The Crossing Guard

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The Crossing Guard

R

Released Nov 15, 1995

1h 54m

Drama

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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.

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Mike Clark

USA Today

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

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

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.

Rated: 6/10

Sep 23, 2024

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

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.

Rated: B-

Jan 9, 2009

Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

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

Rated: 3/5

Mar 22, 2008

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

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

Rated: 3/4

Nov 11, 2007

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Jeffrey P

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/20/25

Full Review

mark g

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/02/25

Full Review

KB B

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Nathan W

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/23/24

Full Review

Ravenswood R

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.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

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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

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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

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