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Bait

Bait

Alvin Sanders is going to help the Feds catch a killer. He just doesn't know it yet.

2000119 minRMidcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Director
Antoine Fuqua
Starring
Jamie Foxx, David Morse, Robert Pastorelli, Doug Hutchison

Landing in jail for a petty theft crime, Alvin finds himself sharing a cell with John Jaster, the incarcerated half of the pair of high-tech thieves responsible for the missing gold. His partner, Bristol, is still at large. Alvin wants only to get out of prison and start fresh with his girlfriend, Lisa, and when the Feds, led by U.S. Treasury investigator Clenteen, set him loose on a sketchy deal, he thinks his luck has changed. Alvin has his freedom and the Feds have found their bait.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Bait?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Bait to rent or buy on Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Bait?

Bait earns 5 badges, led by Box Office Flop and Fun.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Bait worth watching?

Bait's Midcredits score is the 26th percentile of all films, from 17K ratings across 6 sources. 32% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

26th percentile

Better received than 26% of films

41st percentile among Action26th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)29th
Approval (how many liked it)26th

55 /100

29th percentile of all films

45th percentile among Action29th percentile among 2000s

Critics 39 · Audience 57

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.8 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

32% liked it

26th percentile of all films

39th percentile among Action23rd percentile among 2000s
32% rated it 7–1068% rated it 1–6

Critics 26% · Audience 41%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

88th percentile

17K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Action81st percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 30% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$51M
Opening weekend$5.5M
Domestic gross$15M
Worldwide gross$15M

Returned 0.3× its budget — 64th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A forgettable action-comedy that borrows heavily from better films and relies entirely on Jamie Foxx's charisma.

Fans praised

  • Jamie Foxx's comedic energy and likeability
  • Well-shot action sequences and Fuqua's visual style
  • Entertaining blend of action and comedy

Detractors panned

  • Predictable, derivative plot resembling Enemy of the State
  • Overbearing, obnoxious lead performance by Foxx
  • Jumpy, disorienting cinematography and cheap production values

What stands out

Effects and spectacleDivisive55

Entertaining chase and explosion sequences

ActingDivisive52

Foxx polarizing; Morse solid but typecast; Hutchison Malkovich-lite

HumorDivisive50

Polarizing: Foxx's antics hilarious to some, obnoxious to others

DialogueDivisive45

Foxx's one-liners and banter praised by fans; trite to detractors

CinematographyDivisive40

Visually stylish but overly flashy and disorienting

CharactersDivisive35

One-dimensional cliches; Foxx's arc mildly praised

Plot and storyDivisive30

Highly derivative, full of holes and contrivances

OriginalityDivisive15

Heavily compared to Enemy of the State and other films

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 5 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Bait like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Feel-good: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something that leaves you smiling.

It is funny, never lets up and leaves you entertained. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Feel-good.

Moods
TenseAbsurdThrilling
Heaviest: middle
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Single location · 5% of films: Confined to essentially one place throughout.
ToneThe film plays its high-tech surveillance caper and wisecracking hero straight, but mixes buddy-comedy banter with violent thriller stakes, aiming for a fun, popcorn tone.
The rideThe tension of the surveillance plot and Alvin's chaotic attempts to stay out of trouble create a mix of tension and absurd comedy.
StructureConventional linear narrative with most of the action in New York, bookended by the prison cell scene and the climax at the zoo.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayA largely amusing ride with a twist ending that feels too neat, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste despite the laughs.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestRescue
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% (this title) · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Rescue: Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe main thrust is the FBI using an unwitting ex-con as bait to catch a fugitive, which is a hunter-and-hunted quest with a rescue element as he acts to protect his family.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfDeception
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5% (this title)
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9% (this title)
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Deception · 9% of filmsFamily bondsFreedom · 5% of films
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe entire premise is built on a government deception using a man as bait, while Alvin's desire to go straight for his new family forms the emotional counterweight.
StanceThe film seems to treat its core deception premise with a wry, satirical edge, focusing on the absurdity of the situation rather than moral gravity.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score · Mark Mancina
SettingNew York City streets, prisons, and surveillance hubs
MusicMark Mancina co-composed, likely providing a propulsive urban score.

Content guide

Is Bait okay for kids?

R

Bait is rated R: “Rated R for language, violence and a scene of sexuality” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (60/100), sexual content at mild (27/100), language at severe (87/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at moderate (44/100). Its violence, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Germany16
  • Norway15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 20%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 85%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (31 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Bait have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Bait?

Cast

Jamie Foxx
as Alvin Sanders
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
David Morse
as Edgar Clenteen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Robert Pastorelli
as Jaster
Doug Hutchison
as Bristol
Kimberly Elise
as Lisa Hill
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
David Paymer
as Agent Wooly
Mike Epps
as Stevie Sanders
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jamie Kennedy
as Agent Blum
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Nestor Serrano
as Agent Boyle
Kirk Acevedo
as Ramundo

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Bait?

Movies like Bait include Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979), Mickey Blue Eyes (1999) and Red Notice (2021). Of the 12 closest matches, most are action comedies, and several are films set in New York.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

9 of these 12 share its story type: heist. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Bait?

1.2K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: thief. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.