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.
Directed by Nick Cassavetes
chicago, illinois
parent child relationship
heart attack
kidnapping
heart disease
hostage-taking
hospital
Rank
#60 in 2002·#3676 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.5 / 5
Where to Watch
Cast
Denzel Washington
John Quincy Archibald
James Woods
Dr. Raymond Turner
Kimberly Elise
Denise Archibald
Robert Duvall
Lt. Frank Grimes
Shawn Hatosy
Mitch Quigley
Eddie Griffin
Lester Matthews
Kevin Connolly
Steve Maguire
Ethan Suplee
Guard Max Conlin
Ray Liotta
Chief Gus Monroe
Anne Heche
Rebecca Payne
Laura Harring
Gina Palumbo
Heather Wahlquist
Julie Bird
Crew
Nick Cassavetes
Director
Aaron Zigman
Original Music Composer
Rogier Stoffers
Director of Photography
Mark Burg
Producer
Oren Koules
Producer
Michael De Luca
Executive Producer
Tony Lamberti
Sound Effects Designer
Matt Birman
Stunts
Tom Glass
Stunt Coordinator
Layton Morrison
Stunts
Rick Parker
Stunts
Edward A. Queffelec
Stunts
Popular Reviews
464 reviews
Jayla StallingsPRO
8.0★ · 05/19/26
put this on for a patient and i ended up being REALLY invested
put this on for a patient and i ended up being REALLY invested
www
8.0★ · 05/01/26
what in the shawn hatosy deep cut. who was gonna tell me he was the loathed asshole in this?
what in the shawn hatosy deep cut. who was gonna tell me he was the loathed asshole in this?
Hugo Doran
10.0★ · 03/18/26
Watched this a while ago, just a banging performance from denzel
Watched this a while ago, just a banging performance from denzel
Naomi Paul
9.0★ · 03/08/26
I should not have cried as hard as I did.
Denzel Washington mannn.
Wholesome hostage situation + what happens when you put profit over people.
I had to watch this in Religion class we watched it for a few days and during it my teacher told the whole class everyone dies the whole class was mad I was so worried everyone would die everyone second we were watching to the end I was just hoping no don't let anyone die especially not Mikey I almost cried it was a beautiful movie and was done so perfectly. My favorite quote was "It's not goodbye son just see you later".
I had to watch this in Religion class we watched it for a few days and during it my teacher told the whole class everyone dies the whole class was mad I was so worried everyone would die everyone second we were watching to the end I was just hoping no don't let anyone die especially not Mikey I almost cried it was a beautiful movie and was done so perfectly. My favorite quote was "It's not goodbye son just see you later".
