barbarians at the gate movie review

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Barbarians at the Gate

President F. Ross Johnson of a major tobacco company decides to purchase the company himself, but a bidding war ensues as representatives from other companies make their own offers. President F. Ross Johnson of a major tobacco company decides to purchase the company himself, but a bidding war ensues as representatives from other companies make their own offers. President F. Ross Johnson of a major tobacco company decides to purchase the company himself, but a bidding war ensues as representatives from other companies make their own offers.

Glenn Jordan
Bryan Burrough
John Helyar
Larry Gelbart
James Garner
Jonathan Pryce
Peter Riegert
21 User reviews
4 Critic reviews
8 wins & 16 nominations total

Top cast 57

F. Ross Johnson

Henry Kravis

Peter Cohen

Linda Robinson

Jim Robinson
(as Fred Dalton Thompson)

Laurie Johnson

Edward A. Horrigan Jr.

H. John Greeniaus

Ted Forstmann

Charlie Hugel

George Roberts

Robert Allegro
Robinson's Aide

Anthony the Pizza Man

Travis Gaines
RJR Cleaning Woman

Vernon Jordan
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Trivia A TV movie for the HBO network.
Goofs The film is set in 1988, but a post-1991 Chevrolet Caprice taxi is visible during a street scene.

1st Scientist : [talking about the smokeless Premier cigarette survey] Well of all the people we surveyed the results were just about uniform

F. Ross Johnson : Uh huh.

Edward A. Horrigan Jr. : They all said they tasted like shit.

F. Ross Johnson : Like shit?

2nd Scientist : Shit was the consensus, yes sir.

F. Ross Johnson : They all said that? Nobody liked them?

2nd Scientist : Fewer than 5%

F. Ross Johnson : You said you heard the results were terrific.

Edward A. Horrigan Jr. : There's nothing wrong with 5%, Ross, I'll take 5% of the smoking market any day of the week

F. Ross Johnson : How much are we into right now?

1st Scientist : Right now?

F. Ross Johnson : To date, to here, to now?

1st Scientist : Upwards of 350.

F. Ross Johnson : We've spent 350 million dollars and we come up with a turd with a tip? God almighty, Ed! We poured enough technology in this project to send a cigarette to the moon and we come up with one that tastes like it took a dump?

Edward A. Horrigan Jr. : We haven't even talked about the smell.

F. Ross Johnson : Oh what did they say that was like? A fart?

Edward A. Horrigan Jr. : Yep.

F. Ross Johnson : Oh you're not serious! They really said that?

2nd Scientist : We have an awful lot of fart figures.

F. Ross Johnson : Tastes like shit and smells like a fart! Got ourselves a real winner here, it's one goddamn unique advertising slogan I'll give you that.

Connections Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Point of No Return/CB4/Fire in the Sky/Barbarians at the Gate/Il Lardo Di Bambini (1993)
Soundtracks G-String Written and Performed by Elmer Sheffield

User reviews 21

I laughed so much i almost sold my microsoft shares.

Sep 12, 2001
March 20, 1993 (United States)
United States
Kaos på Wall Street
Columbia Pictures Television
Rastar Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro
Runtime 1 hour 47 minutes

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Barbarians at the Gate Reviews

As a telefilm, Barbarians fascinates; as social commentary, it excels. Making an intricate business exercise both entertaining and engrossing takes lots of doing; it's handily accomplished here.

Full Review | Mar 3, 2019

Makes the greedy rich who buy and sell ordinary folks' futures seem almost lovable.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 6, 2006

Rubbish with Garner whitewashing a real life villain

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Oct 23, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 29, 2005