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Bait

Play trailer Poster for Bait R 2000 1h 59m Action Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
26% Tomatometer 76 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Landing in jail for a petty theft crime, Alvin finds himself sharing a cell with John Jaster, the incarcerated half of the pair of high-tech thieves responsible for the missing gold. His partner, Bristol, is still at large. Alvin wants only to get out of prison and start fresh with his girlfriend, Lisa, and when the Feds, led by U.S. Treasury investigator Clenteen, set him loose on a sketchy deal, he thinks his luck has changed. Alvin has his freedom and the Feds have found their bait.
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Bait

Bait

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Critics Consensus

Even though Jamie Foxx shines in Bait, the movie suffers from music video roots and a formulaic script that strains credibility.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Foreman New York Post Jan 1, 2000
Thanks to Antoine Fuqua's ... feverish and self-indulgent MTV-inspired direction, with its desperate overreliance on close-ups, you just can't tell what's going on. Go to Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune Jan 1, 2000
This film wastes a lot of good actors. Go to Full Review Eleanor Ringel Cater Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jan 1, 2000
Despite its genre trappings, Bait is an entertaining and occasionally clever picture with a crackling peformance by Jamie Foxx. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Mar 19, 2013
C-
Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com May 18, 2009
C-
Well paced, but weak on story, character, and variety, "Bait" is an underwhelming effort from director Anton Fuqua. Go to Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Aug 7, 2008
2/5
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Audience Reviews

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Chris K @RT76983018 Mar 30, 2025 It is well worth anyone viewing it. I’ve seen it about three times since it came out. Jamie Foxx is hilarious, and then you have Mike Epps, and the two dudes from the Green Mile lol. I don’t know what people want out of every movie they see. But I’ll bet that they generally leave poor reviews to make themselves look good. This movie was well worth the $1.37 on Amazon Prime that it cost to rent. I mean, really… For that, what do you have to lose? See more Sergio C @RT12501576 Oct 30, 2022 Jamie fox was funny but the plot is plain idiotic but the government spending and stupidity seems legit.. See more georgan g @RT98616417 Sep 12, 2022 This movie is mostly thriller with comedy throw in here & there. As always, Jamie Fox is good. Interesting plot. See more Feb 12, 2020 Entertaining but they spent 43 million in tech to get back 42 million lol See more Mar 19, 2018 The DVD had been sitting on a shelf for 7 years. I decided to give it a try and I objectively found it very entertaining. There are worse movies than "Bait" out there !!! See more Jul 22, 2016 Screenplay taken from the screenplay generator. Yawn. See more Read all reviews
Bait

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Cast & Crew

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Antoine Fuqua

Director

Jamie Foxx

Alvin Sanders

David Morse

Edgar Clenteen

Doug Hutchison

Bristol

Robert Pastorelli

Jaster

Kimberly Elise

Lisa Hill

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Bait

Jamie Foxx as Alvin Sanders and Kimberly Elise as his strong-willed girlfriend Lisa. Mike Epps (left) is Stevie, Alvin Sanders' (Jamie Foxx-right) ever-scheming brother. U.S. Treasury investigator Edgar Clenteen (David Morse-right) tries to intimidate Alvin Sanders (Jamie Foxx). Jamie Foxx is Alvin Sanders. David Morse is Edgar Clenteen. Doug Hutchison is Bristol. Bait (2000) Bait (2000) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Landing in jail for a petty theft crime, Alvin finds himself sharing a cell with John Jaster, the incarcerated half of the pair of high-tech thieves responsible for the missing gold. His partner, Bristol, is still at large. Alvin wants only to get out of prison and start fresh with his girlfriend, Lisa, and when the Feds, led by U.S. Treasury investigator Clenteen, set him loose on a sketchy deal, he thinks his luck has changed. Alvin has his freedom and the Feds have found their bait.
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Producer
Sean Ryerson
Screenwriter
Andrew Scheinman, Adam Scheinman, Tony Gilroy
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Bait Films, Castle Rock Entertainment, Village Roadshow Prod.
Rating
R
Genre
Action, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 15, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 25, 2009
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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