Opening

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—— A Green Story May 24
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—— After Earth May 31
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100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31

Changing Lanes (2002)

tomatometer

77

Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 151
Fresh: 116 | Rotten: 35

Though some may find its conclusion unsatisfying, Changing Lanes is a tense, well-crafted exploration of meaty ethical dilemmas.

76

Average Rating: 6.8/10
Critic Reviews: 33
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 8

Though some may find its conclusion unsatisfying, Changing Lanes is a tense, well-crafted exploration of meaty ethical dilemmas.

audience

50

liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 53,718

My Rating

Movie Info

Director Roger Michell follows up the hit romantic comedy Notting Hill (1999) with this thought-provoking thriller. Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson star, respectively, as Gavin Banek and Doyle Gibson, two New York men whose lives become accidentally intertwined in a Good Friday fender bender on the FDR Drive. Late for a crucial appointment, hotshot lawyer Gavin tosses Doyle a blank check and leaves the scene, while Doyle, whose car is inoperable, is late for a court-appointed custody hearing.

Sep 10, 2002

$66.7M

Paramount Pictures - Official Site External Icon

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All Critics (160) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (35) | DVD (31)

Combines a knack for storytelling with a rare instinct for exploring ideas within the framework of a major, star-driven Hollywood movie.

September 22, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A slickly shot, intelligent thriller, it's buoyed up by an exceptional performance from Jackson, who brings crumpled dignity and pathos to his habitual loser.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
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A thrilling ride but also a thoughtful one, it's a movie that does manage to do more good than bad by the end of the day.

July 20, 2002 Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
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In addition to gluing you to the edge of your seat, Changing Lanes is also a film of freshness, imagination and insight.

April 25, 2002 Full Review Source: New York Observer
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The ending is guaranteed to aggravate any self-respecting New York driver.

April 16, 2002 Full Review Source: Village Voice
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It pulls the rug out from under you, just when you're ready to hate one character, or really sympathize with another character, something happens to send you off in different direction.

April 15, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Emotionally violent thriller for mature teens.

December 22, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

"Changing Lanes" asks how far we'd go not to lose what's ours, but it's a morality play with hope for détente rather than any destructive force. Gavin and Doyle are two severely flawed men whose best intentions are knocked about by their worst impulses.

September 25, 2010 Full Review Source: Suite101.com
Suite101.com

Evitando o maniqueísmo, o roteiro cria dois personagens complexos e ambíguos ao mesmo tempo que recheia a narrativa com diálogos bem construídos e instigantes.

February 1, 2010
Cinema em Cena

turns into a much more thought-provoking movie than you might otherwise expect

January 9, 2010 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures
7M Pictures

A rare Hollywood film that deals with both the violence and the turmoil and the regret these men face when they slow to catch their breath...

May 19, 2009 Full Review Source: Seanax.com
Seanax.com

Themes about corporate ethics, greed, corruption and our vulnerability in the face of determined evil have a Falling Down finality that is weakened by unconvincing character arcs.

August 7, 2008 Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review
Sacramento News & Review

One of the most impressive movies of the year; taut and compelling.

December 30, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine
Empire Magazine

Michell is willing to explore a drama that has no heroes, just broken men trying to find some hope in the darkness, some meaning in the madness.

December 6, 2004
Looking Closer

... An extraordinary film with a level of moral complexity and attention to detail that are rare today ...

January 7, 2004 Full Review Source: Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

How often do you go to a Hollywood movie and still find yourself thinking about it on the way to work the next day?

February 12, 2003 Full Review Source: RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)

Changing Lanes is a good movie built on a dumb premise. But it's a good movie all the same.

February 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Film Quips Online
Film Quips Online

Despite its strong start with a plausible situation gone disastrously wrong, Changing Lanes lectures audiences and devolves into the corniest of melodramas--there's nothing subtle about it.

January 13, 2003 Full Review Source: Radio Free Entertainment
Radio Free Entertainment

Audience Reviews for Changing Lanes

"Changing Lanes is a good thriller. It's original and gives two great performances from Jackson and Affleck.
Gavin Banek and Doyle Gipson happen to literally run into each other on a very important day of their lives. This run in ruins their important day which engulfs them into a day filled with vengeance and chaos. Their back and forth tit for tats end up leaving them both feeling horrible for the things they just did to each other. But yet the hits keep coming and with every hit one gets the other hits back harder. There is no winner. No evil winning over good. They are both deep down good people. This is a perfect example of how good people can be pushed to do awful things when certain lines are crossed. The ending was satisfying and I really enjoyed the movie. I'm not sure if I would see this again. Although I enjoyed it, there wasn't enough action for me considering this was a thriller. Still a solid thriller though."
July 20, 2009
LWOODS04
♥˩ƳИИ ƜѲѲƉƧ♥

Super Reviewer

Another great suggestion from Mr. Tim Ryan. If you thought that Sam Jackson made his money by cursing really loudly on camera, check out this movie him actually acting, really really well. A suspenseful dogfight that subtle asks questions about the nature of humanity, I found myself actually stressed out -- and therefore interested -- about how it would all end. Although well-made, there are some pacing problems in the movie that prevents it from being a truly great drama, but definitely one worth putting on your Want-To-See list.
February 5, 2011
jarobb3

Super Reviewer

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