National Security

"They only look like cops."

2003 1h 29m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 1,111

ActionComedyCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Earl Montgomery, a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty, a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

“They only look like cops.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

NetflixSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Martin Lawrence
Earl Montgomery
Steve Zahn
Hank Rafferty
Colm Feore
Detective Frank McDuff
Bill Duke
Lieutenant Washington
Eric Roberts
Nash
Timothy Busfield
Charlie Reed
Robinne Lee
Denise
Brett Cullen
Heston

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Dennis Dugan
Writers: David Ronn, Jay Scherick
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

89 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 23 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Dennis Dugan, shot by Oliver Wood. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Randy Edelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Debra Neil-Fisher shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn and Colm Feore carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "They only look like cops.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dennis Dugan directs. Oliver Wood behind the camera. Randy Edelman scores. Debra Neil-Fisher cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

189 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 23 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Directed by Dennis Dugan, shot by Oliver Wood. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Randy Edelman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Debra Neil-Fisher shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn and Colm Feore carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "They only look like cops.".
9IMDB entry: tt0271668 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Oliver Wood
Original score: Randy Edelman
Editing: Debra Neil-Fisher
Production design: Larry Fulton
Costume design: April Ferry
Makeup / hair: Debra Denson
VFX supervisor: David D. Johnson
Sound: Gary C. Bourgeois
Stunt coordinator: Joel Kramer
Runtime: 89 min · 1h 29m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $50,097,949
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: National Security (2003)

Also by

Dennis Dugan

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

r96sk2025-01-12
★ 6/10
<em>'National Security'</em> isn't terribly adrift from being a standard Martin Lawrence flick, which would be a compliment as he is an actor I've mildly enjoyed in said sorta roles down the years. This one just doesn't work, which is a shame as I also like co-star Steve Zahn in other films too. Zahn feels miscast, Lawrence is the one that stops this from truly falling through the floor. There are good jokes in there, albeit via the overly relied upon race humour, and it features some solid practical effects/stunts. I just never really got into it, nor did I sense that the leads were a satisfactory match for each other.

Production companies