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Mean Machine

Play trailer Poster for Mean Machine R 2002 1h 38m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
33% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In a rough-and-tumble British prison, where murderers, thieves and assorted madmen are locked away, inmate Danny Meehan (Vinnie Jones) is about to lead them all in the ultimate battle of their degenerate lives -- but no one could have guessed it would be a soccer match! Now, in an all-out playoff against the despised guards, the prisoners' goal isn't just to make goals; it's to prove the indomitable nature of the spirit, no matter how much it gets kicked, bloodied or knocked around.
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Mean Machine

Mean Machine

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Despite some genuine wit, this crowd pleaser is filled with too many cliches.

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Critics Reviews

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Robert K. Elder Chicago Tribune 07/20/2002
2.5/4
Holds its ground as a mid-budget Hollywood knockoff. Go to Full Review Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer 03/14/2002
3.5/4
A likably energetic star vehicle for English sports god Vinnie Jones. Go to Full Review Rex Reed Observer 03/13/2002
Another incomprehensible trash explosion from the Guy Ritchie school of cinematic slugfests. Go to Full Review Apollo Guide 05/13/2005
65/100
Brian Walker ViewLondon 05/10/2005
1/5
Harry Guerin RTÉ (Ireland) 03/26/2003
2/5
By the final whistle you're convinced that this Mean Machine was a decent TV outing that just doesn't have big screen magic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jim P Feb 13 Yes it's full of prison cliches but it's still great fun! And I've seen it many times. Also has great use of music. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Feb 6 Rated R for Some Violence and Language. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 25 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é bacaninha, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e eu gostei da história sobre futebol na prisão. See more Bahad j 08/06/2024 The costumes of the actors seemed to be very real, as if they were in their roles. The dress is really beautiful. See more Geke g 08/05/2024 Fantastic and astonishing See more jordan m 03/27/2022 The comedy was better here than it had been in the '74 original, but I can't honestly say I enjoyed it more as soccer is just not a particularly interesting sport. They did a good job of showing that it can be more violent than it generally is but the entire notion of not using one's hands puts the sport in the same boat as boxing for me, where the severe limitations reduce its strength as a metaphor for war, which is the goal of all sports. Statham's character was more interesting than Vinnie's and they added a gambling aspect that improved the plot quite a bit for me as it gave the warden a reason to try and ruin a man's life over a game. See more Read all reviews
Mean Machine

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Barry Skolnick

Director

Vinnie Jones

Danny

Jason Statham

Monk

David Kelly

Doc

David Hemmings

The Governor

Vas Blackwood

Massive

Movie Clips

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Mean Machine

Mean Machine: Official Clip - Monk to Save the Day Mean Machine: Official Clip - Monk to Save the Day 2:11 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Solitary Confinement Mean Machine: Official Clip - Solitary Confinement 1:56 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Danny's Story Mean Machine: Official Clip - Danny's Story 2:13 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Goal!!! Mean Machine: Official Clip - Goal!!! 1:57 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Try-Outs Mean Machine: Official Clip - Try-Outs 1:57 Mean Machine: Official Clip - The Game Winner Mean Machine: Official Clip - The Game Winner 2:13 Mean Machine: Official Clip - It's Showtime! Mean Machine: Official Clip - It's Showtime! 2:08 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Lightning Can Strike Twice Mean Machine: Official Clip - Lightning Can Strike Twice 1:54 Mean Machine: Official Clip - Doc's Story Mean Machine: Official Clip - Doc's Story 1:55 View more videos

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Mean Machine

Mean Machine (2001) Mean Machine (2001) Mean Machine (2001) Mean Machine (2001) Danny Meehan's (Vinnie Jones) team of inmates is pitted against a team of prison guards in a life changing soccer match in Guy Ritchie's MEAN MACHINE Barry Skolnick directs an ensemble cast playing rogue prisoners in a soccer assualt against the prison guards in MEAN MACHINE View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In a rough-and-tumble British prison, where murderers, thieves and assorted madmen are locked away, inmate Danny Meehan (Vinnie Jones) is about to lead them all in the ultimate battle of their degenerate lives -- but no one could have guessed it would be a soccer match! Now, in an all-out playoff against the despised guards, the prisoners' goal isn't just to make goals; it's to prove the indomitable nature of the spirit, no matter how much it gets kicked, bloodied or knocked around.
Director
Barry Skolnick
Producer
Matthew Vaughn
Screenwriter
Andy Day, Chris Baker
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
R (Some Violence|Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 22, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$92.7K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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