IMDb 7.8 1999 HD

The Insider

The Insider

1999
Drama Thriller
158 min R USA
7.454 / 10
7.8 IMDB

A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Michael Mann / Julie Pitkanen / Eva Z. Cabrera / Jody Spilkoman / Julie Herrin / Patrick Mangan / Daniel Oron / Itai Tamir / Michael Waxman / Basti Van Der Woude / Revital Zimering / Louis Guerra / Tamar Ichilov
Starring
Al Pacino / Russell Crowe / Christopher Plummer / Diane Venora / Philip Baker Hall / Lindsay Crouse / Debi Mazar / Stephen Tobolowsky

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

gripping intense powerful suspenseful thought-provoking dramatic well-acted serious exposing courageous ethical compelling

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 12, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A truly exceptional film that marries a gripping narrative with profound ethical questions. Russell Crowe is utterly captivating as the embattled chemist, his performance a raw testament to the human cost of integrity. Al Pacino is equally superb,…

A
Arthur Sterling
May 12, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'The Insider' presents a compelling, if at times heavy, account of corporate whistleblowing. Russell Crowe anchors the film with a performance that effectively communicates the immense pressure and isolation faced by his character. Al Pacino adds significant star…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 12, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is potent, timely cinema that dissects the perilous journey of a whistleblower. Russell Crowe is phenomenal, conveying the crushing weight of Wigand's predicament with profound authenticity. Al Pacino brings a vital, electrifying energy to his role as…

M
Marcus Finch
May 12, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

'The Insider' is a meticulously crafted exposé, a tense thriller disguised as a biographical drama. Crowe’s portrayal of Wigand is a study in quiet desperation and moral fortitude, a man systematically dismantled by the forces he dares to…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 12, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A masterclass in procedural drama, 'The Insider' grips you from the outset. Russell Crowe delivers a career-defining performance as Jeffrey Wigand, embodying the immense personal cost of whistleblowing with raw vulnerability. Al Pacino, as the driven producer, is…

FAQs

Russell Crowe undergoes a remarkable transformation to portray Jeffrey Wigand. He captures the character's initial reluctance, his growing moral conviction, and the profound personal cost of his decision to expose Big Tobacco. Crowe conveys Wigand's vulnerability and his quiet determination, making the audience keenly aware of the immense pressure he is under. His performance is a nuanced exploration of an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances, highlighting the immense courage it takes to stand against powerful adversaries and the personal devastation that can result.