GoodWatchSign up

Desperate Measures

1998·Movie
1h 40min·R
35
WeakGoodWatch score
IMDb6.1Rotten Tomatoes19%37%
IMDb6.1Rotten Tomatoes19%37%

Watch

The RokuVIX Tubi TVHowdy

Set your services

Desperate Measures fingerprint

Relentless energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Pulse-pounding and breakneck

Fast from start to finish.

  • Adrenaline9
  • Fast Pace9
  • Tension8

Heart

Cathartic

Much of it is about family.

  • Catharsis7
  • Family Dynamics7
  • Hopefulness6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor4
  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Physical Comedy2

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and family

  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Intrigue8
  • Direction7
  • Acting7

Style

Standout editing

  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7
  • Music Composition6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightParty VibePartner WatchSolo WatchTeensDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

Skip it if

You want something quiet and calm

Find more like it

Suspense moviesAdrenaline movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Desperate times call for. . .

San Francisco police officer Frank Connor is in a frantic search for a compatible bone marrow donor for his gravely ill son. There's only one catch the potential donor is convicted multiple murderer Peter McCabe who sees a trip to the hospital as the perfect opportunity to get what he wants most: freedom. With McCabe's escape, the entire hospital becomes a battleground and Connor must pursue and, ironically, protect the deadly fugitive who is his son's only hope for survival.
Crime ThrillerMoral DilemmaHigh-StakesSuspenseful ChaseDesperate FatherConvicted MurdererHospital SettingTicking Clock

Crew

Directed by:
David R. Ellis, Barbet Schroeder, Susan Malerstein
Written by:
David Klass
Produced by:
Barbet Schroeder, Howard Feuer, Gary Foster
Composed by:
Marko Costanzo, Tom Fleischman, Lewis Goldstein

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Desperate Measures

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Desperate Measures legally?

The RokuVIX Tubi TVHowdy

You can watch it free with ads on VIX , YouTube Free, and Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Desperate Measures worth watching?

35
WeakGoodWatch score

Reviews are weak, with a GoodWatch score of 36/100 (IMDb 6.1 and Rotten Tomatoes 19%). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Desperate Measures rated?

RViolence

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is Desperate Measures?

1 h 40 min

Desperate Measures runs 1 h 40 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Desperate Measures?

Critics19
Audiences49

Not quite. Audiences rate Desperate Measures higher (49) than critics (19). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was Desperate Measures a box office hit?

Budget$50 million
Box office$14 million

No. It cost about $50 million to make and earned $14 million worldwide, 28% of its budget.

What language is Desperate Measures in?

EnglishSpanish

It was made in English, with some Spanish. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Desperate Measures?

42ARAUBEBGBRBYBZCACLCOCVCYCZEE+28

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Desperate Measures in 42 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Desperate Measures use?

Evil GeniusI Just Want to Be FreeCriminal Mind GamesPet the DogEven Evil Has StandardsHollywood HackingMust Let Them Get AwayFour Eyes, Zero SoulCombat PragmatistAnti-VillainChase SceneGod Is Eviland 30 more

TV Tropes lists 42 storytelling tropes for Desperate Measures, including Evil Genius, I Just Want to Be Free, Criminal Mind Games.