End of Watch

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End of Watch

R

2012

1h 49m

Crime

Drama

Action

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

179 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Longtime LAPD partners and friends, Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña) patrol one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Though they may bend the rules, their honor and dedication to the job are unquestioned. Taylor and Zavala always have each other's back, even if Taylor's surreptitious filming of their daily activities for a college course is a bit ill-advised. All hell breaks loose for the officers when they run afoul of a vicious Mexican cartel.

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Critics Consensus

End of Watch has the energy, devotion to characters, and charismatic performances to overcome the familiar pitfalls of its genre and handheld format.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

This abrasive and brilliant Los Angeles cop drama contains two exceptional male-lead performances.

Feb 27, 2023

Full Review

Francesca Steele

Independent (UK)

This is the thinking man's action movie, a cop flick that takes us off the beaten track. Above all, though, it is a bromance.

Aug 11, 2017

Full Review

Bilge Ebiri

New York Magazine/Vulture

Ayer and his cast appear to have so convincingly nailed the way these characters talk and act that you might not even notice the film slipping from workaday grit into out-and-out myth.

Jan 8, 2013

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Though Ayer’s screenplay resorts to some of the clichés we associate with the genre, the performances are so strong that we hardly care.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 25, 2022

Full Review

Charlotte Harrison

Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies

There are countless buddy-cop action movies, but this one really is a bit different.

Apr 8, 2021

Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

With throat-grabbing immediacy, giddily frenetic cop thriller End of Watch thrusts you into the front seat of an LA patrol car.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 17, 2020

Full Review

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Jalvzz ..

Classic Los Angeles drama

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

Full Review

Aidan S

End of watch was an emotion provoking gem that flew under the radar of major accomplishment. The "Found Film" style and realistic interaction between the leads made it feel like you were watching an at home movie of your friends. End of watch continues to be on of my favorite Gyllenhaal films and I recommend it to everyone.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

Full Review

Ian R

Great film. Pena stands out along with Gyllenhaal as two uniformed cops in Los Angeles. They get marked by Latino organised crime. The excellent acting and quiet storyline reveal a strong bond between the two cops and delineates the evil of gang culture. One of the better cop movies in many years. Frank Grillo deserves mention. He doesn't quite steal every scene, but he sure has some charisma.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/23/25

Full Review

Leaburn O

Putting the romance in bromance, this is like an even better but less emotionally affecting version of Turner & Hooch. It’s a fun and enthralling ride around the ganglands of LA with these cop buddies. The ending was a bit odd. As in really odd. Well made though and enjoyed. Watched on Amazon Prime.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/08/25

Full Review

Alex H

Not great; a bit dizzying and camera work doesn't work for the hard hitting story loinr

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/04/25

Full Review

Green C

The rapport between the two lead characters makes the movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/23/25

Full Review

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David Ayer

Director

Jake Gyllenhaal

Brian Taylor

Michael Peña

Mike Zavala

Natalie Martinez

Gabby

Anna Kendrick

Janet

David Harbour

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Synopsis

Longtime LAPD partners and friends, Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña) patrol one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Though they may bend the rules, their honor and dedication to the job are unquestioned. Taylor and Zavala always have each other's back, even if Taylor's surreptitious filming of their daily activities for a college course is a bit ill-advised. All hell breaks loose for the officers when they run afoul of a vicious Mexican cartel.

Director: David Ayer
Producer: John Lesher, David Ayer, Nigel Sinclair, Matt Jackson
Screenwriter: David Ayer
Distributor: Open Road
Production Co: Le Grisbi
Rating: R (Sexual References|Pervasive Language|Some Disturbing Images|Some Drug Use|Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2012, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 7, 2012
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $41.0M
Runtime: 1h 49m

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