The Usual Suspects
Movie, 1995, The 90s, Set in 1995
The Usual Suspects is #9 of 26 in release order and #10 of 26 in chronological order in the Heist Movies.
The story
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.
The Usual Suspects recap
A ship explodes in San Pedro harbour, leaving many dead and millions in drugs missing. Customs agent Dave Kujan questions Verbal Kint, a small-time con man with a limp and one of two survivors. Verbal tells the story of how five criminals met in a police line-up in New York: the ex-cop Dean Keaton, McManus, Fenster, Hockney and Verbal himself. They rob a police-protected smuggling operation together, then are drawn into work for Keyser Soze, a mythical Hungarian crime lord whom people fear more than the police. His lawyer, Kobayashi, forces them to attack the ship to destroy a cargo of drugs, really to kill a man who can identify Soze. Kujan becomes convinced that Keaton is Soze.
The Usual Suspects ending explained
Verbal is released on bail. Kujan looks at the noticeboard in the office and realises Verbal invented the story from names and details on it, including the brand on the coffee mug. As Kujan runs out, a fax of the survivor's sketch of Soze shows Verbal's face. Verbal walks down the street, his limp gone, and gets into a car driven by "Kobayashi".
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects is streaming on HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 87%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Reservoir Dogs, before Heat.
- Chronological order: after Heat, before Ronin.
Cast
- Stephen Baldwin as McManus
- Gabriel Byrne as Keaton
- Benicio del Toro as Fenster
- Kevin Pollak as Hockney
- Kevin Spacey as Verbal
- Chazz Palminteri as Dave Kujan
- Pete Postlethwaite as Kobayashi
- Suzy Amis as Edie Finneran
- Giancarlo Esposito as Jack Baer
- Dan Hedaya as Jeff Rabin
- Paul Bartel as Smuggler
- Carl Bressler as Saul Berg
Directed by Bryan Singer.