The Negotiator Poster

The Negotiator (1998)

R 07/29/1998 Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller 2h 20m
71%
User
Score
7.3/10
62/100

He frees hostages for a living. Now he's taking hostages to survive.

Overview

The police try to arrest expert hostage negotiator Danny Roman, who insists he's being framed for his partner's murder in what he believes is an elaborate conspiracy. Thinking there's evidence in the Internal Affairs offices that might clear him, he takes everyone in the office hostage and demands that another well-known negotiator be brought in to handle the situation and secretly investigate the conspiracy.

F. Gary Gray

Director

James DeMonaco

Screenplay

Kevin Fox

Screenplay

Top Billed Cast

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson

Lt. Danny Roman

Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey

Lt. Chris Sabian

David Morse

David Morse

Cdr. Adam Beck

Ron Rifkin

Ron Rifkin

Cdr. Grant Frost

John Spencer

John Spencer

Chief Al Travis

J. T. Walsh

J. T. Walsh

Insp. Terence Niebaum

Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Siobhan Fallon Hogan

Maggie

Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti

Rudy

Regina Taylor

Regina Taylor

Karen Roman

Full Cast & Crew →

Media

The Negotiator (1998) Trailer

The Negotiator (1998) Trailer

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Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf

Written on July 8, 2022

Samuel L. Jackson is renowned hostage negotiator "Roman" who is shocked to learn of the murder of his partner. A little further investigation reveals that he had been looking into a multi-million dollar pension fraud. Next thing he knows, "Roman" is being charged with his friend's killing and decides to turn the tables. He goes to the office of the Internal Affairs department, seizes some hostages, barricades himself into the locked office and summons another negotiator "Sabian" (Kevin Spacey) to the scene. What now unfolds is a cleverly crafted detective mystery as the two must overcome their initial professional suspicions of the other, and gradually try to piece together what actually did happen to his pal and to ascertain just who did steal all the cash! It's a good, solid, story this ...

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A review by RalphRahal

Written on February 8, 2025

The Negotiator is one of those classic thrillers that still holds up well today. The plot is engaging from the start, throwing you into a tense, high-stakes standoff where trust and deception play a big role. The pacing is solid, though it stretches a bit in parts, but the setup and execution make up for it.

F. Gary Gray's direction keeps the tension tight, balancing action and drama without overcomplicating things. The cinematography isn't flashy, but it works well in capturing the claustrophobic feel of the hostage situation, making you feel right there with the characters.

What really makes this movie stand out is the acting. Samuel L. Jackson delivers an intense, gripping performance that makes it easy to connect with his character and root for him. Kevin Spacey plays off him pe...

Read the full review on TMDb →
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