RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Equilibrium
Equilibrium

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Equilibrium (2002)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
36 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:81

Fresh:29

Rotten:52

Average Rating:4.7/10

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

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: Director Kurt Wimmer (ULTRAVIOLET) injects style into this sci-fi/action film that channels the visual energy of THE MATRIX and invokes the politics of BRAVE NEW WORLD. In a futuristic society... Director Kurt Wimmer (ULTRAVIOLET) injects style into this sci-fi/action film that channels the visual energy of THE MATRIX and invokes the politics of BRAVE NEW WORLD. In a futuristic society where the government requires citizens to stay tranquil and submissive by taking a psychological drug, people no longer have emotions. Because of this, there are no more wars, but there is also no literature, music, or art of any kind. But when an enforcement agent (Christian Bale, THE DARK KNIGHT) realizes that peaceful oblivion may not be the answer, he thinks about overthrowing his oppressors. EQUILIBRIUM’s cast also includes Sean Bean (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING), Taye Diggs (CHICAGO), William Fichtner (PRISON BREAK), and Emily Watson (RED DRAGON). [More]

Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner

Starring: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Taye Diggs, William Fichtner, Emily Watson, Angus MacFadyen

Director: Kurt Wimmer

Director: Kurt Wimmer
Screenwriter: Kurt Wimmer
Studio: Dimension Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 6

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Equilibrium

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
81 - 92 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

The characters act like robots, and the story unfolds like a computer program.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/05/02
Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune

It's the action sequences in this movie that sell.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
12/05/02
Bob Longino
Bob Longino
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flashy gadgets and whirling fight sequences may look cool, but they can't distract from the flawed support structure holding Equilibrium up.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/05/02
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Filmcritic.com

Either Preston is really good at martial arts, or everyone else is really bad. Probably a little of both.

comment Comment
12/04/02
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

A flaccid sci-fi opus slavishly modeled on 'Fahrenheit 451'...flat and antiseptic.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
12/04/02
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Unapologetic landslide of steaming balderdash.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
12/03/02
Dennis Lim
Dennis Lim
Village Voice

...a cinematic disaster so inadvertently sidesplitting it's worth the price of admission for the ridicule factor alone.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
12/03/02
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
11/26/02
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

It's at once laughable and compulsively watchable, in its committed dumbness.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
11/23/02
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

Equlibrium could pass for a thirteen-year-old's book report on the totalitarian themes of 1984 and Farenheit 451.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
11/12/02
Ed Gonzalez
Ed Gonzalez
Slant Magazine

Superb production values & Christian Bale's charisma make up for a derivative plot.

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
11/11/02
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Post 9/11 the philosophical message of “Personal Freedom First” might not be as palatable as intended.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
11/06/02
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com
 
 
81 - 92 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5
all

Latest News for Equilibrium

March 31, 2009: The Legacy of The Matrix
1999 was one of the most important years for modern cinema. Ten years on, we're celebrating a remarkable twelve months of movies with new features around some of the year's best... More...

July 24, 2007: Tom Cruise Aims to Get Salty for His Next Role
He's already got Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" and Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs" on the way, but the United Artists head honcho seems to have a new gig lined up, too. More...

May 05, 2006: "Saw 3" Cast Buzzing
The horror fans know they'll (seemingly) always have a new "Saw" flick to enjoy each October -- and they'll also be happy to know that series regulars Tobin Bell,... More...

February 27, 2006: "Ultraviolet" Photo Update!
Navigate your way over to the "Ultraviolet" movie page to see stills from the futuristic actioner starring Milla Jovovich, opening this week! More...

See All

More DVDs

Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
14% 14% The Ugly Truth
98% 98% Up
36% 36% G.I. Joe: The Rise of …
52% 52% The Taking of Pelham 1…
45% 45% Ice Age: Dawn of the D…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
32% 32% Terminator Salvation
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
86% 86% A Christmas Tale
60% 60% Paper Heart

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Twilight Saga: Eclipse

5 facts straight from the cast.

Disney Animation

Disney Animation

We chart the studio's classics.

Avatar

Avatar

An exclusive look at the human hardware.

Eric Bana

Eric Bana

The Star Trek star talks cars with RT.

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Don't Hold Your Breath for Hancock 2 Source: HitFix
8
  • Peter Berg Talks Battleship Source: CHUD
0
  • Summit Ponders Twilight Finale Source: Variety
96
  • First Look at Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Source: USA Today
36
  • Jeremy Renner Talks Hawkeye Possibilities Source: Superhero Hype
14
  • Todd Phillips Talks The Hangover 2 Source: Entertainment Weekly
18
  • Tron Legacy Duo Heading into The Black Hole Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • First Iron Man 2 Poster Released Source: Yahoo! Movies
80
  • Ryan Reynolds Talks Green Lantern Source: MTV
16
  • Paul Greengrass Quits Fourth Bourne Source: The Playlist
36
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
98
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
96
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
91
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Vampires and Football Break Thanksgiving Records
35
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
28
  • Total Recall: Natalie Portman's Best Movies
25
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
24
  • Five Favorite Films with Jesse Ventura
19
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Terminator Salvation and a Smithsonian Battle
17
  • Duncan Jones Reteams With Kevin Spacey
5
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
22
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Equilibrium at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Equilibrium at IGN
  • Equilibrium at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
RT on YouTube
RT on YouTube External Link

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

RT on Twitter
RT on Twitter External Link

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.