Message in the Newspaper is a 1999 supernatural mystery thriller written and directed by Ryan McDaniel and starring Alan Rickman, Tom Cruise, Gary Oldman, Julia Sawalha and Robbie Coltrane. The plot is about a British detective (Rickman) who starts to get the feeling the writer of the crosswords in the newspapers is trying to send him an encoded message, and so, he partners with an American detective currently residing in London (Cruise) to unravel what's going on.
While produced by PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and Working Title Films like his previous two films, Message in the Newspaper was McDaniel's first production to feature American involvement, with Francis Ford Coppola of American Zoetrope and Warner Bros. Pictures also producing the film, as well as Tom Cruise playing a major character. Film took place for three months in London, in Westminster, Downe and Harmondsworth, West Drayton. The film was released in the United Kingdom on July 16, 1999 and in the United States on September 17. Critical reviews were positive, with praise to the intriguing premise, atmosphere, McDaniel's direction and the performances. The film grossed $119 million against a budget of £6,745,480.
Release[]
As part of their deal, Warner Bros. Pictures secured the US distribution to the film in place of PolyGram Films, who retained the distribution rights outside of America. Message in the Newspaper was released in Britain on July 9, 1999 and in the United States on September 17 of that year.
Home media[]
Message in the Newspaper was released on VHS in the United Kingdom by Universal Studios Home Video on November 9, 1999 and later on DVD on February 5, 2002. A Blu-ray was released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment on April 19, 2011.
In the United States, the film was released on VHS and DVD on March 21, 2000 by Warner Home Video. It was released on Blu-ray by Warner on May 6, 2014.