Changing Lanes

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Changing Lanes

R

2002

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

151 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

A rush-hour fender-bender on New York City's crowded FDR Drive, under most circumstances, wouldn't set off a chain reaction that could decimate two people's lives. But on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying each other might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost.

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Critics Consensus

Though some may find its conclusion unsatisfying, Changing Lanes is a tense, well-crafted exploration of meaty ethical dilemmas.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Emotionally violent thriller for mature teens.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Robert Koehler

Variety

Combines a knack for storytelling with a rare instinct for exploring ideas within the framework of a major, star-driven Hollywood movie.

Sep 22, 2008

Full Review

Olly Richards

Empire Magazine

One of the most impressive movies of the year; taut and compelling.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Changing Lanes admirably manages to largely steer clear of black and white simplicity by adorning itself in an appealing shade of gray.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 2, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... an overlooked film that delves into anger management, revenge, and culpability.

Feb 3, 2024

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

Time and again, "Changing Lanes" subversively upends expectations.

Sep 24, 2021

Full Review

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Andrew M

Underaged but good to see Samuel Jackson in another role.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

Full Review

Alejandro E

Without much in the way of aspirations, this drama has characters fairly close to real life; it's almost an allegory for the level of stress anyone is exposed to on a bad day. For a weekend, to kill 96 painless minutes.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

Full Review

Jerod S

Jackson and Affleck co-star in an ultimate spiraling of road-rage.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Jelisije J

A movie that had a realistic story and ended in a realistic happy ending. Was their tension and good drama? A bit, but to me the movie wasn't that interesting with its story or with its characters. A one and done forget about it in 5 minutes type of film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/12/24

Full Review

Kirsten W

I remember the ads for this movie. I thought a thriller crime story about traffic? I was hopeful about it. Years later I watched it and fell in love with it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/24

Full Review

Mark B

Great cast and the story starts off strong but it meanders through and sputters and ends up crawling to the finish. By the end I did not care and did not like any of the characters in the movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/30/24

Full Review

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Roger Michell

Director

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Gavin Banek

Samuel L. Jackson

Doyle Gibson

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Synopsis

A rush-hour fender-bender on New York City's crowded FDR Drive, under most circumstances, wouldn't set off a chain reaction that could decimate two people's lives. But on this day, at this time, a minor collision will turn two complete strangers into vicious adversaries. Their means of destroying each other might be different, but their goals, ultimately, will be the same: Each will systematically try to dismantle the other's life in a reckless effort to reclaim something he has lost.

Director: Roger Michell
Producer: Scott Rudin
Screenwriter: Chap Taylor, Michael Tolkin
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 12, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $66.8M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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