Common Sense Media Review
Stylish, depraved, speedy action. Not for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Crank
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a highly entertaining yet intensely graphic action movie filled with violence, strong language, and explicit content that some viewers appreciate for its adrenaline-pumping style, while others condemn it for being inappropriate for younger audiences. While a few find it fun and engaging, many strongly advise against letting children watch due to its explicit themes and portrayal of women and relationships.
- entertaining action
- graphic content
- not for children
- mixed reviews
- inappropriate themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Borrowing its slim storyline from the 1950 film noir D.O.A. (starring Edmond O'Brien), CRANK follows the life-and-death situation of hitman Chev ( Jason Statham), who is poisoned and has a limited time to find his killer and exact revenge. Chev swears he wants to go straight in order to please his mightily naïve girlfriend Eve (Amy Smart). Chev's pursuit of his killer, the utterly arrogant Ricky Verona (Jose Pablo Contillo), leads to run-ins with any number of brutish and shady sorts, including drug dealers, assassins, gang members, and thugs. Chev appears to be a softie at heart--he saves Eve from villains, impresses her with his devotion, but can't overcome the effects of the deadly toxin. In order that the movie can race along for its 87 minutes, Chev is able to slow the poison by keeping his adrenaline geared up -- this according to an absurd diagnosis rendered by his doctor (Dwight Yoakam).
Is It Any Good?
Elaborately aggressive and provocative, Crank is just what its title suggests: fast, ornery, and exhausting. Logic is not this movie's strong suit; it's like a ride, one crazy bit of business after another. Chev spends his last minutes on earth trying to jar himself into excitement, taunting various enemies into fights, having sex with his girlfriend in the street, chasing and shooting goons point blank, stealing epinephrine from the hospital, driving very fast and jumping from an airplane -- without a parachute.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the effects of adrenaline: How does it distort judgment and behavior? How does the movie exaggerate action movie conventions, with regard to speed, style, and content? How does this exaggeration make fun of these conventions, or how does it reinforce the "video-gamey" effect of such films? How would you describe Chev's relationship with his girlfriend? Does he respect her? How well does she know him?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 1, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : January 9, 2007
- Cast : Amy Smart , Dwight Yoakam , Jason Statham
- Directors : Brian Taylor , Mark Neveldine
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lionsgate
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, pervasive language, sexuality, nudity and drug use
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate