Equilibrium

40%

Tomatometer

90 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

In a futuristic world, a regime has eliminated war by suppressing emotions: books, art and music are strictly forbidden and feeling is a crime punishable by death. Clerick John Preston (Christian Bale) is a top-ranking government agent responsible for destroying those who resist these rules. When he misses a dose of Prozium, a mind-altering drug that hinders emotion, Preston, who has been trained to enforce strict laws of the new regime, suddenly becomes the one capable of overthrowing it.

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Equilibrium

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Equilibrium is a reheated mishmash of other sci-fi movies.

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Critics Reviews

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Nathan Rabin

AV Club

Though ultimately silly, Equilibrium's shopworn but stylish synthesis of ammo and ideas is surprisingly engrossing.

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Violent post-nuclear sci-fi is Orwellian.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Wally Hammond

Time Out

Bale is too self-conscious an action hero, and although the script may have the virtue of transparent plagiarism, it teeters both dramatically and conceptually.

Jan 26, 2006

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The costuming, set designs, and music (by Klaus Badelt, which is actually spectacular) are far more impressive than anyone might expect.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 29, 2020

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Leah Rozen

People Magazine

A balanced thriller.

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

Kurt Wimmer's Equilibrium is a dreary sci-fi action movie set after the Third World War in a dystopia from which all dangerous human emotion has been drained by the daily injection of the drug Prozium and the burning of art and books.

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Reviews

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John Q BRilliant Low budget film that looks into orwellian society with a uniquie prisim. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/24/24 Full Review Walter B Low budget. High entertainment. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/18/24 Full Review Jeff R The premise of a tyrannical government suppressing freedom and burning books, is nothing new. It has been done several times and is the exact purpose for the existence of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. However, what sets this apart from those other stories is the action. The “guncata” and sword play is incredibly well choreographed and provides a fresh approach to action in general. Although the obvious ending can be seen a mile away, it does provide a few surprises. This is not the best movie you will see but I think it brings a fresh approach to action movies. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/18/24 Full Review Thomas K This is one of those movies, much more people should watch. It is great. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Alec B Far sillier than it's drab design and overly serious tone suggests. Also, the plot can't follow it's own absurd internal logic. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/14/23 Full Review Troy K True that this film takes a ton of liberties that make it seem like a ripoff of other dystopian movies like The Matrix franchise but the performances of Christian Bale, Emily Watson, a pre-GOT Sean Bean and yes, even Taye Diggs plus the introduction of a unique style of fighting known as the gun kata (also referred to as "Gun Fu") makes the film a lot more enjoyable than most of the critics that trashed it say it was. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Equilibrium

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Cast & Crew

Kurt Wimmer Director Christian Bale John Preston Emily Watson Mary Taye Diggs Brandt Angus Macfadyen DuPont Sean Bean Partridge

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Equilibrium

Equilibrium: Official Clip - Sense Offender