John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

26% Tomatometer 135 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.

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John Q

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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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John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Empire Magazine Rated: 2/5 Dec 30, 2006 Full Review John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Jeff Strickler Minneapolis Star Tribune A polemic in search of a plot. Rated: 2/4 Nov 6, 2002 Full Review John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films "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. Rated: D- May 9, 2002 Full Review John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (4) David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...Washington offers up a consistently spellbinding turn that goes a long way towards smoothing over the narrative’s bumps and lulls... Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 3, 2024 Full Review John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Justin Brown Medium Popcorn 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. Rated: 3/5 Nov 20, 2022 Full Review John Q | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn 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". Rated: 3/5 Nov 20, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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caleb b One of my absolute favorite performances from Denzel! I don’t know what the critics have been smoking but I would say this is in my top 20 favorite movies of all time! Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review Jaiden W 26% Really? This movie was a 10/10 for me. Incredible acting. Emotional Scenes. Badass Scenes. Great Message. Plus Top Tier Story Telling. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/13/24 Full Review Girth W The cast of this movie is wild let's review Denzel Robert DuvallRay LiottaAnn HecheE from Entourage That guy from south land Eddie Griffin Randy from my name is earlAnd James WoodsThis is an extremely underrated movie if you haven't watched it rent it. Even if you think the plots dumb it's a very entertaining film. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/03/23 Full Review A.L.Jude P When denzel get involved it ought to be sky high. Great piece of art. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/03/23 Full Review Nisha Y This has a great premise, forward thinking elements for its time and a good cast. There were some scenes that seemed rushed, phoned-in and a waste of the talent. Those few elements let down the whole film which had it been tighter would have been a really good one. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/23 Full Review Devin B Great movie with an even better message! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/01/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Nick Cassavetes Director Denzel Washington John Q. Archibald Robert Duvall Grimes James Woods Dr. Turner Anne Heche Rebecca Payne Eddie Griffin Lester
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John Q

(l to r): Robert Duvall and Ray Liotta star in New Line Cinema's John Q. Denzel Washington stars in New Line Cinema's John Q. (l to r): Kimberly Elise, Daniel E. Smith and Denzel Washington star in New Line Cinema's John Q. Denzel Washington stars in New Line Cinema's John Q. Director Nick Cassavetes on the set of New Line Cinema's John Q. (l to r): Denzel Washington and Robert Duvall star in New Line Cinema's John Q. (left to right) Denzel Washington, Daniel E. Smith and Kimberly Elise star in New Line Cinema's John Q. James Woods (left) and Denzel Washington star in New Line Cinema's action-thriller, JOHN Q. (left to right) Ray Liotta, Anne Heche and Robert Duvall star in New Line Cinema's John Q. Ray Liotta stars in New Line Cinema's John Q. View more photos

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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