The Crossing Guard

Play trailer

The Crossing Guard

R

1995

1h 54m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

For six excruciating years, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) has fantasized about taking bloody revenge on John Booth (David Morse), the drunk driver responsible for the traffic accident that killed his daughter. On the last day of Booth's prison sentence, a grief-stricken Gale informs his ex-wife, Mary (Anjelica Huston), of his intentions, then follows Booth to a mobile home in the suburbs. There, with hands shaking, Gale draws his gun -- and steps into a dark and uncertain future.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Mike Clark

USA Today

01/01/2000

3/4

though Penn doesn't always seem to know where he's going, his movie doesn't altogether miss its destination.

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

2.5/4

What is good about this film is very good, but there are too many side trips, in both the plot and the emotions, for the film to draw us in fully.

Go to Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

09/23/2024

6/10

Technically and structurally the film has a fair amount of problems, but as a venue for talented actors to express remarkable characters the film is second to none.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

01/09/2009

B-

The movie is dramatically shapeless and pretentious too, but as director, Sean Penn gets powerful performances from his central trio: Nicholson, Anjelica Huston, and David Morse.

Go to Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

03/22/2008

3/5

So-so character study directed by Sean Penn, featuring Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

11/11/2007

3/4

...a slow-paced yet mostly engrossing drama...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Jeffrey P

Sep 20

A misguided slowburn revenge plot where I really didn’t agree with the motives. Other than that, not much happens outside of strippers, some solid acting, more strippers, and an ending that was a lot worse than expected.

See more

mark g

Jul 2

I thought The Pledge and Indian Runner were pretty good films directed by Penn, but this was a misfire that just never goes. The talent is assessed, sadly, the script wasn't.

See more

KB B

05/16/2024

It was pretty good but the ending was amazing. It's worth the watch.

See more

Jelisije J

05/03/2024

A very realistic look at a father coming to terms with his daughter killer is sent free from jail and you get a film where the killer and they father grieve and are hopeless in their own individual lives.

See more

Nathan W

04/23/2024

After loosing his daughter to a drunk driving accident, a father hell bent on revenge confronts the man responsible for her death. Jack Nicholson's life is in shambles following the death of his daughter. His marriage is ruined, his kids estranged, and the only way to make things right is to take revenge. I found it interesting to show the tortured father, and the repentant killer side by side through out the film. All of this culminating in an emotional scene at the end, where father forgives killer, and killer forgives himself.

See more

Ravenswood R

03/26/2024

This movie was so bad I stopped watching it. Extra half star in case at some point it got better, but there were no signs of that happening. Conventional canned drama, over-acting, bad music score, very dated run of the mill 90s era production. You feel like you know exactly where it's going, and you do not want to go there.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Sean Penn

Director

Jack Nicholson

Freddy Gale

David Morse

John Booth

Anjelica Huston

Mary

Robin Wright

Jojo

Piper Laurie

Helen Booth

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Three Days

2:13

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Tender Child, Rest in Heaven

2:13

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - She Was Apologizing to Me

2:11

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - I Hope You Die

2:10

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Try and Shoot You

1:59

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - A Perfect Seven

1:06

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - The Crossing Guard

2:13

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - At Close Range

2:13

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - That's My Job in Life

2:13

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Love Hurts

2:05

View more videos

Exotica

95%

83%

Exotica

Watchlist

54

15%

28%

54

Watchlist

The Wings of the Dove

85%

78%

The Wings of the Dove

Watchlist

Georgia

81%

66%

Georgia

Watchlist

Rounders

64%

87%

Rounders

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

For six excruciating years, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) has fantasized about taking bloody revenge on John Booth (David Morse), the drunk driver responsible for the traffic accident that killed his daughter. On the last day of Booth's prison sentence, a grief-stricken Gale informs his ex-wife, Mary (Anjelica Huston), of his intentions, then follows Booth to a mobile home in the suburbs. There, with hands shaking, Gale draws his gun -- and steps into a dark and uncertain future.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Sean Penn
Screenwriter: Sean Penn
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $771.7K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now