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Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, James Woods, Kimberly Elise, Daniel E. Smith ... see more see more... , Anne Heche , Ray Liotta , Eddie Griffin , Shawn Hatosy , Paul Johansson , David Thornton , Kevin Connolly , Ethan Suplee , Heather Wahlquist , Troy Beyer , Obba Babatundé , Troy Winbush , Laura Harring , Larissa Laskin , Dina Waters , Martha Chaves , Shera Danese , Scott Bloom , Keram Malicki-Sánchez , Vanessa Branch , Dina Spybey , Jeff Douglas

A national health care crisis in the United States yields this tense drama from screenwriter James Kearns and director Nick Cassavetes, who experienced a real-life dilemma with his daughter's congenit... read more read more...al heart disease that mirrors the one in this film. Denzel Washington stars as John Q. Archibald, a factory worker facing financial hardship as a result of reduced hours in his workplace. When his young son, Michael (Daniel E. Smith), is stricken during a baseball game, John and his wife, Denise (Kimberly Elise), discover that their child is in need of an emergency heart transplant. Although the Archibalds have health insurance, they are informed by hospital administrator Rebecca Payne (Anne Heche) that their policy doesn't cover such an expensive procedure. Unable to raise the money himself, John persuades the hospital's compassionate cardiac surgeon, Dr. Raymond Turner (James Woods), to waive his lofty fee, but is still left with too much of a financial burden to bear. With no recourse but to take his son home to die, John snaps and holds the staff and patients of the hospital's emergency room hostage at gunpoint. John is soon a media hero, the focus of intense news coverage, even as police chief Gus Monroe (Ray Liotta) and hostage negotiator Frank Grimes (Robert Duvall) try to resolve the situation before it leads to bloodshed. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

83% liked it

150,196 ratings

Critics

23% liked it

129 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Nick Cassavetes

Release Date: February 15, 2002

Keywords: touching

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DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002

Stats: 6,050 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,050)

  • jmanard52
    June 29, 2008
    jmanard52
    Explosive idea for a film. Denzel Washington as usual puts on a great performance.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    May 24, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    John Q is a good drama film that could have been much better. With Denzel Washington in the lead, it single handily saves this film from a being a bad film. The script has its flaws, but for the most part it succeeds at delivering a good two hour film. Washington as usual deliver... read mores on-screen, and he alone makes this film watchable. I enjoyed the film, thought it was an exciting drama film with a good cast starring opposite Denzel Washington. This may not be the best dramatic thriller, but for what it is, it manages to be a thrill ride from beginning to end. There are things that could have been done better, but for the most part, Denzel Washington's good acting elevates the film from being a mediocre affair to a good film. This is a good film to watch for a mindless two hours. The film has its imperfections, but for most of the time, the formula delivers excitement, drama and thrills. At times the script suffers, but like I said, Washington's performance makes up for it. John Q is entertaining and is a must see film for Denzel Washington fans. This is an underrated film and it doesn't deserve all the flack it has received. Sure it has it flaws, but it is entertaining from start to finish, and it has another solid performance from Denzel Washington, an actor who can turn a somewhat lacking film into something watchable. This is a good film for what it is, and deserves a bit more praise than it has received.
  • blkbomb
    August 2, 2011
    blkbomb
    John Q. Archibald: My son is dying, and I'm broke. If I don't qualify for Medicare, WHO THE HELL DOES? 

    "Give a father no choice and you leave him no option"

    How far would a father go for his son? Yeah. That's never been done before. And guess what. It's been done way better. J... read moreohn Q is an unoriginal, cliche, overly dramatic movie that even manages to rip off Dog Day Afternoon. Denzel Washington is always good, so I'm not going to complain about him, as he was okay. Everyone else for the most part sucked. Duvall and Liota weren't what I would call bad, but they were playing characters they could play in their sleep. Heche and Woods were bad, but I think a lot of the was their material. Kimberly Elise was horrible as the mother of the dying kid. Okay, now for what I really don't like about this movie.

    The story is dramatic enough. We have a kid who needs a heart transplant and a father that can't pay for it. But Cassavates goes to extreme lengths to add as many cliche gimmicks as he can to the film. Such as a heart monitor counting down and a series of close calls for the father. He has no confidence in the material and feels the need to insert as much garbage as possible. The movie is very predictable. If you know the premise; after the first scene of the movie you will know what is going to happen. 

    John Q really is a bad movie. It should and could have been a tearjerker. But I was never emotionally involved. I honestly didn't care because I knew what was going to happen and I was really getting sick of watching the horrible dialogue and characters. I believe the common moviegoer will love this movie. But if you've seen more then 3 or 4 of these type of movies; do yourself a favor and give this one a pass.
  • fb1463751009
    September 18, 2010
    fb1463751009
    Denzel can't save this awfully directed movie. Awful direction/cinematography/script. There's literally a scene where a woman goes, "Why are you so brave?" ...the hell? Denzel carries this movie. Without him, this movie would've been crap.
  • bhobbs1985
    July 22, 2010
    bhobbs1985
    Denzel Washington plays an amazing role as John Q struggling to find ways to get his boy an emergency transplant; when all honest approaches fail he snaps and goes above and beyond to get his son a heart.

    This movie to me (being in law enforcement) was hard to watch but an ama... read morezing film both at the same time. It was a tear jerker without a doubt. What I loved the most about it is it has you siding with what some would say was the "bad guy". All in the same, the law enforcements approach is a reasonable one. I love that the movie has the capability to put you in a position of really questioning ones morals and ethics --- it makes you ask the question --- how far would you go for those you love?

    While I thought the ending was slightly weak and predictable, the movie itself is an amazing film, a tear jerker, a question of moral and ethics, and it will have you on the edge of your seat with some of the most tense moments I have ever seen in a movie. I would recommend all too see this film.
  • allan913
    June 6, 2008
    allan913
    A gripping, exciting and emotionally charged edge of your seat thriller. It's ER meets Dog Day Afternoon. A very intense and moving film that has something to say. A magnificent all-star cast. Denzel Washington gives a powerful and unforgettable performance. Robert Duvall is teri... read moreffic. Ray Liotta is electric. James Woods is excellent. Anne Heche is marvelous.
  • fb619846742
    January 10, 2008
    fb619846742
    Has good intentions, but really doesn't add up to much.
  • deano
    August 13, 2007
    deano
    Excellent emotive, gripping drama story of an African-American father tryin to save his son for the heart transplant where he takes the hspital emergency staff hostage and refuses to release anyone until his son's operation is assured.
  • Deano78
    June 8, 2007
    Deano78
    A simple idea but very well done, if you like this you should love the Negotiator!
  • aliyanto
    April 3, 2007
    aliyanto
    Will you do anything, I mean really anything to help your children?

View All John Q Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeff Strickler
November 6, 2002
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

A polemic in search of a plot. Full Review

Rex Reed
March 13, 2002
Rex Reed, New York Observer

Manipulative sentimentality, contrived plot and phony climax.

Bill Muller
March 4, 2002
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

A sappy, melodramatic Denzel Washington vehicle that ensnares you in the standard hostage-movie scenario and doesn't let go until the director runs the whole playbook.

Peter Rainer
February 24, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

It pulls out more stops than that old silent serial The Perils of Pauline. Unfortunately, it's a talkie. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
February 21, 2002
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Cassavetes thinks he's making Dog Day Afternoon with a cause, but all he's done is to reduce everything he touches to a shrill, didactic cartoon. Full Review

Richard Roeper
February 19, 2002
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

...a ridiculous script that gets just about everything wrong... Full Review

Ed Park
February 19, 2002
Ed Park, Village Voice

Represents a creative dead end for the organ-transplant movie. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
February 16, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The movie's manipulations become so transparent that it can't really touch our emotions, especially since it fails to follow through honestly on its premise. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
February 15, 2002
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

It is a film that taps a deep well of resentment, and despite all its flaws, it is highly effective entertainment. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
February 15, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

It reduces the complexities to bromides and slogans and it gets so preachy-keen and so tub-thumpingly loud it makes you feel like a chump just for sitting through it. Full Review

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Facts

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    • John Q. Archibald: I am not going to bury my son! My son is gonna bury me!
    • John Q. Archibald: I'm not gonna bury my son. He is gonna bury me.
    • Dr. Raymond Turner: Mr. Archibald, these people have nothing to do with this. You have got to let them go. They need treatment.
    • John Q. Archibald: This is a hospital, isn't it? You're a doctor. Treat them.
    • John Q. Archibald: [points to Lester] Start with him.
    • Dr. Raymond Turner: [Stands frozen]
    • John Q. Archibald: What's the matter, Doc? You want to see his insurance card first?
    • John Q. Archibald: [stands on a table addressing the room] This hospital is under new management, ladies and gentlemen. From now on, free care for everyone.
    • Mike Archibald: Bye, Dad.
    • John Q. Archibald: Not goodbye. Remember? See you later.
    • Desk Guard: You know something, man? You're alright.
    • John Q. Archibald: Sure am. Only one thing can stop me now.
    • Desk Guard: What's that.
    • John Q. Archibald: Mitch here being B-positive.
    • Mitch: No, sir. Type-O. Swear to God.
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John Q Trivia

  • In what movie did Denzel Washington hold up a hospital to get a heart transplant for his young son?  Answer »
  • In what movie did a hospital get taken hostage by a desprate father?  Answer »
  • what was john q's full name in the movie john q  Answer »
  • Which actor or actress can be attributed to the following titles? Remember the Titans John Q Inside Man Deja Vu The Manchurian Candidate Training Day  Answer »
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