IMDb > Sneakers (1992)
Sneakers
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Sneakers (1992) -- Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.
Sneakers (1992) -- Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal.
Sneakers (1992) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   22,781 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 35% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers (WGA):
Phil Alden Robinson (written by) and
Lawrence Lasker (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Sneakers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
9 September 1992 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Romance | Thriller more
Tagline:
We could tell you what it's about. But then, of course, we'd have to kill you. more
Plot:
Complex but lighthearted thriller about computers and cryptography, government and espionage, secrets and deception and betrayal. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
Film School 101: Protagonists
 (From Atomic Popcorn. 1 November 2009, 4:57 AM, PST)
Paramount Adapting Techno Thriller Daemon
 (From Dread Central. 20 May 2009, 3:40 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Light-Hearted Caper Film more (100 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Jo Marr ... College-Aged Cosmo (as Jojo Marr)

Robert Redford ... Bishop

Gary Hershberger ... College-Aged Bishop

Sidney Poitier ... Donald Crease

David Strathairn ... Erwin 'Whistler' Emory

Dan Aykroyd ... Mother

River Phoenix ... Carl

Bodhi Elfman ... Centurion S&L Night Guard

Denise Dowse ... Bank Teller
Hanyee ... Bank Secretary
Timothy Busfield ... Dick Gordon
Eddie Jones ... Buddy Wallace

Time Winters ... Homeless Man

Mary McDonnell ... Liz
Jun Asai ... Piano Prodigy
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for brief sexual references.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
126 min | Canada:118 min (Ontario)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
UK:12 (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Netherlands:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #31961) | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:12 | Spain:7 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
2nd Street Tunnel, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA more
Company:
Universal Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The name "Werner Brandes" was inspired by Dr. Werner Brandes, an associate teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy in New England. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Bishop calls the NSA from Liz' apartment, he presses the buttons on the telephone with his left hand. In the next shot he removes his right hand from the telephone. more
Quotes:
[each member of the team makes a request in return for the decryption chip]
Whistler: I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
Bernard Abbott: Oh, this is ridiculous.
Martin Bishop: He's serious.
Whistler: I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
Bernard Abbott: We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Martin Bishop: You're just gonna have to try.
Bernard Abbott: All right, I'll see what I can do.
Whistler: Thank you very much. That's all I ask.
more
Movie Connections:
References Goldfinger (1964) more
Soundtrack:
Waltz In E Minor more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Light-Hearted Caper Film, 25 June 2007
7/10
Author: treeskier802 from United States

I was drawn to Sneakers because I heard the story was of my favorite genre, a spy thriller. However, I found this movie to be more along the lines of a caper film.

Robert Redford is the leader of a team of experts who break into security systems so that institutions (such as banks) can see how good their system is. The team is made up of a diverse group: an ex-Cia agent (Portier) and three computer whizzes (Ackroyd, Phoenix, and the blind Stratharn). The group has great chemistry and often this leads to some fun humor.

Redford and his team are hired by the government (so they believe) to retrieve a black box that can decode encrypted computer firewalls. After retrieving the black box, the team finds themselves in dire trouble.

I was hoping the film would be more intense, yet Sneakers incorporates a lot of humor. It is a fun film and is enjoyable to watch, but if you are looking for a true spy film, then you may want to pass.

This film more closely resembles recent movies like Ocean's 11 or The Italian Job, popcorn films that have some laughs, some danger, and some suspense.

Redford is really great in this movie as is Straitarn; Mary McDonnell is also very good. Phoenix holds his own. Although far from their best roles, Poitier, James Earl Jones, Ackroyd, and Ben Kingsley are decent.

Overall an enjoyable film which incorporates computer hacking before it was mainstream. Rating 7 of 10 stars.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sneakers (1992)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
River Phoenix's thoughts on playing Carl Arbogast livetolaugh
How many times have you watched 'Sneakers'? Lenitas
Something has always irked me about this movie..... wesleykelley
Favorite Scene(s) LilyMae
I found this part very funny digartetc
Sneakers and Spy Game 'in' joke?! LaserDoug
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