Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Formula 51

Original title: The 51st State
  • 2001
  • R
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
52K
YOUR RATING
Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle in Formula 51 (2001)
Theatrical Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:09
4 Videos
44 Photos
Buddy ComedyCaperDark ComedyActionComedyCrimeThriller

An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.An American master chemist plans to score big on a once in a lifetime drug deal. All does not go as planned and he is soon entangled in a web of deceit.

  • Director
    • Ronny Yu
  • Writer
    • Stel Pavlou
  • Stars
    • Samuel L. Jackson
    • Robert Carlyle
    • Emily Mortimer
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    52K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ronny Yu
    • Writer
      • Stel Pavlou
    • Stars
      • Samuel L. Jackson
      • Robert Carlyle
      • Emily Mortimer
    • 170User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 23Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    Formula 51
    Trailer 2:09
    Formula 51
    Formula 51 Scenes: Scenes
    Clip 0:36
    Formula 51 Scenes: Scenes
    Formula 51 Scenes: Scenes
    Clip 0:36
    Formula 51 Scenes: Scenes
    Formula 51: B-Roll
    Featurette 4:23
    Formula 51: B-Roll
    Formula 51: Featurette
    Featurette 6:56
    Formula 51: Featurette

    Photos44

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 38
    View Poster

    Top cast41

    Edit
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Elmo McElroy
    Robert Carlyle
    Robert Carlyle
    • Felix DeSouza
    Emily Mortimer
    Emily Mortimer
    • Dakota Parker
    Nigel Whitmey
    Nigel Whitmey
    • L.A. Highway Patrol
    Robert Jezek
    • Priest
    Meat Loaf
    Meat Loaf
    • The Lizard
    Jake Abraham
    • Konokko
    Mac McDonald
    Mac McDonald
    • Mr. Davidson
    Aaron Swartz
    • Mr. Yuri
    David Webber
    David Webber
    • Mr. Jones
    Michael J. Reynolds
    Michael J. Reynolds
    • Mr. Escobar
    Sonny Muslim
    • Boy in Plane
    Barbara Barnes
    • Boy's Mother
    Junix Inocian
    Junix Inocian
    • Mr. Ho-Fat
    Paul Barber
    Paul Barber
    • Frederick
    Christopher Hunter
    Christopher Hunter
    • Lawrence
    Stephen Walters
    Stephen Walters
    • Blowfish
    James Roach
    • Grimtooth
    • Director
      • Ronny Yu
    • Writer
      • Stel Pavlou
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Samuel L. Jackson Through the Years

    Samuel L. Jackson Through the Years

    Take a look back at Samuel L. Jackson's movie career in photos.
    See the gallery
    Editorial Image
    Photos

    More like this

    Shaft
    6.0
    Shaft
    Mean Machine
    6.4
    Mean Machine
    Kevin & Perry Go Large
    5.7
    Kevin & Perry Go Large
    One Eight Seven
    6.6
    One Eight Seven
    The 51st State
    The 51st State
    Mike Bassett: England Manager
    6.8
    Mike Bassett: England Manager
    The Full Monty
    7.2
    The Full Monty
    Changing Lanes
    6.5
    Changing Lanes
    S.W.A.T.
    6.1
    S.W.A.T.
    The Negotiator
    7.3
    The Negotiator
    Basic
    6.4
    Basic
    xXx
    5.8
    xXx

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writer Stel Pavlou was working as an assistant in a liquor store when he penned his screenplay. It was sent, on speculation, to Tim Roth, as Pavlou knew that Roth insisted on reading all independent scripts sent his way.
    • Goofs
      When Dakota and Felix are fooling around in the bath-tub, they throw their underpants onto the floor. Yet Felix still is wearing white underpants, visible for some seconds when he's turning around in the tub.
    • Quotes

      Elmo: You're gonna kiss the sun and taste the motherfuckin' rainbow.

    • Crazy credits
      Shortly after the credits start there is a short segment with Elmo on the Golf Course outside the castle on the post card
    • Connections
      Featured in HBO First Look: Formula 51 (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Them Changes
      Written by Buddy Miles (as Miles)

      Published by Miles Ahead Music c/o Rondor Music (Ldn) Ltd.

      Performed by Buddy Miles

      Courtesy of Mercury Records Ltd. (London)

      Licensed by kind permission from the Film & TV Licensing Division, Part of the Universal Music Group

    User reviews170

    Featured review

    Brilliant (still a Brit-flick)

    An absolutely brilliant flick! Le must - for many decent DVD collection. Fast paced. Not a single second of it is boring. Not even out of rhythm.

    Keeps you glued to the seat. Not tiring when you watch it over and over again. Besides this movie has a very rare quality. You can successfully quote many lines from the film - in different conversations. Extremely useful bonus.

    I truly wish I could watch a movie like that every day. It inspires. Sorry about the last couple of sentences being a bit contrived. I was unaware of a 10 line rule! A++++++++++
    • exciter-2
    • Jun 5, 2004
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ19

    • How long is Formula 51?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 18, 2002 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Fórmula 51
    • Filming locations
      • Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Alliance Atlantis Communications
      • Focus Films
      • Fifty First Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $27,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,204,007
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,817,719
      • Oct 20, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,881,605
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle in Formula 51 (2001)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Formula 51 (2001) officially released in India in Hindi?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.