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Bruce Willis, Mos Def, David Morse, Jenna Stern, Casey Sander ... see more see more... , Cylk Cozart , David Zayas , Robert Racki , Brenda Pressley , Kim Chan , Kathy Imrie , Stephen Kahan , Carmen Lopez , Peter McRobbie , Paul Tuerpé , Hechter Ubarry , Richard Wenk , Richard Fitzpatrick , Robert Clohessy , Sam Moses , Eduardo Gómez , Claudio Masciulli , Ryan Wulff , David Sparrow , Daryl Dismond , Scott McCord , Patrick Garrow , Jimmy Chong , J.D. Nicholsen , Tom Wlaschiha , Efosa Otuomagie , Rolando Alvarez Giacoman , Danny Lima , Angela Seto , Nick Alachiotis , Conrad Pla , Scott Douglas , Tig Fong , Sasha Roiz , Paul Lee , Heather Dawn , Brian Read , Aaron Ferguson , Jess Mal Gibbons , Sam Kung , Bernie Henry , Christina Orjalo , Derek Hoddman , Cece Neber , Betty Chong , Jason Burke , Kameron Louangxay , Victoria Mitchell , Cecil Philips , Rob Weithoff , Jimmy Campbell , Bradley Paterson , James Lavin , Beatriz Yuste , David Talbolt , Toni Ellwand , Richard Collier

A hard-drinking, hard-living cop assigned the task of transporting a small-time criminal to the nearby courthouse finds that a simple, 16-block drive can be the longest ride of his life in director Ri... read more read more...chard Donner's urban action thriller. Hung-over, has-been cop Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) has seen better days, and all that the force expects out of him these days is to stay out of trouble while he's on the clock. Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) is set to testify before a grand jury at 10:00 a.m., and it's up to Mosely to make sure that Bunker makes it to the courthouse in one piece -- a job that Mosely estimates will take a maximum of 15 minutes. A black van has been trailing the pair unnoticed, though, and after stopping off at a nearby liquor store to pick up some breakfast, Mosely emerges from the store just in time to save Eddie from the lethal bullet of a determined assassin. When backup arrives in the form of Detective Frank Nugent (David Morse), Mosely quickly realizes that the detective on Nugent's team is the same cop that Bunker is set to testify against. Now faced with the tough task of dodging bullets and eluding a massive onslaught of corrupt cops, Mosely must keep Bunker alive long enough to get him before the judge and ensure that justice is served. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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60% liked it

153,711 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

159 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Richard Donner

Release Date: March 3, 2006

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DVD Release Date: June 13, 2006

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Stats: 7,153 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,153)

  • stuartb1234
    February 1, 2011
    stuartb1234
    A not-bad but not-good thriller somewhat spoiled by they ultra-annoying Mos Def. Who thought it was a good idea for him to spend the entire movie trying to do an Eric Cartman impression?
  • fb733768972
    January 29, 2010
    fb733768972
    I think this movie has been overlooked. Nobody talks about it, when they should be, because for whatever purpose this movie has going for it, it makes it's mark with flying colours!
  • Chiefilms
    January 18, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Decent thriller, Mos Def struggles as a mentally challenged witness. I would write more but I don't care and I need to take a dump.
  • SirPant
    September 21, 2009
    SirPant
    Not great but not awful. I expected more from Richard Donner though!
  • matertenebraum
    January 6, 2009
    matertenebraum
    This is one of Bruce Willis' finest films yet. He plays a tired old cop who is handed the menial task of driving Mos Def, a criminal, who has to testify in court. Little does he know, he winds up running into very much trouble. Although one might think that this movie cannot be s... read moreuspenseful because it takes place within the radius of 16 blocks, many twists and turns occur which make it very interesting.

    Mos Def also delivers an outstanding performance through the use of his accent and his hilarious anecdotes throughout the movie. He adds a lot of depth to his character and to the movie as a whole. Thus, the audience is able to sympathize with him. Overall, this movie was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a great fast paced thriller
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    October 28, 2008
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    Jack Mosley: [tape recording] "This is Detective Jack Mosley, Shield number 227. I guess this will be my last will and testament. This is for Diane. Now, they're gonna come talk to you and they're gonna tell you things. But what they tell you isn't really what happen. So Diane... read more, I think you should know what really happened. I was trying to do a good thing."

    All he wanted to do was go home and get a drink.

    But at 8:02 a.m., hungover NYPD detective Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) is assigned a seemingly simple task. Petty criminal Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) is set to testify before a grand jury at 10:00 a.m. and needs to be taken from lock-up to the courthouse, 16 blocks away. It should take Jack 15 minutes to drop him off at the courthouse and get home.

    But when assassins try to take Eddie out, Jack realizes there's more to this assignment than he'd anticipated and he calls for backup. Homicide detective Frank Nugent (David Morse) and his team are first to arrive at the scene. Eddie suddenly goes pale. One of the detectives on Nugent's team is the man he is supposed to testify against. In an instant, Jack's quick trip downtown turns into the nightmare of a lifetime: the criminals that want Eddie dead are actually cops.

    16 Blocks is right up Richard Donner's alley, the helmer of the Lethal Weapon franchise so its no surprise that he nailed this film from the get-go. This time however, there's no buddy cops and psychopathic albino jack rabbits involved, its only a man and his prisoner against a hundred renegade NYPD cops. The man, Jack Mosely is portrayed by Bruce Willis, the everyman hero who is assigned a seemingly easy task that turns awry in a quick second, it is no doubt that Bruce has mastered the role of being a cop well with the success of the Die Hard saga and a couple of stand alone cop roles in some other films. The only thing that's different from his other cop roles is that he's not bald. Bald or not bald, he still kicks ass.

    The prisoner, Eddie Bunker is portrayed by Mos Def, a surprising turn from the rapper but effective nonetheless. The plot is an amazing thrill ride with the perfect combination of action and suspense and a couple of mild comedy here and there. It is a tense ride from start to finish and you will not be disappointed.
  • allan913
    July 20, 2008
    allan913
    It's a pulse-pounding non-stop thrill-ride. A tremdendously entertining action-packed thriller. It packs suspense and excitment into one leathal dosage. Bruce Willis gives a great and sensational performance. Mos Def is teriffic. David Morse is brilliant. They definately have a c... read morehance to shed some light on their characters. An unstoppably tension-filled, fast-paced and excellently executed thriller. It's 24 meets The Gauntlet. A total knockout. An unforgettable adreniline-fulled chase. A unique, smart and slick action film thats complex, tense, thrilling, character-driven and exhilerating.
  • CloudStrife84
    June 22, 2008
    CloudStrife84
    Everything about this oozed with mediocracy. And while Bruce Willis gave the impression of playing a toned down and tired version of John McClane, Mos Def sure took the prize for one of the most annoying characters to ever hit the screen. His acting wasn't really bad or anything,... read more he just talked in a way that was very hard on the ears. All in all it was an okay movie though, with enough action and gunfire to keep you somewhat awake.
  • ironclad1609
    April 7, 2008
    ironclad1609
    This action thriller starts out from a rather interesting premise, a cop having to take a witness through town against his own colleagues, but doesn't quite make as much from it as it could. The acting is fine and everything is well put together, there were no newbies working on ... read morethis after all, and the movie is always entertaining, a few times even exciting. But somehow I just expected a little...more, and I fear this could be one of the movies you forget already the day after.
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 5, 2008
    kiriyamakazou
    Willis sleepwalks through a generic but immensely captivating action thriller. It works with Willis being less Hero and more Beer-o as an alcoholic cop who suddenly decides to prove he's worth something. Great to see David Morse who is quite simply one of the most underrated acto... read morers out there. Mos Def is also quite the acting talent though is pretty much dragged round this film. Don't expect anything new, just a second hand football good for one kick about before it deflates.

View All 16 Blocks Reviews

Critic Reviews

David Edelstein
May 12, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

A happier surprise is the smart work of director Richard Donner: 16 Blocks is all jumble and jangle-crowds, snarled traffic, and discordant car horns. Full Review

Peter Travers
March 9, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Willis and Def -- funny even if he overdoes the whiny shrieking -- are a terrific team.

Richard Roeper
March 6, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

I thought this film is one long corny cliché. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 3, 2006
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Another urban action thriller that's better than some, worse than most and so forgettable that it's possible to forget it while watching it. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
March 3, 2006
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

16 Blocks is a police procedural in the change-your-life spirit of Oprah. And I say this with the deepest respect for both genres.

Roger Moore
March 3, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

[Richard] Donner can direct this sort of thriller in his sleep, but he squanders the movie's sense of urgency for little acting or screen-writing indulgences. Full Review

Lisa Rose
March 3, 2006
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

Getting anywhere in New York gridlock can take forever, especially when you're following Bruce Willis in a cookie-cutter action thriller. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
March 3, 2006
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

The actors seem to have inspired the hack director Richard Donner and the cat-and-mouse game is much grittier than one would expect from the creator of the Lethal Weapon series.

Jack Mathews
March 3, 2006
Jack Mathews, New York Daily News

16 Blocks is the best of this trio [of recent crooked cop movies, including Dirty and Running Scared], thanks to the winning performances of its stars -- a restrained Bruce Willis and a very likable M... Full Review

Amy Biancolli
March 3, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Its dialogue is sassy, its plotting is taut (maybe too taut, as key segues are AWOL), but 16 Blocks has more on the brain than mere distraction. It aims to save souls. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Frank Nugent: You can't be lucky all the time...
    • Eddie Bunker: But you can be smart everyday.
    • Jack Mosley: I believe life's too long.
    • Frank Nugent: Fuck the truth!
  • 1 Witness... 118 Minutes...
  • For a New York cop and his witness, the distance between life and death just got very short.
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16 Blocks : Watch Free on TV

16 Blocks Trivia

  • What movie did Tyrese Gibson NOT appear in?  Answer »
  • In what movie does Bruce Willis assigned to escort a prisoner through the streets of New York City?  Answer »
  • I've gone 16 blocks, I'm over the hedge, I'm a kid and I've faced Armageddon. Who am I?  Answer »
  • Which actor has starred in all of the following:- - Die Hard: With a Vengeance - Pulp Fiction - 16 Blocks - Over the Hedge  Answer »
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