Public Enemies Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Amy Renner

Last modified: Oct. 22, 2009

Public Enemies

Release Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Theaters

Director: Michael Mann

Starring: Johnny Depp • Christian Bale • Marion Cotillard • Giovanni Ribisi • Stephen Dorff

R Crime 2 hrs, 10 m

3.85 / 5.0

90% WILL SEE 10% WON'T SEE

Rent or buy

Plot – What's the story about?

Plot: In the action-thriller "Public Enemies," acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.

No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

But while the adventures of Dillinger's gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw's capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing "Clark Gable of the FBI."

However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis' men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals—from the infamous "Lady in Red" to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti—were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

Crime Drama Gangster

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Who stars in Public Enemies – Cast List

Johnny Depp
Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Christian Bale
The Bride!, Ford v Ferrari
M
Marion Cotillard
Inception, Lee
Giovanni Ribisi
Avatar: Fire and Ash, Avatar
Stephen Dorff
Mob Land, Bride Hard
Jason Clarke
The Last Frontier (series), F.A.S.T.
D
David Wenham
The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
S
Stephen Graham
Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Who is making Public Enemies – Crew List

A look at Public Enemies behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Michael Mann last helmed Ferrari and Blackhat. The film's writer Michael Mann last penned Ferrari and Blackhat.

Director: Michael Mann
Screenwriter: Michael Mann
Producers: Michael Mann
Kevin Misher

Studios: Universal Pictures
Production Company: Appian Way Productions
Forward Pass Productions
Misher Films

Production – What we know about the Public Enemies

Movie Filming Timeline: Production Status Updates

Jun 2009

Completed

Changed Public Enemies movie production status. The movie is ready for release.

Feb 2009

Post-Production

Changed the movie production status to Post-Production. The movie is now in the editing and finishing stages.

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Additional Information

Parent Rating: R Restricted for gangster violence and some language
Runtime: 2 hrs, 10 m
Tagline: Not available
Also known as: Not available
Language: English

Public Enemies Trailers and Clips

Public Enemies

Theatrical Trailer

Public Enemies Release Date: When was the film released?

Public Enemies was released in nationwide movie theaters on Wednesday, July 1 , 2009. The film was released in approximately 3,334 theaters. There were one other movie released on the same date, including Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.