Verbal Kint (Spacey), a small-time con, tells Agent Cujon (Chazz Palminteri) a convoluted story about the events leading to a massacre and massive fire that took place on a pier in Los Angeles. Kint's story takes on a darker tone when he reveals the involvement of Keyser Soze, an underworld kingpin whose ruthlessness and influence have a legendary, even mythical status among law enforcement agents and criminals alike.
The film takes its name from a line in Casablanca: "Round up the usual suspects." It was directed by Bryan Singer, whose credits also include X-Men, Public Access, and Apt Pupil.
Writer Christopher McQuarrie earned the 1995 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the script of The Usual Suspects.