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Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Lori Petty, Gary Busey, John C. McGinley ... see more see more... , James LeGros , John Philbin , Bojesse Christopher , Dino Andino , John Apicella , Matt Archbold , Sedrick J. Azurdia , Daniel Beer , Elizabeth Berkley , Shannon Brook , Marsha Carter , Jared Chandler , Raymond Forchion , Betsy Lynn George , Galyn Gorg , Richard Grove , Jack Kehler , Vincent Klyn , Michael Kopelow , Deborah Lemen , Anthony Mangano , Gloria Mann , Kimberly Martin , Julie Michaels , Dave Olson , Chris Pederson , Christopher Pettiet , Peter Phelps , Mick Regan , Julian Reyes , Tom Sizemore , Lee Tergesen , Paolo Tocha , Randy Walker , Sydney Walsh , Ping Wu , Anthony Kiedis , Gary Roberts , Richard Pagano , Sharon Bialy , Mike Genovese , Bojessie Christopher , Chris Pedersen

Kathryn Bigelow's fourth action film follows FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) as he goes undercover to infiltrate a cache of Southern California surfers suspected of robbing banks. Utah, a former ... read more read more...football player, is assigned to Los Angeles. There, four bank robbers, who wear rubber masks and call themselves "Ex-Presidents," have executed a series of successful robberies which embarrassingly have the FBI stumped. Utah, and his partner Pappas (Gary Busey) suspect that the robbers are surfers and hatch a plan for catching them. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

Flixster Users

75% liked it

114,764 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

52 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Release Date: January 1, 1991

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

Stats: 6,394 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,394)

  • FiLmCrAzY
    March 23, 2012
    FiLmCrAzY
    Well i think whenever we think of this movie its going to be for that iconic scene where Reeves trys to shoot his best bud but points it to the air ! Its an enjoyable enough movie thats got enough action to keep you entertained!
  • fb733768972
    January 27, 2012
    fb733768972
    Here is the mother of all action thriller movies in one. I loved this movie from smart to finish. I wish it went on for another half hour. Patrick Swayze is a really cool actor, Keanu Reeve's on the other hand, cannot act is his life depended on it. Their on screen chemistry is f... read moreun to watch, as their opposite lives collide. Kathryn Bigelow has created a testosterone fuelled crime thriller, and the pleasant twists, the intense action sequences, and the witty dialogue, are all something that I will remember this film by. There are so many twists that I lost count, but not so much that I lost where I was during the viewing. "Point Break" has a fantastic story, amazing characters, solid acting (excluding Reeve's), and a jaw-dropping conclusion! I have so much fun watching this movie that I lose track of my brain cells most of the time. There may be a few times where you will role your eyes, and say, "Oh that would never happen," but overall, it's an adrenaline fuelled thrill ride!
  • deano
    September 21, 2011
    deano
    This Feds-vs-surfers thriller is one of the dippiest action movies ever mounted. The twist is that it's also one of the best. As Keanu Reeves's greenhorn agent embarks on a seafoam-flecked duel of wits with Patrick Swayze's mystical boarder, Point Break notches up brillian... read moretly shot set pieces, rocketing from land to air to sea in its unquenchable thirst for kicks.
  • ironclad1609
    August 15, 2011
    ironclad1609
    The premise of a cop being forced to infiltrate a gang of surfers, who are suspects in a robbery spree may sound a bit silly. But director Bigelow created a high adrenaline action thriller that's nothing less but one of the highlights of the 90s. Young Keanu Reeves is the obvious... read more and perfect choice for the newcomer, but Busey and Swayze steal every scene they are in. For most of its running time, the film refuses to make the villains all hate-worthy, presenting ambiguous characters in an enthralling script. The surfing and especially the parachuting scenes are beautifully shot and cause an adrenaline rush in the audience as much as the actors. The camera work, the editing, the music, it all adds up to a wild and exciting ride.
  • clintervin
    July 13, 2011
    clintervin
    "You gotta go down, its gotta be that way," thunders FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) to Patrick Swayze's Bodhi in the climactic scene of Point Break. It's the irresistible force versus the immovable object in Kathryn Bigelow's wild ride of a thriller. It's a thrill a minute... read more, captivating, yet completely preposterous. The movie succeeds despite the ubiquitous "surfer dude" attitude, so suspend disbelief, and come along for the rush. Its all about adrenaline junkies, and I've always loved the adrenaline rush and the sheer lunacy of it all. Here's the plot: surfers dress up as ex-presidents and rob banks to finance their endless summer. Only its not about money; these guys have something to prove to us average working morons on the freeway.

    The cast is fantastic. Reeves is a spectacularly bad actor and perfect for this role. Gary Busey is an old burnout of an agent with a crackpot theory. Swayze is the Zen-master surfer/robber. Lori Petty is the sweet yet troubled surfer babe. Red Hot Chili Pepper frontman Anthony Kiedis is somewhat enjoyable as a violent surfer lunatic. The surfing crowd and Utah make Busey look like the sane one, quite an accomplishment for Bigelow.

    So, the unlikeliest villain is being pursued by the unlikeliest cop. The existential hero rages against the system, pursued by the ex-football player/virgin surfer, now with the FBI. Its hokey and corny, but you can't take your eyes off it. I'm not sure I can explain how this film works or why I like it so much. Maybe the appeal is living by your own rules and chasing your dream to (literally) the end of the earth. The action sequences are some of the greatest ever, maybe the most memorable being Reeves' Utah leaping out of a plane without a parachute to catch Bodhi and save Tyler (Petty). After all, it is all about the adrenaline.
  • CloudStrife84
    June 18, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, produced by her ex-husband James Cameron, and with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in their absolute prime. Not such a wonder then that this movie turned out to be really good. Made during a time when "cowabunga" was a popular phrase and Gary Busey am... read moreazingly sane, it's a story that really knows how to thrill and intrigue. Moreover, I've never seen a movie that got me so pumped to try out surfing and sky diving. The way it depicts these extreme sports is appealing beyond words. A film that's got a little bit of everything, with great acting, exciting action and a captivating plotline. Like the cinematic equivalent of an adrenaline-shot. And I mean that in the most positive sense.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    May 4, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Point Break has got to be one of the most eccentric action films ever made. The story is quite bizarre, and it works in so many ways. I say bizarre because the premise is not what you'd normally expect from an action film. The premise is a bunch of surfers who rob banks in order ... read moreto fund their surfing expeditions. What follows is a rookie cop by the name of Johnny Utah who is on the trail of the bandits and it leads him to a group of surfers lead by the name of Bodhi who is brilliantly played by Patrick Swayze. Keanu Reeves stars as Johnny Utah and along with Speed, Point Break is his best film. Kathryn Bigelow who is one of my favorite directors helms this film and crafts a film that is purely and simply pulse pounding. The film is just as testosterone driven as it's characters, and Bigelow knows how to craft a spectacular action film. Bigelow who previously directed the vampire horror film Near Dark, and despite this, Bigelow is able to direct an effective action film. I think it be fair to say that Kathryn Bigelow is able to master any genre of film, and she knows how to create something that stands out. Point Break is a non stop action film that will appeal to action fans, but it's not everyones cup of tea. Point Break is one of my favorite action films as it combines the traditional cops and robbers formula with adrenaline soaked action. Point Break is one awesome film.
  • TomBowler
    March 31, 2011
    TomBowler
    Some fantastic set-pieces though it often comes off a little too silly for its own good. Full review later.
  • ythelastman89
    February 24, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Point Break is considered a classic for many reasons. One is just because it's so bizarre and almost inhuman. The characters, especially Keanu Reeves, are like aliens trying to imitate people. Now that's not really a bad thing because this benefits from being so incredibly outrag... read moreeous. Without it, we wouldn't have the endlessly quotable lines and awkward moments galore. While this may lack strength story-wise, it is completely brilliant from a visual standpoint. It honestly stands out as one one of the most well shot action movies of all time. Kathryn Bigelow is like the female Tony Scott in terms of directing action.
  • thmtsang
    January 23, 2011
    thmtsang
    Cool movie. Patrick is crazy surfer / bank robber and Keanu is in the FBI who goes undercover to catch the ex-president bank robbers. Keanu falls for one of the gang and becomes buddies with Patrick the gang leader.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 22, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

We might as well be watching a blissed-out Bill and Ted caper. Full Review

March 22, 2007
Variety

A hare-brained wild ride through big surf and bad vibes, Point Break acts like a huge, nasty wave, picking up viewers for a few major thrills but ultimately grinding them into the sand via overkill an... Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A lot of the snap comes, surprisingly, from Mr. Reeves, who displays considerable discipline and range. He moves easily between the buttoned-down demeanor that suits a police procedural story and the ... Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Bigelow can't keep the film from drowning in a sea of surf-speak. But without her, Point Break would be no more than an excuse to ogle pretty boys in wet suits.

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

An exercise in stylish lunkheadedness. It's gorgeous but dumb as a post; watching it is a bit like shooting the tube and then getting cracked on the head by your board. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The plot of Point Blank, summarized, invites parody (rookie agent goes undercover as surfer to catch bank robbers). The result is surprisingly effective. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
July 12, 2011
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

The essence of movie remains unsullied, and with every viewing comes fresh details and a new appreciation for the film's fearlessness and originality in the midst of all of the cop formula. Full Review

Chris Laverty
August 27, 2009
Chris Laverty, Clothes on Film

Quaint in its depiction of an alternative lifestyle, yet still an above average, really quite vicious action thriller. Full Review

David Nusair
August 4, 2009
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...an above-average actioner... Full Review

Peter Canavese
July 1, 2008
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

Consistently stylish, dumb, and entertaining. Full Review

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  • 27 banks in three years - anything to catch the perfect wave!
  • 100% pure adrenaline.
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Point Break Trivia

  • What Keanu Reeves movie is about an FBI agent who goes undercover to catch a gang of bank robbers who are also surfers.  Answer »
  • Which movie starred Lori Petty, Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze?  Answer »
  • In "Point Break", the surfers used to rob banks dress up as what?  Answer »
  • A Walk in the Clouds, Point Break, Speed. Name the actor that links these movies.  Answer »
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