One Eight Seven

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One Eight Seven

R

1997

1h 59m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

30%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When a student writes the police code for homicide, 187, inside a textbook owned by teacher Trevor Garfield (Samuel L. Jackson), he feels threatened. The principal dismisses the incident, but, soon after, Trevor is stabbed by the same student. Fifteen months later, a physically and emotionally scarred Trevor relocates to California and takes up substitute teaching. To his dismay, his new school is as full of dangerously undisciplined students as the last one, driving Trevor over the edge.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It feels like the movie lost the nerve of its original story impulse and sought safety in elements borrowed from thrillers. Its destination doesn't have much to do with how it got there.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Mike Clark

USA Today

A combined psychological and vigilante drama.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

A compelling, sobering drama about a well-intentioned high-school teacher driven over the edge by criminal student predators. Jackson gives a commanding, very empathetic performance.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 5, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 18, 2005

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Greg Maki

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Rated: 3/5

Jan 31, 2005

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Dragan Antulov

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 4/10

Jun 9, 2004

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Fernando T

This has to be the best movie from Samuel L Jackon. The subject is very heavy and it makes me tear every time. I highly recommend this movie to anyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

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Stoner J

Sorely underrated, mostly semi-fact based flick about what teachers have experienced in Los Angeles and likely elsewhere. The dress and lingo of 1990s L.A. ghettos, is nearly spot on. And all the actors did great jobs. The ending is super gnarly and sad but a powerful movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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Audience Member

Grossly underrated and well-worth the watch and reflection. I don't really get the poor reviews, but to each their own. I think it's a thoughtful, sobering tragedy, with no heroes or moralizations, only humans pushing and pulling against their principles, and the horrific lengths they will go to embody them. The actors' performances are awesome. My main complaint is that, for the sake of realism, the high schoolers should have been played by actual high schoolers.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

Full Review

Cassie D

The entire script relies on stereotypes and tropes. It's bad writing and it's driving hysteria and fear about certain groups of people. The performances are solid, they just had garbage to work with.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/09/24

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Audience Member

Not convincing on so many levels starting with a cast of “high school students” that have to be at least 25 to 30 years old.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/15/24

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Chief B

Underrated gem I don't get the low score it gets.. L jackson is fantastic so is the whole cast. The movie has a great soundtrack plus the cinematography is pretty unique. The colors used fantastic. Great movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/17/23

Full Review

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Kevin Reynolds

Director

Samuel L. Jackson

Trevor Garfield

John Heard

Dave Childress

Kelly Rowan

Ellen Henry

Clifton Collins Jr.

Cesar Sanchez

Tony Plana

Principal Garcia

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Synopsis

When a student writes the police code for homicide, 187, inside a textbook owned by teacher Trevor Garfield (Samuel L. Jackson), he feels threatened. The principal dismisses the incident, but, soon after, Trevor is stabbed by the same student. Fifteen months later, a physically and emotionally scarred Trevor relocates to California and takes up substitute teaching. To his dismay, his new school is as full of dangerously undisciplined students as the last one, driving Trevor over the edge.

Director: Kevin Reynolds
Producer: Bruce Davey, Stephen McEveety
Screenwriter: Scott Yagemann
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 21, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.7M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround

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