Sign in Sign up

Trailer

John Q

2002Movie1 h 56 minPG-13

49

MediocreGoodWatch score

Letterboxd

Rotten Tomatoes

A nerve-racking, deeply moving drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances.

Good for friends night · teens · thought-provoking

Where to watch

Set your services

Fingerprint

Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

Give a father no options and you leave him no choice.

John Quincy Archibald is a father and husband whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and then finds out he cannot receive a transplant because HMO insurance will not cover it. Therefore, he decides to take a hospital full of patients hostage until the hospital puts his son's name on the donor's list.

Feels like

Emotional Drama
Social Commentary
Family Crisis
Tense Thriller
Healthcare Critique
Hostage Situation
Moral Dilemma
Strong Central Performance
Gritty Realism

Crew

Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Written by: James Kearns
Produced by: Oren Koules, Mark Burg
Music by: Aaron Zigman

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

February 15, 2002 · 1 h 56 min · PG-13

Released: February 15, 2002
Runtime: 1 h 56 min
Age rating: PG-13
Content: Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Original language: English
Also spoken: Spanish
Made in: United States
Budget: $36 million
Box office: $102 million
Available in: 95 countries

Tropes

Reasonable Authority Figure, Heroic Suicide, Domestic Abuse +9

Reasonable Authority Figure
Heroic Suicide
Domestic Abuse
Poor Communication Kills
Police Brutality
Mistaken Identity
It's All My Fault
Papa Wolf
Meaningful Echo
Billy Needs an Organ
Playing Possum
Award-Bait Song

12 of 43 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream John Q?"

Questions about John Q

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream John Q?

In the United States, John Q streams on Philo, Starz, TNT, TBS, and tru TV, and it is free with ads on Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 84 other countries.

Is John Q worth watching?

49

MediocreGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 49 (IMDb 7.1, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 26%, and Metacritic 30). Audiences rate it higher (71 out of 100) than critics (28).

Is John Q okay for kids?

PG-13ViolenceStrong languageDisturbing imagery

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence, strong language, and disturbing imagery, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is John Q plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (9 of 10) and character depth (8 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does John Q use?

Reasonable Authority FigureHeroic SuicideDomestic AbusePoor Communication KillsPolice BrutalityMistaken IdentityIt's All My FaultPapa WolfMeaningful EchoBilly Needs an OrganPlaying PossumAward-Bait Songand 31 more

TV Tropes lists 43 tropes for it, including Reasonable Authority Figure, Heroic Suicide, and Domestic Abuse.