Desperate Measures

Play trailer

Desperate Measures

R

Released Jan 30, 1998

1h 40m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

19%

Tomatometer

31 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Widowed cop Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) is determined to secure a bone marrow transplant for his son, Matt (Joseph Cross), who will die of leukemia if a suitable donor isn't found. Conner discovers that incarcerated serial murderer Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is a match for Matt, and the psychopath eventually agrees to donate marrow, but he escapes from the operating room just before the procedure. Conner quickly follows, but the scheming McCabe won't be easily apprehended.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Times aren't desperate enough for this lame thriller to be called for.

Read Critics Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: D

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Globe and Mail

Rated: 1.5/4

Apr 12, 2002

Full Review

USA Today

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Desperate Measures has recovered its momentum to ultimately confirm its place as an erratically-paced yet predominantly entertaining thriller.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 21, 2020

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Desperate Measures" is a drawn-out, and purely disposable, suspense thriller.

Rated: C

May 19, 2009

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Primarily, the movie works as a showcase for Garcia and Keaton.

Rated: B

Jul 30, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jelisije J

An over the top action thriller that is held together by Michael Keaton playing a complete psychopath convict who tries to escape prison life by literally trying to escape from the hospital where he is suppose to get bone marrow transplant in order to saves a young boy life.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/25/25

Full Review

Audience Member

The good acting and cast were wasted on this trite story line. By the end of the film I was no longer rooting for good guys and just wanted it to end.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/11/25

Full Review

Matthew S

Love all,of the actors in the movie. The acting wasn’t bad but the story was a little far fetched and predictable. Worth a watch but don’t be surprised when st the end you say to yourself, eh

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/25

Full Review

Gerald H

Trying to put so much uninspired crap into just one movie is a desperature measure.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/16/24

Full Review

Frankie B

I honestly don't know why this movie has gotten such low ratings It was a fantastic movie Michael Keaton was really really good in it Andy Garcia was good in it. Action packed had a nice ending. One of my favorite movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

Full Review

Steve D

Keaton's performance is really the only thing that it has but it is more than enough.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Barbet Schroeder

Director

Michael Keaton

Peter McCabe

Andy Garcia

Frank Conner

Brian Cox

Captain Jeremiah Cassidy

Marcia Gay Harden

Dr. Samantha Hawkins

Erik King

Nate Oliver

Wild Things

64%

54%

Wild Things

Watchlist

Never Talk to Strangers

19%

49%

Never Talk to Strangers

Watchlist

The Score

74%

67%

The Score

Watchlist

Black and White

20%

28%

Black and White

Watchlist

Retroactive

57%

50%

Retroactive

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Widowed cop Frank Conner (Andy Garcia) is determined to secure a bone marrow transplant for his son, Matt (Joseph Cross), who will die of leukemia if a suitable donor isn't found. Conner discovers that incarcerated serial murderer Peter McCabe (Michael Keaton) is a match for Matt, and the psychopath eventually agrees to donate marrow, but he escapes from the operating room just before the procedure. Conner quickly follows, but the scheming McCabe won't be easily apprehended.

Director: Barbet Schroeder
Producer: Gary Foster, Susan Hoffman, Lee Rich, Barbet Schroeder
Screenwriter: David Klass
Distributor: TriStar Pictures
Production Co: Eaglepoint, Mandalay Pictures, TriStar Pictures
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 30, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.7M
Runtime: 1h 40m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now