The Usual Suspects (1995): Film Notes and Scores

Director:

Cast:

Poster artwork for The Usual Suspects — Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

A federal agent questions a survivor about the criminals and mysterious mastermind connected to a deadly harbor explosion.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Customs agent Dave Kujan questions sole survivor Roger 'Verbal' Kint after a ship explodes in San Pedro Harbor. Verbal recounts how five criminals met in a police lineup and were drawn into work allegedly controlled by legendary mastermind Keyser Söze.

Why it belongs

The film transforms interrogation into authorship, employing Verbal's voice, fragmented chronology, and closely planted details to make listening an active risk.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Lineups, police files, flashbacks, names, objects in the interview room, and John Ottman's score organize a maze around Kevin Spacey's conversational performance—the pleasure lies in how confidently images inherit a speaker's claims.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20

Academy Awards2 wins1996 · official ceremony record ↗

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)1996 · Christopher McQuarrieofficial ceremony record ↗Actor in a Supporting Role1996 · Kevin Spaceyofficial ceremony record ↗

BAFTA2 wins1996 · official BAFTA 1996 Film Awards results ↗

Original Screenplay1996 · Christopher McQuarrieofficial BAFTA 1996 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

Good for

Date Night

Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks