White House Down

Play trailer

White House Down

PG-13

Released Jun 28, 2013

2h 11m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

200 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Capitol police officer John Cale has just been denied his dream job of protecting President James Sawyer as a member of the Secret Service. Not wanting to disappoint his young daughter with the bad news, Cale takes her on a tour of the White House. While he and his daughter are there, a heavily armed paramilitary group attacks and seizes control. As the nation's government dissolves in chaos, only Cale can save his daughter, the president and the country.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

White House Down benefits from the leads' chemistry, but director Roland Emmerich smothers the film with narrative clichés and choppily edited action.

Read Critics Reviews

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

There is a certain comfort you can derive from these predictable mega-budget monsters. Trouble is, it goes on too long. It has several climactic moments, but every time you ready for the exit, the film bounces back again for the next round.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 19, 2019

Full Review

Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

At least has the good grace to laugh at itself as it rolls out the dingbat-daft action-movie cliches.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 15, 2013

Full Review

Donald Clarke

Irish Times

It is appallingly funny in a way that few parodies ever manage. But it is undeniably exciting.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 15, 2013

Full Review

Emiliano Basile

EscribiendoCine

As an action film, White House Down does its job: it entertains and offers some very well-filmed scenes. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Sep 11, 2024

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Never does White House Down surprise us or go in a direction we didn’t see coming. It’s all been manufactured to proven specifications and refuses to deviate from customary action movie schematics.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 2, 2022

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Emmerich’s action is repetitive, hackneyed, and not the least bit exciting.

Rated: 1.5/5

Aug 21, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Matthew D

Channing Tatum really saves White House Down (2013). Roland makes for exciting action and real suspense. But why is this over 2 hours long for such a simple action thriller? The scene where the army just sit there as the president is getting shot at by a minigun is so stupid I nearly checked out entirely. There are at least some cool shootouts, chases, and explosions. Channing Tatum is very commanding and cool as an action hero. Jamie Foxx makes for a stalwart president. He's quite funny opposite Channing. Maggie Gyllenhaal is good as the head of Secret Service, but gets very little to do. Jason Clarke is gripping as the terrorist leader. Richard Jenkins is amusing as the nervous Speaker of the House. Joey King is awful, flat, and boring as the annoying little girl. James Woods goes overboard as the raging Secret Service head who is retiring. Jimmi Simpson's over the top hacker is ridiculous. Lance Reddick hardly gets a few lines and nothing to do here.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/05/25

Full Review

Classroom G

I am not usually one to watch films where the number one draw is things blowing up. I chose this movie because of the humor in the preview I watched. Thought it would be a nice diversion/background noise while I went on with my work in my home office. Boy, was I wrong! I got absolutely ZERO work done while this was playing because I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Half the time, my heart was pounding so hard I could literally feel it in my throat! At one point, I even said aloud "C'mon! You know they're going to make it out! Why are you holding your breath?!" But I couldn't help it! The action in this film was gripping. The situation and the acting was believable, right down to the actions of the wife of the lead hostage taker. I can't believe that it took me twelve years to get to this film and I can't believe that people aren't talking about it like they do "Die Hard" or "Terminator". It is DEFINITELY a must watch and I am now purchasing it for future rewatches.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

Ezra R.

Some solid action scenes but by the end it becomes pretty exhausting, it’s kinda like if the alternate endings of the clue movie we’re trying to be serious

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/01/25

Full Review

Ti H.

I enjoyed this only because Channing Tatum was in it. He gets the 5 stars. Also great to see him as a dad!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

Stephen C

A failed action movie in 2 hours and 11 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/29/25

Full Review

Juju S

J'ai beaucoup aimé ce film d'action ! Le dénouement amène un petit twist inatendu.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Roland Emmerich

Director

Channing Tatum

Cale

Jamie Foxx

President Sawyer

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Finnerty

Jason Clarke

Stenz

Richard Jenkins

Raphelson

White House Down: Official Clip - Consider This My Resignation

3:04

White House Down: Official Clip - Ground Force One

2:17

White House Down: Official Clip - Air Force One Destroyed

1:39

White House Down: Official Clip - Presidential Rocket Launcher

0:56

White House Down: Official Clip - No Jail for You

2:27

White House Down: Official Clip - Mr. President Pulls the Trigger

2:12

White House Down: Official Clip - You're Not Going to Shoot the President

1:07

White House Down: Official Clip - Hand-to-Hand Combat

1:37

White House Down: Official Clip - Helicopter Hunting

3:25

White House Down: Official Clip - Millions of People Are Gonna Die

2:46

View more videos

The Cold Light of Day

4%

28%

The Cold Light of Day

Watchlist

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

55%

52%

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

2012

40%

47%

2012

Watchlist

TRAILER

for 2012

Taken 2

22%

52%

Taken 2

Watchlist

Non-Stop

62%

63%

Non-Stop

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Capitol police officer John Cale has just been denied his dream job of protecting President James Sawyer as a member of the Secret Service. Not wanting to disappoint his young daughter with the bad news, Cale takes her on a tour of the White House. While he and his daughter are there, a heavily armed paramilitary group attacks and seizes control. As the nation's government dissolves in chaos, only Cale can save his daughter, the president and the country.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Producer: Bradley J. Fischer, Harald Kloser, James Vanderbilt, Larry J. Franco, Laeta Kalogridis
Screenwriter: James Vanderbilt
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Production Co: Centropolis Entertainment, Mythology Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Intense Gunfire and Explosions|A Brief Sexual Image|Seq of Intense Action Violence|Some Language)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2013, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 22, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $73.1M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Datasat

Most Popular at Home Now