The Siege

1998
15
1h 56m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

80K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer2:06

2 Videos

55 Photos

Political Thriller Action Thriller

The secret U.S. abduction of a suspected terrorist leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York City, which leads to the declaration of martial-law.The secret U.S. abduction of a suspected terrorist leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York City, which leads to the declaration of martial-law.The secret U.S. abduction of a suspected terrorist leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York City, which leads to the declaration of martial-law.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

80K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total

User reviews309

Featured review

The Siege raised questions that we should have been asking before the tragedy of 9/11.

I seem to remember that this film was looked down upon by the Arab Americans. I don't understand that considering the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 and some of the perpetrators who were eventually apprehended. My husband and I found The Siege frighteningly entertaining. Once more Denzel Washington gave a tour-de-force performance. The rest of the cast was excellent. The script was prophetic. The writer understood what might happen if the war on terror resided in New York City. Where is Lawrence Wright now?

mlhenry-1
Aug 4, 2003
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Videos2

Trailer 2:06

The Siege

Video 3:22

Lance Reddick Rolls Our Dice on His Career

Video 3:22

Lance Reddick Rolls Our Dice on His Career

Photos55

+ 49

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
According to an interview that screenwriter Lawrence Wright gave to CBS in 2007, the film was a box-office failure upon its theatrical release, "but it was the most-rented movie in America after 9/11." Wright also claimed that the initial release bombed because "Muslim and Arab protesters picketed the theaters. They were furious at being stereotyped as terrorists."

Goofs
Sheik Ahmed Bin Talal is shown the be abducted in Lebanon, and a desert is shown. Lebanon is the only Arab country without a desert.

Quotes
[Frank Haddad's son is among those who have been rounded up by the Army]
General William Devereaux: And his name is Haddad?
Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard: Frank Haddad, Junior.
Colonel Hardwick, Army Intelligence: His father's a Shiite. We're checking him out.
Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard: Check this out, pal. His father's a federal agent for ten years.
Colonel Hardwick, Army Intelligence: Don't get in my face, Hubbard. I might decide you're an Ethiopian.
Anthony 'Hub' Hubbard: And you're just stupid enough to think that's an insult.

Alternate versions
Some post-2001 versions have the World Trade Center digitally removed from the New York skyline.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Living Out Loud/Unmade Beds/American History X/John Carpenter's Vampires/The Celebration (1998)

Soundtracks
First You Cry
Written by Buddy Flett and David Egan
Performed by Little Buster And The Soul Brothers
Courtesy of Rounder Records
by arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group