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Point Break (1991)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 52
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 17

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 4.5/10
Critic Reviews: 8
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 6

No consensus yet.

audience

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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 114,764

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Movie Info

Kathryn Bigelow's fourth action film follows FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) as he goes undercover to infiltrate a cache of Southern California surfers suspected of robbing banks. Utah, a former football player, is assigned to Los Angeles. There, four bank robbers, who wear rubber masks and call themselves "Ex-Presidents," have executed a series of successful robberies which embarrassingly have the FBI stumped. Utah, and his partner Pappas (Gary Busey) suspect that the robbers are surfers

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Action & Adventure

Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow

Written By: Rick King, W. Peter Iliff

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1991 Wide

On DVD: May 22, 2001

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Point Break Trailer & Photos

Cast

Patrick Swayze
Bodhi
Keanu Reeves
Johnny Utah
Lori Petty
Tyler
Gary Busey
Pappas
John C. McGinley
Ben Harp
James LeGros
Roach
John Philbin
Nathanial
Bojesse Christopher
Grommet
Dino Andino
Psycho-Stick
John Apicella
Security Guard
Matt Archbold
Surf Rat
Sedrick J. Azurdia
Fruit Vendor
Daniel Beer
Babbit
Elizabeth Berkley
Macrame Girl
Shannon Brook
Fast Food Girl
Marsha Carter
FBI Receptionist
Jared Chandler
Pilot
Raymond Forchion
Neighbor
Betsy Lynn George
Girl at Party
Galyn Gorg
Margarita
Richard Grove
Cullen
Jack Kehler
Halsey
Vincent Klyn
Warchild
Michael Kopelow
Passion for Slashin
Deborah Lemen
Miss Jennings
Anthony Mangano
Off Duty Cop
Gloria Mann
Fierce Woman
Kimberly Martin
Fiberglass
Julie Michaels
Freight Train
Dave Olson
Archbold
Chris Pederson
Bunker
Christopher Pettiet
"15"
Peter Phelps
Australian Surfer
Mick Regan
Mr. Duggan
Julian Reyes
Alvarez
Tom Sizemore
DEA agent Deets
Lee Tergesen
Rosie
Paolo Tocha
Cab Driver
Randy Walker
Combat Alley Supervisor
Sydney Walsh
Miss Deer
Ping Wu
Dispatcher
Anthony Kiedis
Tone
Gary Roberts
Australian Cop #1
Richard Pagano
Sharon Bialy
Mike Genovese
Corey
Bojessie Christopher
Chris Pedersen

Critic Reviews for Point Break

All Critics (52) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (18) | DVD (28)

We might as well be watching a blissed-out Bill and Ted caper.

March 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

A hare-brained wild ride through big surf and bad vibes, Point Break acts like a huge, nasty wave, picking up viewers for a few major thrills but ultimately grinding them into the sand via overkill and absurdity.

March 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment (1)

Variety

Top Critic

A lot of the snap comes, surprisingly, from Mr. Reeves, who displays considerable discipline and range. He moves easily between the buttoned-down demeanor that suits a police procedural story and the loose-jointed manner of his comic roles.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

Bigelow can't keep the film from drowning in a sea of surf-speak. But without her, Point Break would be no more than an excuse to ogle pretty boys in wet suits.

May 12, 2001 Comment

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

An exercise in stylish lunkheadedness. It's gorgeous but dumb as a post; watching it is a bit like shooting the tube and then getting cracked on the head by your board.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment (1)

Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Top Critic

The plot of Point Blank, summarized, invites parody (rookie agent goes undercover as surfer to catch bank robbers). The result is surprisingly effective.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comments (2)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

The essence of movie remains unsullied, and with every viewing comes fresh details and a new appreciation for the film's fearlessness and originality in the midst of all of the cop formula.

July 12, 2011 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

Quaint in its depiction of an alternative lifestyle, yet still an above average, really quite vicious action thriller.

August 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Clothes on Film

| Comment

Chris Laverty

Clothes on Film

...an above-average actioner...

August 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Consistently stylish, dumb, and entertaining.

July 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews

| Comment

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews Source: Groucho Reviews

Pretty fair action in Swayze-Reeves starrer.

August 14, 2007 Comment

Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Keanu Reeves is Johnny Utah. F*** yeah!

August 7, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment (1)

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

From our first glimpse of a surfer hovering through a cascading wave to the final sky-diving stunt, Kathryn Bigelow's fourth feature keeps offering us new thrills with unapologetic verve.

March 22, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

In some ways, Point Break is a guilty pleasure. But do keep in mind, like many drugs, repeated exposure may make you dumber.

November 5, 2006 Full Review Source: 7M Pictures

| Comments (2)

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Surfing. Bank robbery. Skydiving. Johnny Utah. If you can stomach the contents, Point Break is a dumbly entertaining treat.

November 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Slant Magazine

In terms of Hollywood history, Bigelow's film is the perfect document of its time.

November 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

| Comment

Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Slant Magazine

This visually delirious but intellectually underdeveloped thriller-actioner has some wonderfully executed chase scenes, but the characters defy dramatic logic even when played by Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.

October 9, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

| Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

There's fun to be had, but there's also a few chapters worth skipping through.

October 5, 2006 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVD Clinic

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Point Break

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Here is the mother of all action thriller movies in one. I loved this movie from smart to finish. I wish it went on for another half hour. Patrick Swayze is a really cool actor, Keanu Reeve's on the other hand, cannot act is his life depended on it. Their on screen chemistry is fun to watch, as their opposite lives

April 4, 2010

KJ Proulx

Super Reviewer

This Feds-vs-surfers thriller is one of the dippiest action movies ever mounted. The twist is that it's also one of the best. As Keanu Reeves's greenhorn agent embarks on a seafoam-flecked duel of wits with Patrick Swayze's mystical boarder, Point Break notches up brilliantly shot set pieces, rocketing from land to air

August 30, 2006

Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

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