Narrow Margin

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Narrow Margin

R

1990

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

15 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When Carol Hunnicut witnesses a brutal murder by mobsters, she decides to hide in a remote cabin in the Canadian tundra. Clued to her whereabouts, Los Angeles District Attorney Robert Caulfield journeys into the wilderness to convince Hunnicut to testify in court. Reluctant at first, Hunnicut agrees when the cabin is shot at by mob hit men in a helicopter. From there, it's a mad dash through the wilderness to escape the mob.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Apr 18, 2003

4/5

A gem of a thriller.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

1.5/4

The Idiot Plot, of course, is any plot that would be resolved in five minutes if everyone in the story were not an idiot. And rarely has there been a film in which more idiots make more mistakes than in this one.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Dec 29, 2022

3/4

...a solid (albeit erratic) endeavor...

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Nov 10, 2022

In the end, eminently satisfactory, every piece falls in its rightful place in this railway of a puzzle. [Full review in Spanish ]

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 16, 2020

5/10

The editing leaves something to be desired, considering that gaps in time are presented with slow fade-outs, as if this were made for television.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 5, 2020

3/4

The 1952 film noir effort The Narrow Margin is rightly considered a classic; the 1990 remake Narrow Margin is rightly not. Yet that's not to say there isn't much to enjoy in this breezy thriller.

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Chad E

@Neodean Aug 7, 2025

I'll disclose my bias up front. I have an affinity for movies that involve trains. Narrow Margin has some obvious weaknesses with its story and writing, it provides plenty of tension and a lively pace that keep the viewer engaged. The cast is strong and performances are up to par across the board. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

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dave j

@RT71842097 Jan 23, 2025

Very very underrated film it’s a superb suspense thriller which I’ve watched now 10/15 times over the years either on dvd or if it’s shown on tv.Just watched it again after a few years today,gene Hackman was superb like in most films he is in playing a lawyer who is tough and resourceful when need be in protecting his star witness from the bad guys with skill and clever thinking.Still amazed why the reviews for this film are very mixed as it gets 8.5/10 for me and I’m not giving it anymore only because the ending in the court room is rather quicker than I liked as would have liked to have seen the star witness say more after watts is sent down Caulfield.Great film none the less and one of my favourites.

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Sarfaraz A

@RT40602226 Jan 10, 2025

The thriller was written and directed by Peter Hyams. Starring Gene Hackman, Anne Archer, and J. T. Walsh. The film follows deputy district attorney Gene Hackman, who is hellbent on taking down a mafia boss who murdered a man, which was witnessed by a woman, and now Gene must protect her as a witness. The film contains enjoyable thrills, however predictable.

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Jason C

@RT90084543 Nov 16, 2024

Managed to get through it as I like Gene Hackman but did anyone laugh at the end where the blonde woman turned out to be one of the baddies. How did she and all the rest figure out Gene and Anne were on the roof of the train? Just because the door window was open?

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Ian W

@Ianwinter May 4, 2024

Even Gene Hackman and Ann Archer couldn't make this silly script into something worth watching and the director doesn't help. At times it's embarrassingly awkward making you feel for the actors.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Sep 9, 2023

Nothing new but entertaining.

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Peter Hyams

Director

Gene Hackman

Robert Caulfield

Anne Archer

Carol Hunnicut

James B. Sikking

Nelson

J.T. Walsh

Walsh

M. Emmet Walsh

Sergeant Dominick Benti

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Synopsis

When Carol Hunnicut witnesses a brutal murder by mobsters, she decides to hide in a remote cabin in the Canadian tundra. Clued to her whereabouts, Los Angeles District Attorney Robert Caulfield journeys into the wilderness to convince Hunnicut to testify in court. Reluctant at first, Hunnicut agrees when the cabin is shot at by mob hit men in a helicopter. From there, it's a mad dash through the wilderness to escape the mob.

Director: Peter Hyams
Producer: Jonathan A. Zimbert
Screenwriter: Peter Hyams, Earl Felton
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Carolco Pictures Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 4, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.1M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, Surround

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