Equilibrium

Released Dec 6, 2002

1h 47m

Sci-Fi

Drama

List

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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Xii-Nyth

It's like instructions of how to cure depression

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/24

Full Review

faye m

Brilliantly entertaining, action packed and thought-inducing; this dystopia never fails to amaze me even despite watching it multiple times. Christian plays the role effortlessly. The subtle transistion between the absense of emotion versus the abundance of emotion that he displays is flawless and beautiful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/24

Full Review

John Q

BRilliant Low budget film that looks into orwellian society with a uniquie prisim.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/24/24

Full Review

Walter B

Low budget. High entertainment.

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 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 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

Full Review

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Kurt Wimmer

Director

Christian Bale

John Preston

Emily Watson

Mary

Taye Diggs

Brandt

Angus Macfadyen

DuPont

Sean Bean

Partridge

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Equilibrium: Official Clip - Sense Offender