7.4/10
307,067
1,221 user 155 critic

Equilibrium (2002)

Trailer
1:18 | Trailer
In an oppressive future where all forms of feeling are illegal, a man in charge of enforcing the law rises to overthrow the system and state.

Director:

Kurt Wimmer

Writer:

Kurt Wimmer
Popularity
1,964 ( 478)
2 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Bale ... John Preston
Dominic Purcell ... Seamus
Sean Bean ... Partridge
Christian Kahrmann ... Officer in Charge
John Keogh ... Chemist
Sean Pertwee ... Father
William Fichtner ... Jurgen
Angus Macfadyen ... Dupont (as Angus MacFadyen)
David Barrash David Barrash ... Evidentiary Storage Officer
Dirk Martens ... Gate Guard
Taye Diggs ... Brandt
Matthew Harbour ... Robbie Preston
Maria Pia Calzone ... Preston's Wife
Emily Siewert Emily Siewert ... Lisa Preston
Emily Watson ... Mary O'Brien
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Storyline

In a futuristic world, a strict regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Cleric John Preston (Bale) is a top ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist the rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce the strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the only person capable of overthrowing it. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The only thing more powerful than the system, is the man that will overthrow it. See more »


Certificate:

14A | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The visual effects budget ran out during post and was forced to keep some practical effects. This can be most easily noted during scenes where people are shot and murdered. Instead of blood erupting from them large clouds of dust can be seen. The intention originally was to use the dust base and develop blood clouds using CGI. See more »

Goofs

During the scene in which Brandt picks up Preston at the distribution center, the wheels on the Seville change from the custom five spoke alloys to the standard Cadillac wheel for that particular model, and then back again. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
DuPont: In the first years of the 21st century, a third World War broke out. Those of us who survived knew mankind could never survive a fourth; that our own volatile natures could simply no longer be risked. So we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.
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Connections

Referenced in Deadpool (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125: I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
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User Reviews

 
but seriously... Could Christian Bale be any better?
16 April 2008 | by IrisGoethSee all my reviews

My review is one on Christian Bale rather than the movie per se. His going from stone-cold to an emotional man is simply flawless. He gets to transmit everything the story needs at the right time. Bale is the greatest actor of his generation and never afraid to get his hands REALLY dirty. He's played a highly controversial psycho (in an admittedly light version of a really crude and insightful novel... But you realise after you watch him, every time you read the novel again HE IS Patrick Bateman), a LITERALLY starving and tormented loner (please see The Machinist if only for his PERFECT, ground-breaking work of art, which includes both his acting skills and his beyond-emaciated body), a hopeful gay teenager turned hopeless adult (Velvet Goldmine, where he's amazingly accurate in a minor -as length goes- role and you really believe he's a shy and lively teenager and minutes later you believe he's a weary, melancholy adult), a conflicted superhero (the best Batman by far, followed by Michael Keaton of course) and all sorts of middle-of-the-road characters. He's not your average mainstream star and he'll never be, I hope... He's too much in love with his work to become that. Good for him.

Equilibrium is a very fine movie. Highly entertaining, the score was more than okay, the casting does a really good job (I liked The Matrix -although I prefer Equilibrium's sobriety and rhythm, which many may find boring-, but come on... The actors were inferior and I'm sorry but Keanu Reeves just can't make it. Where Bale is all complex, nuanced and charismatic, Reeves is just handsome wood) and the fight scenes are beautiful to look at. Cons are the Father, who seemed too weak to me, and the ending which doesn't do justice to what comes before. In any case, this is an above-average sci-fi flick. Take a look.


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Frequently Asked Questions

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 2003 (Canada) See more »

Also Known As:

Equilibrium See more »

Filming Locations:

Germany See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$541,512, 8 December 2002

Gross USA:

$1,203,794

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,368,217
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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