Conspiracy Theory

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Conspiracy Theory

R,

1997,

2h 9m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Action

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Watchlist

Watchlist

60%

42 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

100,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

New York City cabbie Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) is an expert on paranoid conspiracy theories. He is also infatuated with government lawyer Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), who permits his attention because he once rescued her from a mugging. However, when Jerry is captured and put through psychotic tests by Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart), he realizes there is an actual conspiracy. After escaping, Jerry enlists Alice's help, but she wonders whether he has uncovered a real threat or is just insane.

Carol Buckland

CNN.com

Jan 5, 2018

Conspiracy Theory is the smartest thriller of the summer.

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Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Nov 6, 2002

4/5

Donner directs with an efficient hand. He keeps the action moving briskly. But most important for this format, he knows how to slip in a quick joke or two without detracting from the tension of the suspenseful plot.

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Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Jun 18, 2002

2/4

The film starts to sour after 20 minutes...

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Sep 19, 2025

3/5

Donner glosses over the improbabilities with his usual considerable style and bravura, and Gibson and Roberts make an engaging team, but the uneasy combination of light laughs and unsavoury darkness eventually conspires against them.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 11, 2020

8/10

Drollness tinges the panic and irreverence that go hand in hand with Mel Gibson; he plays crazy incredibly well.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Oct 23, 2009

2.5/4

...a marginally engrossing thriller that ultimately comes off as something of a disappointment...

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Rey G

Jan 20, 2019

Extreme, but not so much and at the end it works

Hermione W

Dec 30, 2018

Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts are gold in this movie directed by "Superman" and "Lethal Weapon" Director Richard Donner! Who could ask for more Action, Suspense, and a good sense of humor in this Entertaining 1997 flick.

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Harry W

Dec 11, 2018

Jerry's fractured and lovable DEMEANOUR made me fall in love with this film. it's smart, WITTY and absolutely HILARIOUS.

Draco R

Nov 25, 2017

Is this a comedy? a thriller? a romance? an action film? Just like the conspiracy theories that Gibson's character rattles off without connection or consequence, nothing makes sense and nothing matters here.

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Draco S

Nov 21, 2017

Conspiracy Theory tries to be too many different films; it could have been much better with a simpler structure. Nevertheless, the film works - mostly as a thriller, and less so as an action/comedy/romance - thanks to two great performances and a clever story that can only be fully appreciated at the very end. Mel Gibson plays a variation on the manic, crazy character we've seen in other films, but he plays that very, very well, and completely commands the screen. Julia Roberts proves once again what a great actress she is by playing this role straight, with no cynicism, and is completely believable.

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Finn G

Aug 20, 2017

Having worked in Federal Mental Health for 20 years...This is absolutely accurate. 1 of the few movies I will watch with Julia Roberts in it. Most anyone CAN always play her parts. I generally watch for the Male Star...as in Mel Gibson here, Denzel in The Pelican Brief.

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Richard Donner

Director

Mel Gibson

Jerry Fletcher

Julia Roberts

Alice Sutton

Patrick Stewart

Dr. Jonas

Cylk Cozart

Agent Lowry

Steve Kahan

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Synopsis

New York City cabbie Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) is an expert on paranoid conspiracy theories. He is also infatuated with government lawyer Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), who permits his attention because he once rescued her from a mugging. However, when Jerry is captured and put through psychotic tests by Dr. Jonas (Patrick Stewart), he realizes there is an actual conspiracy. After escaping, Jerry enlists Alice's help, but she wonders whether he has uncovered a real threat or is just insane.

Director: Richard Donner
Producer: Joel Silver, Richard Donner
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Silver Pictures, Donner/Schuler-Donner, Warner Brothers
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 8, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $76.1M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: SDDS, DTS, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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