Richard Jewell(2019)
Warner Bros.- RRated R for language including some sexual references, and brief bloody images
- 2h 11m
Dec 13, 2019
Security guard Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI leaks to the media that he is a suspect in the case.
Release Details
Original Release | Dec 13, 2019 | Wide
Box Office Results
2025-02-02T04:08:03.343Z
Results
$4,705,265
$22,345,542
$22,300,000
$44,645,542
Current Showtimes
Theatres near you, nearest first
Search radius
Technical Specifications
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital,DTS
Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1
Other Details
Country of Origin: United States
Language: English
Summaries
Plot Summary
- Based on a true story.Georgia, 1986Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) is a supply clerk at a law firm who dreams of someday working in law enforcement. He becomes friendly with Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), the only attorney at the office who doesn't talk down to him, leaving Snickers for him in his desk and playing arcade games with him on breaks. Eventually, Richard takes another job and says a friendly goodbye to Watson.1996Richard has just been fired from a police deputy job and is working as campus security at Piedmont College, where he gets into various altercations with students on campus. The college president, Ray Cleere, eventually calls Richard into his office to question him about these incidents. Richard believes he is doing his job, and tells the president that he himself told Richard he didn't want any "Mickey Mouse" on his campus. Cleere fires Richard.Richard lives at home with his mother, Bobi (Kathy Bates). His friend Dave Dutchess (Niko Nicotera) tells him not to worry about the firing since there are many security jobs upcoming, especially with the 1996 Olympics taking place in Georgia. Eventually, Richard does get one of those security jobs. Meanwhile, at the local FBI office, agent Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm) is assigned to cover the concerts at Centennial Olympic Park. At the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, crime reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) is also assigned to cover it, despite her reluctance.Night one of the concerts goes fine, though Richard is overly cautious and suspicious of every backpack or person acting strangely. He's able to bring Bobi and they get to watch Kenny Rogers perform together. The next day, Richard wakes up with the runs and almost calls out sick, but doesn't. Richard sees some teens throwing glass bottles, and shoos them away, then afterwards sees a backpack under a bench they were near. Meanwhile, a man makes a 911 call and tells them that a bomb is going to go off at the park. Richard, suspicious, alerts the police about the bag, who initially think he's being ridiculous, but eventually agree to follow protocol. Police find a bomb inside the bag - the bomb squad is alerted, and Richard and the rest of the police there rush to quickly get everyone away from the bomb - which does explode, causing a frenzy and killing a woman. Luckily, because of Richard's discovery, most people were away and lives were saved.The next day the story is national news, and Richard is being championed as a hero. He is surprised at all the attention, and feels he was just doing his job, but begins doing interviews with Katie Couric and others. Bobi is incredibly proud. He is approached immediately about a book deal, and unsure of how to proceed, calls the only lawyer he knows, Watson, to have him handle the contract. Meanwhile, at the FBI, Tom is upset because the bomb went off under his watch. His supervisor tells him now they need to just find the bomber and stop him.The FBI receives a call from Cleere, and so he and his partner Bennet (Ian Gomez) go to talk to him. Cleere tells him he suspects Richard could have done this, since he always wanted to be a hero and wanted this kind of attention. The FBI realizes Richard fits a profile of the "hero bomber" which they have seen multiple cases of - someone who creates terror so they can be a hero. Richard's record of being fired and having complaints against him is suspicious, as is the fact that in his interviews he said how he wants to be back in law enforcement.The FBI sends one of Richard's cop friends in with a wire to have dinner with him, and Richard talks all about how the bomb could have been made, which makes them suspicious. Meanwhile, while Tom is drinking at a bar, Kathy approaches him to get scoop on the bomber. He denies to offer her anything, but she flirts and tells him she'll sleep with him. He tells her Richard is the suspect and they leave to go have sex. Kathy fights to convince her editor to print the story that the FBI is investigating Richard, and he relents. The next day, when the story is out, it's all over the news before Richard even knows about it.Tom and Bennet arrive at Richard's door and tell him they need assistance with something on the case, and he goes with them to the FBI offices, naively not understanding what's happening. They tell Richard that they are shooting a training video to try to trick him into waiving his Miranda rights, but Richard picks up on it and asks to speak to a lawyer, angering the FBI. He calls Watson, leaving multiple messages. Watson's girlfriend and assistant Nadya (Nina Arianda) gets the messages and pushes Watson to call the FBI right away. They try to misdirect him, but he gets Richard on the phone and tells him to say nothing. He goes over to their office and leaves with Richard.Richard and Bobi's home is swarmed by reporters, and Watson goes over to consult with Richard. He asks Richard if he committed the crime, and he insists he didn't. On his way home, Watson is shocked to find Kathy hiding in his backseat, asking him for information. He shoos her out of his car. Later, Watson and Nadya time the walk from where Richard was to the pay phone where the 911 call was made, and realize there's no way he could have done it. Watson is interviewed on TV, and surprised with information about Richard's background and being let go as a deputy on the air. He goes to Richard and demands Richard tell him everything for his own good.The FBI arrive to search the house, taking everything, deeply upsetting Bobi as they take her Tupperware and babysitting videos. Richard has lots of hunting guns, which doesn't help him look innocent. Richard keeps being kind and helpful to the FBI, annoying Watson who has instructed him to say nothing. While Watson helps Bobi, Richard makes voice recordings for Tom, which deeply upsets Watson upon his return. Richard has heart pains but insists he's fine.Nadya learns that the apartment has been bugged. Meanwhile, the FBI takes Dave in for questioning. Dave tells Richard that they think Richard must have had an accomplice and that they think he could be Richard's gay lover. Bobi puts on a loud TV show with explosions, and Richard yells at her not to do that when they're listening. She begins crying, and Richard apologizes. Watson has Richard take a polygraph, which he passes. Watson goes to the Atlanta Journal office with his results to ask for a retraction, and chews out Kathy. Later, Kathy does the walk to the payphone and also realizes Richard is innocent. She goes to the bar to see Tom again with her information on Richard's innocence, but he rebuffs her completely, insisting Richard had an accomplice and leaving in a huff.Bobi gives an impassioned press conference where she sobs as she tells the public what they have been through, and that Richard is innocent. Kathy cries as she watches her. Watson and Richard go to the FBI to give a deposition. Watson pleads with Richard to not be deferential to the law enforcement as he always has been. During the deposition, Richard is polite, answering the questions, but when Tom viciously accuses him of being the bomber, Richard finally lays it all out and asks if they have any real evidence at all. He tells them the bomber is still out there. They go home, where Watson tells Bobi Richard did great.Eighty-eight days after the investigation into Richard began, Tom goes to see Watson and Richard as they eat in a diner, and gives him a letter from the FBI letting him know that the investigation into him is over, though Tom says he still thinks Richard did it. Richard cries, relieved, and says he wants to see his mom.Six years later, Richard is working as a deputy in a new office, when Watson comes to see him to tell him they finally caught the real bomber, who confessed. Richard asks to go to his arraignment.A post-script says that Richard died of a heart attack at age 44, Watson and Nadya got married, and Bobi babysits their two kids every weekend.
Storyline
- Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI leaks to the media that he is a suspect in the case. Based on the true story of Richard Jewell , a security guard who discovered a bomb and saved many lives at a concert at Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. He was seen as a hero by many and a suspect by the FBI and press. — exe_malaga93 During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell discovers a suspicious backpack under a bench in Centennial Park. With little time to spare, he helps to evacuate the area until the incendiary device inside the bag explodes. Hailed as a hero who saved lives, Jewell's own life starts to unravel when the FBI names him the prime suspect in the bombing. — exe_malaga93 Atlanta Olympics 1996. Security guard Richard Jewell heroically saves thousands of lives from the bomb explosion, but his unusual profile is exposed by the county sheriff, his former employer. Suddenly an FBI agent suspects him and his mistress, a journalist, makes him guilty. — yusufpiskin Richard Jewell thinks quick, works fast, and saves hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives after a domestic terrorist plants several pipe bombs and they explode during a concert, only to be falsely suspected of the crime by a corrupt FBI and sensational media coverage. — yusufpiskin
