Don't Say a Word

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Don't Say a Word

R,

2001,

1h 53m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

24%

115 Reviews

Tomatometer

49%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

24%

Tomatometer

115 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Ruthless crook Patrick Koster (Sean Bean) and his partner capture young Jessie Conrad (Skye McCole Bartusiak) and hold her for an unusual ransom. Koster wants Jessie's therapist father, Nathan (Michael Douglas), to somehow coax traumatized teen Elisabeth (Brittany Murphy) into divulging a mysterious code number that will lead the criminals to a hidden jewel worth a fortune. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to convince the delusional Elisabeth to cooperate: she hasn't spoken in 10 years.

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Critics Consensus

Don't Say A Word is slick and competently made, but the movie is routine and stretches believability with many eye rolling moments.

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Manohla Dargis

L.A. Weekly

Oct 21, 2002

Fleder can only fling the camera about and indulge in some familiar screen sadism ... as he tries to squeeze a few thrills from material as desiccated as his leading man.

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Jane Crowther

BBC.com

Nov 19, 2001

3/5

A smart script and great casting elevate a pedestrian premise to the status of satisfying thriller.

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Michael Atkinson

Village Voice

Oct 2, 2001

As an odyssey of paternal qualm, Fleder's forgettable thriller has a convincing edge, and Douglas remains unchallenged as Hollywood's most tremulous and disquieting dad-under-pressure.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

4 days ago

3/4

...a solid thriller that probably could’ve used a few judicious edits.

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Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

Nov 11, 2025

4/5

Viewers who like dark psychological thrillers and being kept on the edge of their seats will find this one well worth watching.

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Pat Stacey

The Herald (Ireland)

Oct 17, 2017

Don't Say a Word is mediocre, shrink-wrapped Hollywood pap.

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Kylo W

Mar 29, 2019

A Thriller as made ten times in the 90s. Lots of cinematographic effects but a scenario not so original

Finn R

Feb 2, 2017

It's good movie to watch

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Gary Fleder

Director

Michael Douglas

Dr. Nathan Conrad

Sean Bean

Patrick B. Koster

Brittany Murphy

Elisabeth Burrows

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Jessie Conrad

Guy Torry

Martin J. Dolen

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Synopsis

Ruthless crook Patrick Koster (Sean Bean) and his partner capture young Jessie Conrad (Skye McCole Bartusiak) and hold her for an unusual ransom. Koster wants Jessie's therapist father, Nathan (Michael Douglas), to somehow coax traumatized teen Elisabeth (Brittany Murphy) into divulging a mysterious code number that will lead the criminals to a hidden jewel worth a fortune. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to convince the delusional Elisabeth to cooperate: she hasn't spoken in 10 years.

Director: Gary Fleder
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Arnold Kopelson, Anne Kopelson
Screenwriter: Anthony Peckham, Patrick Smith Kelly, Andrew Klavan
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: New Regency Pictures, Kopelson Entertainment
Rating: R (Some Gruesome Images|Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.0M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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