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Term Life

Term Life

A daughter out of options. A father out of time.

201693 minRMidcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Director
Peter Billingsley
Starring
Vince Vaughn, Hailee Steinfeld, Bill Paxton, Jonathan Banks

If Nick Barrow can stay alive for 21 days, he'll die happy. Everyone Nick knows wants him dead; Mob bosses, contract killers, and dirty cops. Performing the last act of a desperate man, Nick takes out a million dollar insurance policy on himself, payable to his estranged daughter. The problem? The policy doesn't take effect for 21 days. Nick knows they'll be lucky to be alive for twenty-one hours.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Term Life?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Term Life to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Term Life?

Term Life earns 3 badges, led by Overhyped and Broadly Agreed.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Term Life worth watching?

Term Life's Midcredits score is the 23rd percentile of all films, from 14K ratings across 6 sources. 29% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

23rd percentile

Better received than 23% of films

36th percentile among Action23rd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)27th
Approval (how many liked it)21st

54 /100

27th percentile of all films

41st percentile among Action29th percentile among 2010s

Critics 23 · Audience 56

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 5.7 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

29% liked it

21st percentile of all films

34th percentile among Action21st percentile among 2010s
29% rated it 7–1071% rated it 1–6

Critics 0% · Audience 32%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

87th percentile

14K ratings across platforms

77th percentile among Action87th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 28% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$17M
Opening weekend$13K
Domestic gross$21K
Worldwide gross$244K

Returned 0.0× its budget — 24th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A formulaic father-daughter-on-the-run crime thriller with a talented cast doing what they can with a familiar script.

Fans praised

  • Vince Vaughn surprisingly effective in dramatic role
  • Hailee Steinfeld steals scenes as the daughter
  • Father-daughter chemistry and bonding arc

Detractors panned

  • Hackneyed plot and formulaic story
  • Vince Vaughn's delivery flat and unconvincing
  • Poor action choreography and weak gunfights

What stands out

ActingDivisive60

Vince Vaughn works in dramatic role but some find him unconvincing; Hailee Steinfeld widely praised

CharactersDivisive55

Father-daughter dynamic is core but characters are clichéd and two-dimensional

Emotional impactDivisive55

Father-daughter bonding provides some heart but forced

PacingDivisive55

Brisk enough but drags in places; some find it taut

TensionDivisive45

Cat-and-mouse chase works sometimes but stakes feel low

Plot and storyDivisive40

Predictable heist thriller with contrived twists and forgotten insurance premise

DialogueDivisive40

Hackneyed and uninspired lines; narration annoying

OriginalityDivisive30

Rehashes familiar father-daughter-on-the-run and corrupt cop tropes

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Watch experience

What is Term Life like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you hopeful. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseBittersweet
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its high-stakes chase and family-bond premise with a straightforward, earnest tone, avoiding irony.
The rideHigh tension from the constant threat, with emotional weight peaking as the father-daughter stakes come to the fore.
StructureThe story follows a linear chronological timeline as the protagonist is hunted.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

HopefulBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you with the hope that the protagonist's sacrifice pays off for his daughter, but with a bittersweet understanding of what it cost.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% (this title) · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe protagonist is hunted by multiple hitmen and must survive until his life insurance pays out, fitting a predator subtype where killers pursue him.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

SurvivalFamily bondsSacrifice · 4% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe core is a man fighting to stay alive, but his motivation is to provide for his estranged daughter, tying survival to family and self-sacrifice.
StanceThe film examines the lengths a parent goes to for a child, without a clear moral judgment.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA crime-ridden city where a man is on the run from hitmen.

Content guide

Is Term Life okay for kids?

R

Term Life is rated R: “Rated R for violence, and language including a sexual reference” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (60/100), sexual content at minimal (13/100), language at moderate (52/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at intense (60/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • Germany16
  • BrazilL
  • Netherlands16
  • SK15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (28 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Term Life have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Term Life?

Cast

3 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Vince Vaughn
as Nick Barrow
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hailee Steinfeld
as Cate Barrow
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Bill Paxton
as Joe Keenan
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jonathan Banks
as Harper
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Mike Epps
as Darryl Mosley
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jordi Mollà
as Viktor
Shea Whigham
as Matty Miller
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jon Favreau
as Jimmy Lincoln
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.
William Levy
as Alejandro
Taraji P. Henson
as Samantha Thurman
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Term Life?

Movies like Term Life include The Entitled (2011), Last Passenger (2013) and Shadow in the Cloud (2020). Of the 12 closest matches, several are stories about a predator on the loose, and most are stories about parents and children.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

10 of these 12 share its story type: survival thriller. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Term Life?

388 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: hitman. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.