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John Q

Play trailer Poster for John Q PG-13,  2002,  1h 58m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 26% 133 Reviews Tomatometer 78% 100,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
26% Tomatometer 133 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Story centers on a man whose nine-year-old son is in desperate need of a life-saving transplant. When he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover the costs of the surgery and alternative government aid is unavailable, John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) takes a hospital emergency room hostage in a last-ditch attempt to save his child.
John Q

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Washington's performance rises above the material, but John Q pounds the audience over the head with its message.

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Critics Reviews

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Jeff Strickler Minneapolis Star Tribune Nov 6, 2002
2/4
A polemic in search of a plot. Go to Full Review
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films May 9, 2002
D-
"What John does is heroic, but we don't condone it," one of the film's stars recently said, a tortuous comment that perfectly illustrates the picture's moral schizophrenia. Go to Full Review
Neil Smith BBC.com Apr 22, 2002
2/5
Doesn't so much need a heart as a brain transplant. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Feb 3, 2024
3.5/4
...Washington offers up a consistently spellbinding turn that goes a long way towards smoothing over the narrative’s bumps and lulls... Go to Full Review
Justin Brown Medium Popcorn Nov 20, 2022
3/5
I liked this movie but some of the performances like Eddie Griffin threw the tone off a bit. But all in all, Denzel does such a great job in this film and does everything he can to carry it to the finish line. Go to Full Review
Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn Nov 20, 2022
3/5
Denzel carries this movie on his back, which saves the movie from fully drowning. It should've been a great Denzel movie but because of its flaws, it is just "ok". Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Poe M Apr 2, 2019 Well acted but focuses too much on preaching to the audience than letting the audience contemplate things on their own.
Luke S Nov 12, 2018 This film was almost good.
Oct 28, 2018 All these "top critics" and audience members are dumb af. 45,000 people die annually as a result of lack of health coverage. This is just in America alone. I thought this movie did a great job depicting the thought process of all the Parents who's children lack necessary healthcare. I can only begin to image how hard it must be to bury your own child and John Q did everything he could to save his sons life even after everyone told him he must accept his son's death. When there were no other options, John made sure that no one got hurt, and exposed the health insurance companies for attempting to let his child die. Yes he did hold people hostage and that's wrong but sometimes in life when you realize injustice and try to stop it, you have to do things that are outside the norm to get enough attention. Every year, there are 45,000 new reasons why we need to recognize that health is more important than money and the other shiny attractions in life. We must stop these rich people from privatizing our healthcare industry and profiting from the deaths of millions See more
Oct 5, 2018 Movie is very emotional and had me on the edge of my seat
George W Aug 30, 2018 Pure left wing Propaganda. Don't watch as it riddled with lies and anti Gun anti Republican nonsense.
Finn S Jun 28, 2018 Absolutely a great movie to watch anytime.
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John Q

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Movie Info

Synopsis Story centers on a man whose nine-year-old son is in desperate need of a life-saving transplant. When he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover the costs of the surgery and alternative government aid is unavailable, John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington) takes a hospital emergency room hostage in a last-ditch attempt to save his child.
Director
Nick Cassavetes
Producer
Mark Burg, Oren Koules
Screenwriter
James Kearns
Distributor
New Line Cinema
Production Co
Evolution Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Intense Thematic Elements|Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 15, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 15, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$71.0M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, SDDS, DTS-ES, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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