The Crossing Guard

Play trailer

The Crossing Guard

R,

1995,

1h 54m,

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

74%

27 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

For six excruciating years, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) has fantasized about taking bloody revenge on John Booth (David Morse), the drunk driver responsible for the traffic accident that killed his daughter. On the last day of Booth's prison sentence, a grief-stricken Gale informs his ex-wife, Mary (Anjelica Huston), of his intentions, then follows Booth to a mobile home in the suburbs. There, with hands shaking, Gale draws his gun -- and steps into a dark and uncertain future.

Mike Clark

USA Today

Jan 1, 2000

3/4

though Penn doesn't always seem to know where he's going, his movie doesn't altogether miss its destination.

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2.5/4

What is good about this film is very good, but there are too many side trips, in both the plot and the emotions, for the film to draw us in fully.

Go to Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Sep 23, 2024

6/10

Technically and structurally the film has a fair amount of problems, but as a venue for talented actors to express remarkable characters the film is second to none.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jan 9, 2009

B-

The movie is dramatically shapeless and pretentious too, but as director, Sean Penn gets powerful performances from his central trio: Nicholson, Anjelica Huston, and David Morse.

Go to Full Review

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Mar 22, 2008

3/5

So-so character study directed by Sean Penn, featuring Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Nov 11, 2007

3/4

...a slow-paced yet mostly engrossing drama...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Han M

Aug 7, 2018

It's a bit twee but okay. I didn't know the US cops threw in so many resources just for a drink driver, drawn guns to shoot and choppers. I'm surprised they didn't send in Apache gunships and Navy Seals too.

See more

Rey S

Oct 11, 2017

I had no idea there was going to be so much stripping shown in this movie. It was cool to see a younger Jack Nicholson and Robin Wright,but overall I didnt like this movie. It had a interesting premise with a mourning father wanting to kill her killer (vengeance/justice)...but it only sort of worked for me.

See more

Hermione L

Oct 11, 2017

A most vehement performance from Jack Nicholson is paralysed in Sean Penn's superfluously grim depiction of a man's grief and vengeance.

See more

Draco M

May 25, 2017

The film completely squanders Jack Nicholson in a three act story where the second act is about nothing except for the effort to create sympathy with the "Mr Mullet" character by adding scenes with him just hanging and saying lines that Sean Penn thought were meaning while meandering with a romance with Robin Wright. And when the revenge stuff does happen, it's an unfit Jack Nicholson chasing the guy while that guy slows down just to let him catch up and stay in the camera. There's also a helicopter. This movie is only worth it's first act.

See more

Read all reviews

Sean Penn

Director

Jack Nicholson

Freddy Gale

David Morse

John Booth

Anjelica Huston

Mary

Robin Wright

Jojo

Piper Laurie

Helen Booth

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Three Days

2:13

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Tender Child, Rest in Heaven

2:13

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - She Was Apologizing to Me

2:11

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - I Hope You Die

2:10

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - I'm Gonna Try and Shoot You

1:59

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - A Perfect Seven

1:06

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - The Crossing Guard

2:13

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - At Close Range

2:13

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - That's My Job in Life

2:13

Now Playing

The Crossing Guard: Official Clip - Love Hurts

2:05

Now Playing

View more videos

Six Degrees of Separation

91%

71%

Six Degrees of Separation

Watchlist

The Onion Field

85%

64%

The Onion Field

Watchlist

Ironweed

58%

59%

Ironweed

Watchlist

Coming Home

85%

83%

Coming Home

Watchlist

To Die For

88%

66%

To Die For

Watchlist

TRAILER

for To Die For

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

For six excruciating years, Freddy Gale (Jack Nicholson) has fantasized about taking bloody revenge on John Booth (David Morse), the drunk driver responsible for the traffic accident that killed his daughter. On the last day of Booth's prison sentence, a grief-stricken Gale informs his ex-wife, Mary (Anjelica Huston), of his intentions, then follows Booth to a mobile home in the suburbs. There, with hands shaking, Gale draws his gun -- and steps into a dark and uncertain future.

Director: Sean Penn
Producer: Sean Penn
Screenwriter: Sean Penn
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $771.7K
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings