Phone Booth

2003

Phone Booth

Critics Consensus

Quick pacing and Farrell's performance help make Phone Booth a tense nail-biter.

72%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 187

64%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 410,700
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Phone Booth Photos

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Movie Info

One man's life is thrown into turmoil by picking up a telephone in this claustrophobic thriller. Stu Shepard (Colin Farrell) is a brash, cynical, and self-centered public relations man who juggles a busy career with both a wife, Kelly (Radha Mitchell), and a mistress, Pamela (Katie Holmes). Stu steps into a phone booth on a busy New York street to make a call to Pamela without Kelly being the wiser, but as soon as Stu hangs up, the phone begins to ring. Curious, Stu picks it up -- and a stranger on the other end (voice of Kiefer Sutherland) informs him that if he hangs up the phone, he'll be shot. The red dot of an infrared rifle scope convinces Stu that the caller means business, and when another man tries to make his way into the booth, he's shot mere inches from Stu, calling the attention of the police. Captain Ramey (Forest Whitaker) naturally assumes that Stu was the killer, as Stu struggles to find a way to convince the police of what's happening before more lives are lost, without leaving the booth and putting his own life on the line. At one time proposed as a vehicle for Jim Carrey, Phone Booth was directed by Joel Schumacher, from a screenplay by exploitation icon Larry Cohen. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (adult situations/language)
  • Genre:
    Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Joel Schumacher
  • Written By:
    Larry Cohen
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $46,524,362
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    20th Century Fox

Cast

Colin Farrell
as Stu Shepard
Kiefer Sutherland
as The Caller
Forest Whitaker
as Capt. Ed Ramey
Radha Mitchell
as Kelly Shepard
Paula Jai Parker
as Felicia
Arian Waring Ash
as Corky
Tia Texada
as Asia
John Enos III
as Leon
Keith Nobbs
as Adam
Richard T. Jones
as Sgt. Cole
Dell Yount
as Pizza Guy
James MacDonald
as Negotiator
Mia Cottet
as Lu Ann
Katie Holmes
as Pamela McFadden
Josh Pais
as Mario
Yorgo Constantine
as ESU Commander
Colin Patrick Lynch
as ESU Technician
Troy M. Gilbert
as ESU Sniper
Richard Paradise
as ESU Guy
Seth William Meier
as Officer McDuff
Svetlana Efremova
as Erica
Troy M. Gilbert
as ESU Sniper
Billy Erb
as Lars
Domenick Lombardozzi
as Wyatt
Maile Flanagan
as Lana
Tom Reynolds
as Richard
Julio Oscar Mechoso
as Hispanic Medic
Karara Muhoro
as Nigerian Vendor
Zidu Chen
as Korean Husband
Dean Cochran
as Reporter No. 1
Amy Kowallis
as Reporter No. 2
Tuan Shu Lan
as Korean Wife
Tory Kittles
as Reporter No. 3
Bruce Roberts
as Reporter No. 4
Tyree Simpson
as Doorman
Dean Tarrolly
as Newscaster No. 1
Paul Fontana
as Dispatcher
Mary Jo Randle
as Dispatcher
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News & Interviews for Phone Booth

Five Favorite Films with Joel Schumacher
Colin Farrell’s 10 Best Movies
Larry Cohen Plans Remakes of It’s Alive, Black Caesar, and The Stuff
View All

Critic Reviews for Phone Booth

All Critics (187) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (134) | Rotten (53)

View All Critic Reviews (187)

Audience Reviews for Phone Booth

  • Dec 18, 2015
    A film set in a phone booth 99% of the movie shouldn't be as gripping and fast paced as it was, A simple plot and a great performance from Colin Farrell makes this film great fun and quite scary, A fun film that should've got more praise.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Sep 05, 2015
    "You hear a phone ring and it could be anybody. But a ringing phone has to be answered, doesn't it?" Extremely intense and suspenseful, Phone Booth is a gripping psychological thriller from director Joel Schumacher. When a publicist named Stu Shepard answers a random call while in a phone booth he's taken hostage by a sharpshooter who's intent on forcing him to come clean of the lies he tells. Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland both give excellent performances that are really powerful; particularly Sutherland, who brings a real malevolence and sinister edge to his character. And Schumacher uses an interesting directing style with split screens and picture-in-picture that creates an immersive experience. Incredibly gritty and provocative, Phone Booth is an exciting film that's extraordinarily compelling.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2013
    Phone Booth is one of Joel Schumacher's finest films and was a brave return from his "Batman & Robin" flop. Colin Farrell and Forest Whitaker were excellent in their roles, the tension was great, and the fast-pace in the movie works very good with this thriller. The movie isn't something to talk about all the time but its a great blockbuster movie and boosts a fantastic villain who is played by Kiefer Sutherland.
    Angel G Super Reviewer
  • Jul 24, 2012
    A suspenseful movie with a clever premise, but also one that ends without much of a pay-off.
    Joey S Super Reviewer
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