Overview
A notorious criminal's life unfolds in a whirlwind of heists and escapes, leaving a trail of chaos in his wake.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- propulsive
- volatile
- crime movie night
- french cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as a gripping and stylish biographical crime drama elevated by Vincent Cassel's commanding performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jacques Mesrine's legendary bank robberies, prison breaks, and status as France's public enemy number one are central to the film's identity.
Mesrine repeatedly confronts prisons, police authority, and the criminal justice system through escapes and continued criminal activity.
The plot covers nearly two decades of Mesrine's criminal feats, including multiple bank robberies and prison breaks.
Vincent Cassel's portrayal of Jacques Mesrine anchors the film's depiction of France's most notorious criminal.
Films like Mesrine: Public Enemy #1, and why
Public Enemies
shared biographical crime drama, charismatic outlaw protagonist, and morally volatile 1970s atmosphere
City of God
shared crime saga structure, antiheroic criminal portrait, and stylized action drama
Bronson
shared gangster biopic focus, criminal ambition, and intense lead performance
A Prophet
shared European crime drama tradition, prison breaks, and tragic outlaw mythology
Movie Details
- Director
- Jean-François Richet
- Release Date
- 2008-11-19
- Runtime
- 133 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (965)
Cast
- Vincent Cassel
- Ludivine Sagnier
- Mathieu Amalric
- Gérard Lanvin
- Samuel Le Bihan
- Olivier Gourmet
- Georges Wilson
- Michel Duchaussoy
- Anne Consigny
- Laure Marsac
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Philo, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 about?
- A volatile portrait of Jacques Mesrine turns bank robberies, prison breaks, and outlaw celebrity into a ferocious French crime saga.
- What is Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 as brutal.
- What did critics think of Mesrine: Public Enemy #1?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as a gripping and stylish biographical crime drama elevated by Vincent Cassel's commanding performance.
- Which films are like Mesrine: Public Enemy #1?
- Films with a similar feel include Public Enemies, City of God, Bronson, and A Prophet.
- How long is Mesrine: Public Enemy #1?
- Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 runs 133 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mesrine: Public Enemy #1?
- In United States, Mesrine: Public Enemy #1 streams on fuboTV, Philo, Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel.
