Conspiracy Theory

Jerry Fletcher lives with a compulsive habit of collecting conspiracy theories, jotting notes in a way that blends street smarts with paranoid riddles. A self styled truth hunter, he moves through Los Angeles with a stubborn faith in hidden plots, often at odds with the world around him. When a claim he has long dismissed as fantasy suddenly appears to play out in real life, he becomes a prime target and a liability to anyone who crosses him in broad daylight. A determined federal prosecutor named Alice Sutton begins to see a different side of the man as she is drawn into a web of surveillance and danger. To stay alive, Jerry must sift through his own beliefs and identify which theory has become the real threat, all while dodging unseen forces. A distant danger hints at a larger conspiracy, and trust fractures.

Released in 1997, Conspiracy Theory was directed by Richard Donner from an original screenplay by Brian Helgeland. The release solidified Donner's status as a director who handles brisk thrillers with a strong human element. Helgeland's script keeps tension tight throughout.

With a budget of about 75 million, the thriller earned roughly 137 million worldwide, delivering solid returns that helped establish Donner's reputation for fast paced, character driven suspense. The film's audience response kept the momentum going into international markets worldwide.

This film stands as a late 90s mainstream thriller that showcased Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts in high energy roles and contributed to the era's appetite for conspiracy driven plots. While not a lasting pop culture landmark, its chase sequences and moral questions linger for fans of the genre today.

Critics offered mixed to positive notes, praising the actors' chemistry, Donner's direction, and the pace while noting moments where the plot stretched credulity. The film probes trust under pressure, the ethics of government power, and how fear can bend a person's sense of reality. It also questions power in life.