Public Enemies

Play trailer

Public Enemies

R

2009

2h 20m

Crime

Drama

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

278 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's (Johnny Depp) charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first Public Enemy Number One and assigns his top agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), the task of bringing him in dead or alive.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Michael Mann's latest is a competent and technically impressive gangster flick with charismatic lead performances, but some may find the film lacks truly compelling drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/29/2018

There is much to admire in this film... But it's as if the whole thing has been emotionally cauterised. It holds you at arm's length. As such, I found it peculiarly unsatisfying. If it had been a restaurant meal, I'd have come home and had a sandwich.

Go to Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/12/2017

B+

... it was entertaining, but quite long.

Go to Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Film Comment Magazine

09/24/2014

The desperate times in which we suddenly find ourselves ... make Public Enemies seem especially timely.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

2d

2.5/4

This period gangster saga is filled with exciting gun battles yet can’t deliver the firepower in ways that matter most: empathy, originality, and a willingness to burrow beneath the legend.

Go to Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

07/30/2024

8/10

With real characters full of virtues and defects. A crime film in the style of Michael Mann. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

09/22/2023

... a thinking man’s gangster film, less about thrills than the mechanics of Dillinger’s heists and Purvis’ investigation, which [director Michael Mann] executes with his usual precision.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kauã M

Nov 1

An admirable cast with admirable production but weak direction; the director fails to captivate or hold the viewer's attention, it seems like a jumble of random scenes that lead nowhere, horrible sound mixing, everything in the film seems aimless or out of proportion, things just happen and that's it, but the biggest sin of this film is that it's boring.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone Oct 31

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

andras gaspar p

Sep 5

One of the best crime movies.

See more

Kyle B.

@OpenStargate Jul 19

One of Jonny depps best movies. Really enjoyed the whole movie.

See more

guglielmo d

May 7

I don't the overall bad reviews, I thought it was a great movie! Very watchable and possibly very accurate to the true story, and even if it isn't, it is still a lot of entertainment.

See more

Denise D

Apr 25

Unconvincing, superficial characters and story line. Great actors but something is missing. First half of movie was slow and boring, didn't get much better

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Michael Mann

Director

Johnny Depp

John Dillinger

Christian Bale

Melvin Purvis

Marion Cotillard

Billie Frechette

Billy Crudup

J. Edgar Hoover

Stephen Dorff

Homer Van Meter

Public Enemies: Official Clip - Assault on the Lodge

2:59

Public Enemies: Official Clip - Defying the Law

2:17

Public Enemies: Official Clip - You Act Like a Confident Man

2:50

Public Enemies: Official Clip - Escaping the Jail

2:44

Public Enemies: Official Clip - I Ain't Goin' Nowhere

2:12

Public Enemies: Official Clip - Gross Incompetence

2:43

Public Enemies: Official Clip - What Else Do You Need to Know?

1:27

Public Enemies: Official Clip - I Rob Banks

1:38

Public Enemies: Official Clip - The Bank's Money

2:58

Public Enemies: Official Clip - Gunned Down

2:47

View more videos

Punisher: War Zone

29%

42%

Punisher: War Zone

Watchlist

The Taking of Pelham 123

51%

52%

The Taking of Pelham 123

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Taking of Pelham 123

Parker

42%

48%

Parker

Watchlist

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

23%

58%

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

Watchlist

Running Scared

41%

79%

Running Scared

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

24 Best-Looking Movie Bad Guys

Public Enemies Blu-ray Review

Five Favourite Films with Nick Love

View more photos

Synopsis

Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's (Johnny Depp) charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first Public Enemy Number One and assigns his top agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), the task of bringing him in dead or alive.

Director: Michael Mann
Producer: Kevin Misher, Michael Mann
Screenwriter: Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann, Ann Biderman
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Forward Pass, Misher Films
Rating: R (Some Language|Gangster Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $97.0M
Runtime: 2h 20m

Most Popular at Home Now