The Usual Suspects
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:24:56 PM Wikipedia source
The Usual Suspects is a 1995 crime thriller film directed by Bryan Singer and written by Christopher McQuarrie. It stars Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite and Kevin Spacey. The plot follows the interrogation of Roger "Verbal" Kint, a small-time con man, who is one of only two survivors of a massacre and fire on a ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. Through flashback and narration, Kint tells an interrogator a convoluted story of events that led him and his criminal companions to the boat, and of a mysterious crime lord—known as Keyser Söze—who controlled them. The film was shot on a $6 million budget and began as a title taken from a column in Spy magazine called "The Usual Suspects", after one of Claude Rains' most memorable lines in the classic film Casablanca, and Singer thought that it would make a good title for a film. The film was shown out of competition at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival and then initially released in a few theaters. It received favorable reviews and was eventually given a wider release. Praise went towards the mystery elements, screenplay, plot twist, and Spacey's performance. McQuarrie won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Spacey won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. The Writers Guild of America ranked the film as having the 35th-greatest screenplay of all time.
Infobox
Directed by
Bryan Singer
Written by
Christopher McQuarrie
Produced by
mw- Bryan Singer Michael McDonnell
Starring
Stephen Baldwin Gabriel Byrne Benicio del Toro Chazz Palminteri Kevin Pollak Pete Postlethwaite Kevin Spacey
Cinematography
Newton Thomas Sigel
Edited by
John Ottman
Music by
John Ottman
Productioncompanies
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Bad Hat Harry Films Blue Parrot Productions Spelling Films International
Distributed by
Gramercy Pictures (United States) Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (Germany)
Release dates
January 25, 1995 (1995-01-25) (Sundance) August 16, 1995 (1995-08-16) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
Countries
United States Germany
Language
English
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$67 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Won
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen
Award
Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen
Category
Christopher McQuarrie
Nominee(s)
Won
American Cinema Editors Awards
American Cinema Editors Awards
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Nominee(s)
John Ottman
Result
Nominated
Artios Awards
Artios Awards
Award
Artios Awards
Category
Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama
Nominee(s)
Francine Maisler
Result
Won
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Won
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer and Michael McDonnell
Result
Nominated
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Christopher McQuarrie
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
John Ottman
Nominee(s)
Won
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Christopher McQuarrie
Nominee(s)
Won
Most Promising Actor
Most Promising Actor
Award
Most Promising Actor
Category
Benicio del Toro
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Chlotrudis Awards
Chlotrudis Awards
Award
Chlotrudis Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Won
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards
Critics' Choice Awards
Award
Critics' Choice Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Won
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Kevin Spacey
Nominee(s)
Won
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Award
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Christopher McQuarrie
Result
Won
Empire Awards
Empire Awards
Award
Empire Awards
Category
Best Debut
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards
Independent Spirit Awards
Award
Independent Spirit Awards
Category
Best Supporting Male
Nominee(s)
Benicio del Toro
Result
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Christopher McQuarrie
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Newton Thomas Sigel
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Kinema Junpo Awards
Kinema Junpo Awards
Award
Kinema Junpo Awards
Category
Best Foreign Language Film
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer
Result
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Runner-up
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top 10 Films
Nominee(s)
10th Place
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Kevin Spacey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Acting by an Ensemble
Best Acting by an Ensemble
Award
Best Acting by an Ensemble
Category
Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Runner-up
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor
Nominee(s)
Won
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Won
Sant Jordi Awards
Sant Jordi Awards
Award
Sant Jordi Awards
Category
Best Foreign Actor
Nominee(s)
Chazz Palminteri
Result
Won
Sarajevo Film Festival
Sarajevo Film Festival
Award
Sarajevo Film Festival
Category
Audience Award for Best Feature Film
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer
Result
Won
Saturn Awards
Saturn Awards
Award
Saturn Awards
Category
Best Action/Adventure Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Bryan Singer
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Music
Best Music
Award
Best Music
Category
John Ottman
Nominee(s)
Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Award
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Category
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominee(s)
Kevin Spacey
Result
Nominated
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
Award
Seattle International Film Festival
Category
Best Director
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer
Result
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Kevin Spacey
Nominee(s)
Won
Society of Texas Film Critics Awards
Society of Texas Film Critics Awards
Award
Society of Texas Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Bryan Singer
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Kevin Spacey
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Screenplay
Award
Best Original Screenplay
Category
Christopher McQuarrie
Nominee(s)
Won
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
8th Place
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo International Film Festival
Award
Tokyo International Film Festival
Category
Silver Award
Nominee(s)
Bryan Singer
Result
Won
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Turkish Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominee(s)
2nd Place
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | |
| Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | ||
| American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Feature Film | John Ottman | Nominated | |
| Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama | Francine Maisler | Won | |
| Boston Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Film | Bryan Singer and Michael McDonnell | Nominated | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | ||
| Best Editing | John Ottman | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | ||
| Most Promising Actor | Benicio del Toro | Nominated | ||
| Chlotrudis Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | |
| César Awards | Best Foreign Film | Nominated | ||
| Critics' Choice Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Picture | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | ||
| Edgar Allan Poe Awards | Best Motion Picture | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | |
| Empire Awards | Best Debut | Bryan Singer | Won | |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Kevin Spacey | Nominated | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male | Benicio del Toro | Won | |
| Best Screenplay | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Newton Thomas Sigel | Nominated | ||
| Kinema Junpo Awards | Best Foreign Language Film | Bryan Singer | Won | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Runner-up | |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top 10 Films | 10th Place | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | ||
| Best Acting by an Ensemble | Won | |||
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Runner-up | |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Motion Picture | Won | ||
| Sant Jordi Awards | Best Foreign Actor | Chazz Palminteri | Won | |
| Sarajevo Film Festival | Audience Award for Best Feature Film | Bryan Singer | Won | |
| Saturn Awards | Best Action/Adventure Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Bryan Singer | Nominated | ||
| Best Music | John Ottman | Won | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Kevin Spacey | Nominated | |
| Seattle International Film Festival | Best Director | Bryan Singer | Won | |
| Best Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | ||
| Society of Texas Film Critics Awards | Best Film | Won | ||
| Best Director | Bryan Singer | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Kevin Spacey | Won | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Christopher McQuarrie | Won | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Picture | 8th Place | ||
| Tokyo International Film Festival | Silver Award | Bryan Singer | Won | |
| Turkish Film Critics Association Awards | Best Foreign Film | 2nd Place | ||
References
- The Usual Suspectshttps://web.archive.org/web/20141129064853/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/usual-suspects-1970-4
- British Film Institutehttps://web.archive.org/web/20180913151523/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7e102253
- The Usual Suspectshttps://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Usual-Suspects-The#tab=summary
- Screen International
- festival-cannes.comhttp://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/3358/year/1995.html
- "101 Greatest Screenplays"http://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-greatest-screenplays/list
- Usual Suspects
- Huffington Posthttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/benicio-del-toro-accent_n_6580574
- The Usual Suspectshttps://books.google.com/books?id=cTr8DwAAQBAJ
- The Sundance Kids: How the Mavericks Took Back Hollywoodhttps://archive.org/details/sundancekidshowm0000mott
- The Usual Suspects
- The Usual Suspects
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- The Globe and Mail
- The Usual Suspects DVD commentary featuring Bryan Singer and Christopher McQuarrie, [2000]. Retrieved September 27, 2002
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/article/2006/02/03/usual-suspects-oscar-upset/
- Moviemakerhttp://www.moviemaker.com/articles-directing/bryan-singer-confidence-man-3221/
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- Boston Globe
- Houston Chronicle
- American Cinematographerhttp://www.theasc.com/magazine/july00/suspense/index.htm
- American Cinematographerhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090904095805/http://www.ascmag.com/magazine_dynamic/July2006/SupermanReturns/page1.php
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- The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/03/bryan-singers-accusers-speak-out/580462/
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://ew.com/movies/2017/12/08/bryan-singer-kevin-spacey-usual-suspects/
- YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i92r9CQYsDg
- Entertainment Weekly
- MusicfromtheMovies.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090221092505/http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/feature.asp?ID=137
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- Variety
- Suspects
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- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/usual_suspects/
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-usual-suspects
- The Usual Suspectshttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-usual-suspects-1995
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttps://www.rogerebert.com/roger-ebert/eberts-most-hated
- Usual Suspects,
- The Usual Suspectshttps://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/the-usual-suspects-19950816
- Usual Suspects
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/16/movies/film-review-putting-guys-like-that-in-a-room-together.html
- The Usual Suspects
- Bravehearthttps://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/26/movies/gibson-best-director-for-braveheart-best-film.html
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- IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114814/awards/
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- Empireonline.comhttps://www.empireonline.com/awards2003/pastwinners/1996.asp
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-22-mn-27442-story.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-03-25-ca-50950-story.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-17-me-15039-story.html
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- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/04/movies/babe-is-chosen-as-best-film-by-national-society-of-critics.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/15/movies/leaving-las-vegas-is-voted-best-film-by-critics-circle.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-02-26-ca-40205-story.html
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- BBC Onlinehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2005/09/16/chocolate_2005_review.shtml
- Tied with Ed Harris for Apollo 13, Just Cause and Nixon