Common Sense Media Review
By-the-numbers explosion flick -- no surprises.
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S.W.A.T.
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say the film is an action-packed thrill ride that combines intense police action with elements of violence, bad language, and moderate sexual content, making it better suited for older teens. While many find it entertaining and commend the cast, some feel the plot lacks depth and may not resonate with younger viewers under 13.
- action-packed
- violence
- mature content
- entertaining cast
- not for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
S.W.A.T. follows Jim Street (Colin Farrell) and Brian Gamble (Jeremy Renner), Special Weapons and Tactics officers, who get into trouble in a hostage situation when Gamble shoots without authorization. They are thrown off of the squad, and Gamble quits in disgust. Street stays on, willing to serve time in the gun cage and earn his way back onto S.W.A.T. Gamble feels betrayed. Hondo Harrison (Samuel L. Jackson), a former S.W.A.T. commander, is called back into action and assembles a new team, including Street, Deke (LL Cool J), and Sanchez (Michelle Rodriguez). They pass their big test just in time for the biggest S.W.A.T. challenge ever. An international dealer in drugs, weapons, and other items offers a reward of $100 million to anyone who can break him out of jail. This attracts every kind of thug and the ones with no idea about what they are doing are just as big a threat as the ones who do.
Is It Any Good?
This generic summer explosion movie is as predictable as the rhymes in a limerick, but as predictably entertaining as well. There are no surprises in the story, but the action sequences deliver the goods that audiences for this film are there to receive. It is a shame to assemble a high-powered cast of some of the most talented and charismatic people in Hollywood and then not give them any opportunities to let them show us what they can do.
There is nothing distinctive about the characters, despite brief attempts to sketch in some details by showing one with a child, another on a date, and some tender partings when the officers' beepers go off. All these moments do is make stupifyingly obvious the supposed surprise plot twist half an hour before it occurs. Even more obvious is a "You're Chris Sanchez?" surprise that the officer played by Rodriguez is a woman; this from someone who is supposed to have selected her by reading through her file.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the other alternatives the character who commits suicide might have chosen.
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 8, 2003
- On DVD or streaming : December 30, 2003
- Cast : Colin Farrell , Michelle Rodriguez , Samuel L. Jackson
- Director : Clark Johnson
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, language and sexual references
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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