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S.W.A.T.

S.W.A.T. (2003)

tomatometer

38

Average Rating: 5.3/10
Critic Reviews: 39
Fresh: 15 | Rotten: 24

A competent, but routine police thriller.

audience

63

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 252,346

My Rating

Movie Info

Clark Johnson's big-screen adaptation of the 1970s television series S.W.A.T. stars Colin Farrell as Jim Street, a young special weapons and tactics team member who, in the film's opening sequence, is demoted after his hothead partner Jeremy Renner shoots a hostage while trying to kill her captor. In need of good press, the higher-ups call in SWAT expert Hondo Harrelson (Samuel L. Jackson) to put together an elite team that can bring some luster back to the badge. He chooses Street, veteran T.J.

PG-13, 1 hr. 57 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

David Ayer, David McKenna, Ron Mita, Jim McClain

Dec 30, 2003

$116.6M

Columbia Pictures

S.W.A.T. Trailer & Photos

More Photos (5)
More Trailers and Videos (9)

Cast

Critic Reviews for S.W.A.T.

All Critics (170) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (87) | DVD (41)

As summer shoot-'em-ups go, this is pretty well executed, with plenty of macho posing and gunfire.

May 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There is something sneakily gratifying about all this.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine | Comment
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A rigmarole of stranded clichés and thrill-free action-movie legerdemain.

August 13, 2003 Full Review Source: Village Voice | Comment
Michael Atkinson
Village Voice
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The director, a TV guy named Clark Johnson, doesn't shoot action very well, which is sort of a handicap.

August 9, 2003 Full Review Source: Slate | Comment
David Edelstein
Slate
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You can't get mad at it -- except for the two hours of your life it steals from you.

August 9, 2003 Full Review Source: Salon.com | Comment
Charles Taylor
Salon.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Director Clark Johnson strives for realistic detail and action. Unfortunately, such adherence to technical purity proves to be a weakness for the movie.

August 8, 2003 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Robert Koehler
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

By-the-numbers explosion flick -- no surprises.

December 28, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media

Never quite rises above the level of merely watchable.

January 8, 2010 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

A lively, mindless police thriller.

May 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | Comment
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Solidly entertaining without being spectacular.

April 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine

he high definition SWAT training footage resembles a US Army recruitment ad, appropriate since TV journeyman Johnson imagines downtown LA as an unpatrolled Baghdad, swarming with guntotin' mercenaries pursuing their share of the bounty.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment
Jessica Winter
Time Out Source: Time Out

Watching the wheels come off of S.W.A.T. is quite a sight.

June 26, 2005 Full Review Source: FromTheBalcony | Comment
Bill Clark
FromTheBalcony Source: FromTheBalcony

Is there an actual character in S.W.A.T.? A plot? A single intelligent or exciting sequence?

May 4, 2005 Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | Comment (1)
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

...a case of a modest workmanlike film exceeding diminished expectations

January 29, 2005 Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | Comment
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

It has a totally loony narrative, but it is supported by some first class production values and performances, so its silliness never seems tiresome.

October 11, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie City News | Comment
Douglas Pratt
Movie City News
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for S.W.A.T.

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I dont know why but i love this movie!Its action packed throughout and is just a typical action suspensful movie thats fun throughout to watch!Great cast, funny, entertaining and action packed!

September 4, 2007
FiLmCrAzY
Film Crazy

Super Reviewer

S.W.A.T. is a much better movie than it gets credit for. In terms of bring a t.v. show to life, it does a beautiful job. It trows these characters and basic plot into a realistic setting. Even just as a pure action movie it's great. I've always had a soft spot for this, due to it's unbelievably entertaining cast of

May 16, 2011
ythelastman89
Conner Rainwater

Super Reviewer

S.W.A.T. Quotes

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    1. Sgt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson: You still want to work S.W.A.T?
    2. Chris Sanchez: No. I just enjoy applying all the time.
    – Submitted by Lea L (11 months ago)

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