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 733 titles by dvlspice created 7 months ago
 
image of title
a list of 76 titles by mvcredsox87 created 1 month ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Download the free IMDb App
2 wins & 6 nominations See more awards »
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson ...
Danny Roman
Kevin Spacey ...
Chris Sabian
David Morse ...
Adam Beck
Ron Rifkin ...
Grant Frost
John Spencer ...
Chief Al Travis
J.T. Walsh ...
Terence Niebaum
Siobhan Fallon ...
Maggie
Paul Giamatti ...
Rudy
Regina Taylor ...
Bruce Beatty Bruce Beatty ...
Markus
Michael Cudlitz ...
Palermo
Carlos Gómez ...
Eagle
Tim Kelleher Tim Kelleher ...
Argento
Dean Norris ...
Scott
Nestor Serrano ...
Hellman
Edit

Storyline

In the midst of an elaborate conspiracy, an expert negotiator is driven to the edge when he's framed for the murder of his partner, as well as embezzling money from his department's pension fund. His only chance to prove his innocence is to take hostages himself, acquire the services of another expert negotiator, and find out who's running the conspiracy before it's too late. Written by Ted Walters  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Negotiator | Police | Hostage | Murder | Conspiracy  | See more »

Taglines:

Chicago's two top negotiators must face each other. One of them is holding hostages. The other is demanding surrender. And everyone's holding their breath. See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Verhandlungssache See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$10,218,831 (USA) (2 August 1998) (2436 Screens)

Gross:

$44,484,065 (USA) (1 November 1998)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital  | DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the fact that this was filmed in Super 35, "Filmed in Panavision" is listed in the end credits. See more »

Goofs

Errors in geography: Although the movie is set in Chicago, two of the volumes in Niebaum's office are from Ohio Jurisprudence, a legal encyclopedia of Ohio law. See more »

Quotes

Lieutenant Chris Sabian: Well I guess you think Butch and Sundance lived too.
See more »

Connections

References L.A. Confidential (1997) See more »

Soundtracks

"Doin' What I Did"
(1994)
Performed and Written by Dwight Yoakam
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Markets See more »