# Swordfish

> 2001 film directed by Dominic Sena

**Wikidata**: [Q486954](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q486954)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordfish_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/swordfish

## Summary
Swordfish is a 2001 American heist action film directed by Dominic Sena. The movie stars John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, and Don Cheadle in a plot involving a hacker recruited to help steal billions in unused government funds.

## Key Facts
- Release date: June 4, 2001 (premiere), November 1, 2001 (wide release)
- Director: Dominic Sena
- Production companies: Village Roadshow Pictures, Silver Pictures
- Country of origin: United States, Australia
- IMDb ID: tt0244244
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 26%
- Metacritic score: 32/100
- Runtime: 99 minutes
- Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
- Budget: $102 million
- Box office: $147.1 million worldwide
- MPAA rating: R (for violence and language)
- Language: English
- Official website: http://www2.warnerbros.com/operationswordfish/

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Swordfish?**
The film follows Stanley Jobson (Hugh Jackman), a convicted hacker who is released from prison and recruited by Gabriel Shear (John Travolta) to help steal billions in unused government funds. The heist involves complex computer hacking and a high-stakes bank robbery, with Stanley's daughter held as leverage.

**Who are the main cast members?**
The main cast includes John Travolta as Gabriel Shear, Hugh Jackman as Stanley Jobson, Halle Berry as Ginger Knowles, and Don Cheadle as Agent J.T. Roberts. Other notable actors include Vinnie Jones, Sam Shepard, and Camryn Grimes.

**What production companies were involved?**
Swordfish was produced by Village Roadshow Pictures and Silver Pictures, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling distribution. The film was a co-production between American and Australian companies.

**Where was Swordfish filmed?**
The film was shot in various locations including Los Angeles, California, and Sydney, Australia. The production utilized both American and Australian filming locations to create the movie's diverse settings.

**What is the significance of the title "Swordfish"?**
The title refers to a common password used in computer hacking and security systems. In the film, it's used as a password during the hacking sequences, symbolizing the technical nature of the heist and the characters' expertise in cybersecurity.

## Why It Matters
Swordfish represents a significant entry in the early 2000s action thriller genre, combining high-tech cybercrime with traditional heist elements. The film showcased advanced visual effects for its time, particularly in its depiction of computer hacking sequences and action set pieces. It also marked an important role for Hugh Jackman transitioning from his Wolverine character in X-Men to a more mainstream action hero. The movie's exploration of government surveillance, cybersecurity, and the ethics of hacking resonated with audiences during the early internet age, making it a cultural touchstone for discussions about technology and crime in the digital era.

## Notable For
- Featuring one of the most famous opening scenes in action cinema, with John Travolta's character delivering a monologue about Hollywood endings
- Halle Berry's controversial topless scene, which was heavily publicized during the film's marketing campaign
- Advanced visual effects for 2001, particularly in its depiction of computer hacking and data visualization
- A $102 million budget that made it one of the more expensive films of its year
- Its exploration of themes around government surveillance and cybersecurity that were ahead of their time
- The combination of traditional action elements with high-tech cybercrime plot elements
- Being one of the first major Hollywood productions to extensively feature hacking and computer security as central plot elements

## Body

### Production and Development
Swordfish was developed as a high-concept action thriller that combined elements of cybercrime and traditional heist films. The screenplay was written by Skip Woods, who created a complex narrative involving government corruption, hacking, and organized crime. The project was greenlit with a substantial $102 million budget, reflecting Warner Bros.' confidence in the film's commercial potential. Production began in 2000, with filming taking place across multiple locations in the United States and Australia to accommodate the story's international scope.

### Creative Team
Dominic Sena directed the film, bringing his experience from previous action films like Gone in 60 Seconds. The screenplay by Skip Woods provided the foundation for the complex plot involving hacking and government conspiracy. Cinematography was handled by Paul Cameron, who created the film's distinctive visual style, particularly in the action sequences and computer-generated imagery. The editing was done by Stephen Rivkin, known for his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

### Cast and Characters
The film features an ensemble cast led by John Travolta as Gabriel Shear, the charismatic and ruthless leader of the criminal organization. Hugh Jackman plays Stanley Jobson, a talented but reformed hacker who becomes the reluctant protagonist. Halle Berry portrays Ginger Knowles, Gabriel's mysterious associate with unclear loyalties. Don Cheadle takes on the role of Agent J.T. Roberts, the FBI agent pursuing the criminals. The supporting cast includes Vinnie Jones as Marco, Sam Shepard as Senator Reisman, and Camryn Grimes as Holly Jobson, Stanley's daughter.

### Technical Aspects
The film employed extensive visual effects to create its depiction of computer hacking and data manipulation. The visual effects were supervised by John Frazier, with contributions from multiple effects houses. The action sequences, particularly the opening bus heist scene, required complex practical effects combined with CGI. The film's sound design and score were created by Christopher Young, who composed an electronic-heavy soundtrack that complemented the film's high-tech themes.

### Release and Reception
Swordfish premiered on June 4, 2001, at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, before receiving a wide theatrical release on November 1, 2001. The film opened at number one at the box office, grossing $18.1 million in its opening weekend. It went on to earn $147.1 million worldwide against its $102 million budget, making it a commercial success despite mixed critical reviews. The film received criticism for its plot complexity and some of its more controversial elements, but was praised for its action sequences and visual style.

### Cultural Impact
The film became notable for several cultural moments, including Halle Berry's topless scene which was heavily promoted in marketing materials and became one of the most talked-about aspects of the film. The opening monologue delivered by John Travolta's character about Hollywood endings became widely quoted and parodied. The film's depiction of hacking and cybercrime, while dramatized, influenced public perception of these activities and contributed to the growing cultural fascination with cybersecurity in the early 2000s.

### Distribution and Home Media
Warner Bros. handled the theatrical distribution of Swordfish, while the home media release was managed through Warner Home Video. The DVD release included special features such as behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and commentary tracks. The film has since been released on Blu-ray and digital platforms, maintaining a presence in home entertainment markets.

### Legacy and Influence
Swordfish occupies a unique place in early 2000s action cinema, bridging the gap between traditional heist films and the emerging genre of tech-focused thrillers. Its influence can be seen in subsequent films that combined cybercrime elements with action, such as Live Free or Die Hard and Blackhat. The film's visual style, particularly its use of color and camera movement during action sequences, influenced the aesthetic of action films in the following decade. Despite its mixed critical reception, Swordfish has maintained a cult following and continues to be referenced in discussions about early 2000s action cinema and the portrayal of hacking in popular media.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244244/)
2. [Source](http://www.cinematografo.it/cinedatabase/film/codice-swordfish/39946/)
3. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/en/film857439.html)
4. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/kod-dostepu-2001)
5. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-29068/)
6. [Source](http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_14420_A.Senha.Swordfish-(Swordfish).html)
7. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/swordfish)
8. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244244/fullcredits)
9. The Movie Database
10. Swordfish. Rotten Tomatoes
11. Freebase Data Dumps
12. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244244/releaseinfo)
13. Kinopoisk
14. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/swordfish/)
15. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/swordfish-sbs-versie/)
16. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
17. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=29068.html)
18. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
19. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/103363)
20. Cineplex
21. Online-Filmdatenbank
22. Bechdel Test Movie List
23. mymovies.it
24. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/B3DE-B010-8674-60E1-8A68-W)
25. TheTVDB
26. Trakt.tv
27. FilmVandaag.nl