16 Blocks
Metascore
63 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34
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  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    30
    It seems such a waste to go onto the actual streets of Lower Manhattan and shoot a movie this stupid. Think of the money, the logistics, the interruptions in the city's life -- all that trouble for what? For this? For shame.
  2. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Connie Ogle
    25
    This noisy, formulaic film turns out to be immediately forgettable, except for the parts that are so ridiculous they leave you shaking your head in wonder hours later.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 46
  3. Negative: 8 out of 46
  1. kublay0880
    5
    It hurts me to rate a Bruce Willis movie like this but there's no other fair score, it's a very dull movie I hope that it was made just to get a few bucks and not tough as a serious movie. Big disappointment, very predictable, 99 minutes that felt like 4 hours.… Full Review »
  2. grandpajoe6191
    6
    "16 Blocks" is the usual buddy-cop movie with the decent action sequences. However its Richard Donner's top notch cinematography that saves the movie.
  3. Mosstromo
    4
    Lost opportunities all around on this uninteresting film.
    What opens strong with the promise of interesting characters whose personal life wi    ll create uncountable chances for complication of a tale that sports an interesting premise, soon dives into the murky depths of mishandled stories.
    Every decision made on action pieces, character development and sequence of events seems to be the wrong one. Complications are either forgotten, resolved fast and simply or avoided altogether (as are sense and logic for that matter).
    Richard Donner shows at several points that he is a very good director, specially during the wonderful sequence where the first shots are fired, but those moments soon dry out in the sterile ground of the uninspired and clumsy screenplay.
    Bruce Willis manages to interpret his run-down cop convincingly, even at the more ridiculous moments, but all the points he gains for the flick are lost every single time his counterpart played by Mos Def opens his mouth. I've seen Mos Def in "Be Kind Rewind" and I don't remember having disliked him so violently, but in this film his every rendering of dialog is gut-wrenching turning him into a Jar-Jar-Binks-esque figure.
    Overall a sad experience for which I'd say that the cost of the viewing should be the deciding factor for avoiding or not this film, and only if you reaaaaaally like Bruce Willis movies and need to fill a gap on all you've seen from his filmography.    … Full Review »
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