The Guard

R

Released Jul 29, 2011

1 hr. 35 min.

Comedy

Mystery & Thriller

List

94%

139 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A vulgar Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) and a straight-laced American FBI agent (Don Cheadle) uncover police corruption among the former's superiors while probing a drug-trafficking ring.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Mar 20

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Hulu

Prime Video

Apple TV

Watch The Guard with a subscription on Hulu, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

A violent, crackerjack comedy with a strong Irish flavor and an eminently likable Brendan Gleeson in the main role.

Read Critics Reviews

Joan K

What a quirky, original movie with interesting characters. Fun to watch. I highly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/24

Full Review

Leilani Y

Droll sense of humor with very authentic voices of all in plot and characters.plus slight mock art film markers and Cheadle and Gleeson are brilliant

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

K B

Smashing, loved it. The end gets a little drawn out, still a great watch!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

so funny and so fun Brendan Gleeson is quite an eccentric Irish policeman who is such a sourpuss and a bit of a pessimist I especially love when he and Don Cheadle are on screen cause the dynamics work I like Mark Strong too but he should have been the bigger villain in the picture as the film goes along you do get to know the policeman and why he's so uptight the scenery is just magnificient and alot of the humor adds punch to the script genuine laughs and WTF moments

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Ian B

Brilliant dark comedy with excellent cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

babarizam

This movie is damn bloody awesome.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

John Michael McDonagh

Director

Brendan Gleeson

Sergeant Gerry Boyle

Don Cheadle

FBI agent Wendell Everett

Liam Cunningham

Francis Sheehy

David Wilmot

Liam O'Leary

Rory Keenan

Garda Aidan McBride

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

26%

44%

Nobel Son

74%

53%

Inherent Vice

TRAILER

for Inherent Vice

32%

35%

Burke & Hare

56%

36%

Compromising Positions

78%

59%

Some Guy Who Kills People

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Calvary‘s Brendan Gleeson: The RT Interview

12 Great Buddy Cop Pairings in Movies

Critics Consensus: Cowboys and Aliens is All Mixed Up

View more photos

Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

The Guard offers an offbeat take on a genre without skimping on the violence or gunplay.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 18, 2011

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

Although The Guard is primarily a language romp, it's also a terrific showcase for veteran pug-faced character actor Brendan Gleeson.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 26, 2011

Full Review

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Brendan Gleeson is a blooming marvel.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 26, 2011

Full Review

Mark Seneviratne

Vague Visages

There is no analytical framework to guide audiences towards a hollow understanding of raw talent. Gleeson's charisma is built-in, like all legendary performers, and this is most evident when his characters behave despicably.

Mar 26, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Gleeson has rarely been better or been given such a showcase for his talent.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 1, 2023

Full Review

Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Flipping the street cop and well-to-do dynamic of 'Beverly Hills Cop' on its head, Cheadle's uptight Yale graduate is suitably stuffy when plonked in the Irish countryside.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 28, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A vulgar Irish cop (Brendan Gleeson) and a straight-laced American FBI agent (Don Cheadle) uncover police corruption among the former's superiors while probing a drug-trafficking ring.

Director: John Michael McDonagh
Executive Producer: Martin McDonagh, Don Cheadle, Paul Brett, Ralph Kamp, Lenore Zerman, Tim Smith, David Nash
Screenwriter: John Michael McDonagh
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Reprisal Films, UK Film Council, Element Films
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Material|Sexual Content|Some Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 29, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.4M
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Most Popular at Home Now