Skip to content
MovieCove
The Crossing Guard

The Crossing Guard

...some lives cross, others collide.

1995111 minRMidcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Director
Sean Penn
Starring
Jack Nicholson, David Morse, Anjelica Huston, Robin Wright

Unable to move on from the loss of his daughter, Freddy, now a shell of the person he was before, swears to kill the man responsible for her death.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Crossing Guard?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Crossing Guard streaming on Paramount+ via Prime Video and Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Crossing Guard?

The Crossing Guard earns 8 badges, led by Guilty pleasure and Before they were famous.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office
  • Cast

Reception

Is The Crossing Guard worth watching?

The Crossing Guard's Midcredits score is the 49th percentile of all films, from 23K ratings across 6 sources. 47% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

49th percentile

Better received than 49% of films

47th percentile among Drama52nd percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)49th
Approval (how many liked it)48th

61 /100

49th percentile of all films

48th percentile among Drama53rd percentile among 1990s

Critics 46 · Audience 63

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.3 — solid but not unanimous.

47% liked it

48th percentile of all films

45th percentile among Drama51st percentile among 1990s
47% rated it 7–1053% rated it 1–6

Critics 76% · Audience 52%

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

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 3 noms overall

  • NominatedGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

88th percentile

23K ratings across platforms

90th percentile among Drama83rd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$9M
Opening weekend$72K
Domestic gross$869K
Worldwide gross$869K

Returned 0.1× its budget — 58th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the film has a strong premise and good intentions but is uneven in execution, with repetitive subplots and a wandering narrative.

Fans praised

  • Nicholson's raw, powerful performance as a grief-consumed father
  • emotionally resonant story of loss, revenge, and redemption
  • touching exploration of forgiveness and inner peace

Detractors panned

  • slow pacing and meandering structure that loses momentum
  • misguided direction and poor script coherence
  • unsympathetic, underdeveloped characters

What stands out

ActingDivisive70

Nicholson's performance is praised by fans but criticized by detractors as uneven; supporting cast like David Morse noted as good

Emotional impactDivisive60

Fans are moved by grief and redemption; detractors feel disconnected

AtmosphereDivisive60

Fans feel a somber, heartfelt tone; detractors find it dull and unengaging

Dialogue50

Some memorable lines, but overall script considered weak by detractors

CharactersDivisive45

Fans find depth in grief and redemption arcs, detractors see unsympathetic and underdeveloped characters

EndingDivisive45

Some find meaningful and redemptive, others disappointing and unsatisfying

Plot and storyDivisive40

Strong premise but sidetracked and losing focus; repetitive revenge deliberation

PacingDivisive30

Slow and boring, loses momentum early; too many side trips

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 10 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 12 points higher than users.

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 16 points higher than US viewers.

Watch experience

What is The Crossing Guard like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense and leaves you haunted. 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

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseMelancholicDread
Heaviest: middle
Register
Bleak · 8% of filmsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its heavy subject matter completely straight, with no irony or undercutting of the emotional stakes.
The rideThe film holds a sustained tension as the three-day deadline looms, with a heavy melancholy over the loss and a growing sense of dread about the inevitable confrontation.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological structure, following the countdown to the planned killing.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Haunted.

The answer rests on this: Haunting · 14% of filmsBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's meditation on loss and vengeance leaves a lingering, somber feeling, with a hint of bittersweet resolution.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous 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).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · 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% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% (this title) · 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%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Obsession: A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).

9% of films fit this archetype

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

Why this archetypeThe story follows a father consumed by the need to avenge his daughter's death, making it a tragedy of obsession. The revenge plot drives the narrative.

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 filmsSelfObsession
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3% (this title)
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% (this title) · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · 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%

Self

Obsession · 3% of filmsRevenge · 4% of filmsGrief · 6% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on Freddy's all-consuming need for vengeance, rooted in the devastating grief of losing his daughter, and explores how this obsession warps his life and those around him.
StanceThe film interrogates the morality of revenge, presenting both Freddy's obsession and John's attempt at redemption as flawed and unresolved.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Jack Nitzsche
SettingA gritty contemporary Los Angeles, where a father's grief and a released convict's attempt at redemption collide.
MusicA brooding, atmospheric score that underscores the emotional weight of the revenge plot.

Content guide

Is The Crossing Guard okay for kids?

R

The Crossing Guard is rated R: “Rated R for sexuality and strong language” (MPAA). As of August 31, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at moderate (56/100), language at intense (71/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (39/100) and frightening material at moderate (44/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany16
  • Brazil14
  • PortugalM/16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 66%
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (6 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
too few votes to rank (3 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (35 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 The Crossing Guard have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Crossing Guard?

Cast

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

Jack Nicholson
as Freddy Gale
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.
David Morse
as John Booth
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Anjelica Huston
as Mary
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion PictureTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Robin Wright
as Jojo
Piper Laurie
as Helen Booth
Richard Bradford
as Stuart Booth
Priscilla Barnes
as Verna
David Baerwald
as Peter
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Robbie Robertson
as Roger
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
John Savage
as Bobby

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Crossing Guard?

Movies like The Crossing Guard include Fan (2016), Dacoit: A Love Story (2026) and Eye of the Beholder (1999). Of the 12 closest matches, most are stories of obsession, and several are hunter-and-hunted stories.

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

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

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Crossing Guard?

1.6K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: vigilante. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.