The Siege (1998)
60%RT Audience Score: 53%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations
An exciting, well-paced action film
The Siege is like that one friend who tries to be deep and philosophical but ends up just being confusing and contradictory. Some critics praise the performances of Denzel Washington and Annette Bening, while others criticize the movie’s portrayal of other cultures. Overall, it’s a solid concept that falls short in execution. But hey, at least it’s not as bad as that one movie you watched on a plane and regretted immediately.
Production Company(ies)
Norma Productions, Curtleigh Productions, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster Productions,
Distributor
Fox, 20th Century Fox
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity
Year of Release
1998
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 56m
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Language(s):English, Arabic, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 6, 1998 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 28, 1999
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
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Worldwide gross: $116,672,912
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $214,111,245
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 657
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 23,349,100
US/Canada gross: $40,981,289
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $75,206,444
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 885
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,931,285
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $25,565,872
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 534
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $70,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $128,459,870
Production budget ranking: 280
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $69,175,640
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $16,475,734
ROI to date (est.): 8%
ROI ranking: 1,356
Michelle Monaghan – Angie Gennaro
Morgan Freeman – Jack Doyle
Ed Harris – Det. Remy Broussard
John Ashton – Nick Poole
Amy Ryan – Helene McCready
Director(s)
Edward Zwick
Writer(s)
Lawrence Wright, Lawrence Wright, Menno Meyjes, Edward Zwick
Producer(s)
Lynda Obst, Edward Zwick
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (62) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (27) | Rotten (35)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B-
Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
The Siege attempts to update the bluffs and counterfeints of the Cold War spy thriller, not to advance any ideological point but to obscure the fact that it doesn’t have one.
March 5, 2002
Ken Hollings
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s difficult to sustain a responsible subtext when you’re delivering the jolts required to keep butts in the seats.
May 11, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Even at its most unbelievable, The Siege has the performances of Washington and Bening to fall back on, and a theme that understands that what’s difficult is not choosing right from wrong but ‘choosing the wrong that’s more right.’
February 14, 2001 | Rating: 3/5
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Just about distinguishable from several dozen predecessors in the same apocalyptic vein.
January 1, 2000
Stanley Kauffmann
The New Republic
TOP CRITIC
The Siege may well be based on a huge ‘what if?’ premise, but it’s smart, taut and knows exactly what the hell it’s doing. And it does it well.
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 4/5
Bob McCabe
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Unfortunately, the movie’s ignorant portrayals of other cultures while espousing a message of brotherhood comes across as not a little hypocritical.
February 16, 2019 | Rating: B-
Zaki Hasan
Zaki’s Corner
…a solid concept in search of a consistent (and engaging) execution.
May 29, 2016 | Rating: 1.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
More political than entertaining, The Siege is a reflection of our heightened awareness and sensitivity to terrorism and the price of freedom.
June 21, 2007
Ryan Cracknell
Calgary Movies
April 9, 2005 | Rating: B+
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
May 26, 2004 | Rating: 4/10
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Zwick (Courage Under Fire) has fashioned another ethical tour de force that reveals his dedication to serious filmmaking.
November 6, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality & Practice…
Plot
After the abduction by the US military of an Islamic religious leader, New York City becomes the target of escalating terrorist attacks. Anthony Hubbard, the head of the FBI’s Counter-Terrorism Task Force in New York, teams up with CIA operative Elise Kraft to hunt down the terrorist cells responsible for the attacks. As the bombings continue, the US government responds by declaring martial law, sending US troops, led by Gen. Devereaux, into the streets of New York City.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
NA
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