Brawl in Cell Block 99

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Brawl in Cell Block 99

Released Oct 6, 2017

2h 12m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

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99 Reviews

73%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A former boxer loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work as a drug courier. He soon finds himself in a gunfight between police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.

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Critics Consensus

Brawl in Cell Block 99 rides a committed Vince Vaughn performance into the brutally violent -- and undeniably entertaining -- depths of prison-set grindhouse genre fare.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a comeback and a showcase for the bone-dry delivery of Vince Vaughn, who has never brooded bigger and badder than he does here.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 23, 2017

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

I can't remember violence in a film eliciting such verbal reactions.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 20, 2017

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Metro Newspaper (UK)

[Vince] Vaughn is captivating in his vulnerable, forlorn-eyed, rage-fuelled intensity. More than anything, it's him that compels you to watch through these 132 demolishing minutes.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2017

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

The year’s best film about brutal and emotional anger lies within S. Craig Zahler’s tribute to 1970’s exploitation films.

Jul 2, 2024

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Vaughn has never been better than he is here…

Rated: 3/5

Jun 18, 2023

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Vadim Rizov

Filmmaker Magazine

As with Tomahawk, the film looks absolutely hideous: super-digital, with lots of interiors bathed in sick greens and grays. Please get this man a great color correction package for his next feature.

Jan 10, 2023

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Jason C

This is a great flick to watch when you're tired of the same run of the mill movies out there.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

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john k

I saw the trailer on Facebook, it looked interesting and it was with a few caveats, LOL. I was pleasantly surprised at Vince Vaughn's committed performance, his underplaying the part coupled with a role that finally takes advantage of his 6'5" frame was quite nuanced and carried the movie in more than a few stretches. There were problems with the film, starting with its budget. The action scenes were almost laughable in their execution and editing. It was also a bipolar film, the first part being a thoroughly engrossing take on a committed family man who just happened to be a drug mule. The second part was a prison movie, that, judging from some of the audience reviews on RT, was very unrealistic. I realize that realism wasn't the aim here, which I am fine with, as long as it is entertaining and the movie is in spots, once again, thanks to Vaughn, I have never seen him better and redeeming himself from his dreadful turn in True Detective Season 2. Don Johnson gets to ham it up as the Prison Warden and the scenes he and Vince square off give the second half a much-needed shot in the arm. There are worse ways to waste a couple hours and can't recommend this movie overall, but this is a positive turn for VV and hope he finds similar, better written projects going forward.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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진 이

There should be more movies like this.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Mark H

Its like a mid-day movie but they have just added some violence. How bad was that shoot out scene before he went to jail?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

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Jelisije J

Vince Vaughn really brought his A game as an actor when he plays a former addict must do whatever he can to give his wife and unborn child the life that they deserve. A movie about redemption, love, sacrifice, and a whole lot of dead bodies.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

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Jason R

Brutal. Heartfelt. Terrific. And very, very rad.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

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S. Craig Zahler

Director

Vince Vaughn

Bradley Thomas

Jennifer Carpenter

Lauren Thomas

Don Johnson

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Brawl in Cell Block 99: Teaser Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A former boxer loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to expire. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work as a drug courier. He soon finds himself in a gunfight between police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.

Director: S. Craig Zahler
Producer: Dallas Sonnier, Jack Heller
Screenwriter: S. Craig Zahler
Distributor: RLJE Films
Production Co: IMG Media, XYZ Films
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 6, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 13, 2017
Runtime: 2h 12m

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