The Guardian
Seen it?2006 | 139 min | Action, Drama
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
It made about 10 times its budget, but middling reviews (37% on Rotten Tomatoes) held it back. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for action fans. If you loved Beast, start here. Audiences love it more than critics do: a crowd-pleaser first.
- The mood
- Exciting.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 19 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
A high school swim champion with a troubled past enrolls in the U.S. Coast Guard's 'A' School, where legendary rescue swimmer Ben Randall teaches him some hard lessons about loss, love, and self-sacrifice.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
37% on Rotten Tomatoes, 53 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$95 million worldwide on a $10 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 197K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Andrew Davis
- Kevin CostnerBen Randall
- Ashton KutcherJake Fischer
- Sela WardHelen Randall
- Melissa SagemillerEmily Thomas
- Dulé HillKen Weatherly
- Bryce CassManny
- Omari HardwickCarl Billings
- Clancy BrownCapt. William Hadley
- Neal McDonoughJack Skinner
- Benny CiaramelloBenny Partida