Gran Torino

2009

Gran Torino

Critics Consensus

Though a minor entry in Eastwood's body of work, Gran Torino is nevertheless a humorous, touching, and intriguing old-school parable.

81%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 233

90%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 332,286
User image

Tap to review this movie

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Where to watch

Gran Torino Photos

View All Photos (45)

Movie Info

A racist Korean War veteran living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood is forced to confront his own lingering prejudice when a troubled Hmong teen from his neighborhood attempts to steal his prized Gran Torino. Decades after the Korean War has ended, ageing veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is still haunted by the horrors he witnessed on the battlefield. The two objects that matter most to Kowalski in life are the classic Gran Torino that represents his happier days working in a Ford assembly plant, and the M-1 rifle that saved his life countless times during combat. When Kowalski's teenage neighbor (Bee Vang) attempts to steal his Gran Torino as part of a gang initiation rite, the old man manages to catch the aspiring thief at the business end of his well-maintained semi-automatic rifle. Later, due to the pride of the Asian group, the boy is forced to return to Kowalski's house and perform an act of penance. Despite the fact that Kowalski wants nothing to do with the young troublemaker, he realizes that the quickest way out of the situation is to simply cooperate. In an effort to set the teen on the right path in life and toughen him up, the reluctant vet sets him up with an old crony who now works in construction. In the process, Kowalski discovers that the only way to lay his many painful memories to rest is to finally face his own blinding prejudice head-on. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for language throughout, and some violence)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Clint Eastwood
  • Written By:
    Nick Schenk
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $148,055,047
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Warner Bros. Pictures/Village Roadshow

Cast

Clint Eastwood
as Walt Kowalski
Bee Vang
as Thao
Ahney Her
as Sue
Christopher Carley
as Father Janovich
Brian Haley
as Mitch Kowalski
Geraldine Hughes
as Karen Kowalski
Brian Howe
as Steve Kowalski
Dreama Walker
as Ashley Kowalski
William Hill
as Tim Kennedy
John Carroll Lynch
as Barber Martin
Brooke Chia Thao
as Vu
Chee Thao
as Grandma
View All

News & Interviews for Gran Torino

New on Netflix in August
RT on DVD: Gran Torino, Crossing Over, Nobel Son Exclusive Look
Box Office Guru Wrapup: Paul Blart Segways Ahead of the Competition
View All

Critic Reviews for Gran Torino

All Critics (233) | Top Critics (57) | Fresh (188) | Rotten (45)

  • Though the film feels like a requiem, Kowalski's heart is still defiantly beating.

    May 6, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

    Christine Champ

    Film.com
    Top Critic

  • Seeing the new inclusive Clint shows an old dog can learn new tricks. But like Walt himself, I can't help but prefer Dirty Harry to Caring Clint any day.

    Feb 27, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Cosmo Landesman

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Although the first half feels a little devoid of direction, Eastwood takes out the jump leads and kicks it into life, giving the second half of the film a better pace, vibrancy and gentle humour that makes Gran Torino worth at least one ride.

    Feb 26, 2009 | Rating: 3/5

    Monisha Rajesh

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • This is still an enjoyably big, brash, macho melodrama, saved from absurdity by Eastwood's cracking performance.

    Feb 20, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • In a way it's quite touching that Eastwood still believes a man is never too old to change. One only wishes that Gran Torino were a little more subtle and a little less earnest in its operations.

    Feb 20, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Anthony Quinn

    Independent (UK)
    Top Critic

  • The comedy-drama on release is actually a rather wise, insightful exploration of family and friendship, violence and vengeance.

    Feb 19, 2009 | Rating: 4/6 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (233)

Audience Reviews for Gran Torino

  • Mar 11, 2016
    Gran Torino is a brilliant movie from start to finish, I can't believe I waited so long to watch it, It's completely different to what I expected, Two thirds of the film had a very light tone at times and can be humorous too, Clint Eastwood proves he can still be a bad ass and take no Shit from anyone despite his age, The final third of the film turned the tone more serious and was very gripping, The ending was very unexpected and shockingly brilliant, Very well acted by everyone, Hardly any action but it never needed it, It's an amazing film that most will love and feel moved by too.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Feb 15, 2016
    It may not be as groundbreaking as Clint Eastwood's other works both as director and actor, but Gran Torino remains to be a film truly worth-seeing.
    Maymay A Super Reviewer
  • Feb 26, 2014
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Feb 03, 2014
    This ignorant, ever-so-bitter movie intends to give the impression that it is a tiny raft of integrity floating on the Dead Sea while the rest of American society, reveling in the lifeless water, looks at it with contempt. This vision along with the consistently wooden delivery of the equally stiff dialogue makes for a sad, cringe-worthy experience. The core story had potential, but the execution just made this seem like a deranged and jaded lecture from a soured heart who wants about 15 cartoonishly wretched villains too many.
    Matthew S Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Gran Torino Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features