L.A. Confidential
As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.
Directed by Curtis Hanson · Crime · Drama · Mystery · 138 min · 1997
Trailer
Director
Curtis Hanson
Studio
Regency Enterprises / The Wolper Organization
Release
19 Sep 1997
Runtime
138 min
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Full Plot
1950's Los Angeles is the seedy backdrop for this intricate noir-ish tale of police corruption and Hollywood sleaze. Three very different cops are all after the truth, each in their own style: Ed Exley, the golden boy of the police force, willing to do almost anything to get ahead, except sell out; Bud White, ready to break the rules to seek justice, but barely able to keep his raging violence under control; and Jack Vincennes, always looking for celebrity and a quick buck until his conscience drives him to join Exley and White down the one-way path to find the truth behind the dark world of L.A. crime.
Cast & Characters
Detective Sergeant Jack "Hollywood Jack" Vincennes
Kevin Spacey
Captain Dudley Smith
James Cromwell
Lynn Bracken
Kim Basinger
Sid Hudgens
Danny DeVito
Pierce Morehouse Patchett
David Strathairn
District Attorney Ellis Loew
Ron Rifkin
Detective Sergeant Richard "Dick Stens" Stensland
Graham Beckel
Susan Lefferts
Amber Smith
Police Chief
John Mahon
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $35.0M, L.A. Confidential has grossed $126.2M worldwide — about 3.6x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Kevin Spacey appears in 4 films in our catalog, including Seven, The Usual Suspects.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Confidential grossed $64.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
L.A. Confidential holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (655,630 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (655,630 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is L.A. Confidential's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
L.A. Confidential holds a 99% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is L.A. Confidential's IMDb rating?+
L.A. Confidential has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 655,630 votes.
What is L.A. Confidential's Metacritic score?+
L.A. Confidential has a Metascore of 91/100 on Metacritic.
Is L.A. Confidential good? What are critics saying?+
L.A. Confidential holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (655,630 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91/100 on Metacritic.
How long is L.A. Confidential?+
L.A. Confidential has a runtime of 138 min.
Who directed L.A. Confidential?+
L.A. Confidential was directed by Curtis Hanson.
Where can I watch L.A. Confidential?+
L.A. Confidential is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Disney Plus, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to the movie "L.A. Confidential" is overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its acting, plot twists, and timeless classic status. Reviewers have praised the film's attention to detail, strong performances, and cinematic style. Many reviewers have also noted that the film has become a cult classic over time.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
City of Angels? More Like City of Demons! Curtis Hanson directs and co-adapts the screenplay with Brian Helgeland from legendary pulp novelist James Ellroy's novel. It stars Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito and David Strathairn.…
John Chard · 10/10After the seemingly indiscriminate slaughter of the folks at a diner, it's the ambitious "Exley" (Guy Pearce) who suggests to his bosses that it's time for the LAPD to get it's act together and root out the corruption endemic within the force. To that end, he is promoted by "Capt…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.
@KnightsAndDarths · 285 likesThis is one of the best movies of all time especially in the crime/drama genre. A+ acting by all involved. Timeless classic
@markh1142 · 333 likesMan this trailer is a horrible way for someone to get introduced to this great film
@connorwideman7629 · 305 likesI found this movie at my college library, checked it out, took it home and popped in my ps4 and loved it. So many twists and turns.
@GGJ2002 · 85 likesTimeless film that I never get tired of watching. Guy Pierce stole the show. Great acting and spectacular story line. A must watch if your into crime thriller. This movie will become a classic film
@Gkm- · 118 likesStill to this day when asked my favorite film of all time, I say LA Confidential. It has everything you could want in a masterpiece. Including sharp looking guys in fitted suits in an era I love 🙌
@susanlamb4092 · 126 likesGod I miss movie trailer voice-over guy.
@EdgarFriendlysCivicsTeacher · 23 likesStunning masterpiece.. deserved an Oscar for best picture.
@JHarder1000 · 106 likes
