S.W.A.T.
User Score
6.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 49
  3. Negative: 7 out of 49

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  1. imthenoob
    Feb 2, 2012
    6
    It wasnt that bad. The acting is solid through out and there is a ton of good action, Its suprisingly addictive to watch. I have seen it 3-4 times and I still enjoy it. The plot isnt all that good and rather generic overall, Some parts of the movie are just stupid and make you question why they were added in the first place. Yet still its an enjoyable action film worth the watch.
  2. EllieN.
    Aug 12, 2003
    10
    I love SWAT!!! It's such a gr8 movie , i wish we could have more fun, action movies like SWAT. I enjoyed it and Colin Farrell is so HOTT!!!!
  3. Jose
    Sep 6, 2003
    10
    Great movie!
  4. HaroldH.
    Jan 8, 2004
    9
    Loved it! Good, pure action from start to finish. Great additional information on the DVD in addition to the movie. Pure action entertainment.
  5. Quiet
    Aug 10, 2003
    7
    Fun movie. Good setup, good acting. Nothing over the top fantastic, but nothing bad either. Overall, well put together.
  6. XCel
    Aug 15, 2003
    1
    Worst movie of the year... and I saw Gigli and View From the Top. Goes beyond bad to blatantly offensive, chock full of race-baiting, awful stereotypes, and the moronic gung-ho machismo that keeps Bush in office.It speaks volumes that the User Review average is over 8. I'm leaving the country ASAP.
  7. Allen
    Aug 24, 2003
    0
    WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!! OMG this movie was aweful. I hated it. The charactors made no sence and there was way too much action, i mean it was non stop!! Take a break once in a while from all the shooting, it gave me a head ache. No wonder the old TV show was taken off the air. And another thing, at one part in the movie they start to sing their own theme song. What the hell was that about??? How would they know their own theme song for gods sake?? DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!! … Expand
  8. Melissa
    Feb 1, 2004
    4
    Yuck. Even taken for what it is, an action movie, no need for plot, the action sequences were haphazard, the special effects poor, and too many action sequences were way too dark to see what was going on. 4th rate, all the way.
  9. GinoE.
    Jun 19, 2004
    3
    S.W.A.T. is suppost to be an action movie.. But where is all the action? Especially at the end, where you really wait for something to happen, but it never does. The rest of it are just senseless scenes that have nothing to to with anything. This is what all of the action films are these days, but at least there is some firework in them. Not in this one though... And the French villain is awful... I truly hope they don't come up with a sequel.… Expand
  10. AlanG.
    Nov 14, 2003
    9
    Very good, who cares what others think.
  11. Jon
    Aug 12, 2003
    8
    Good action, good acting, solid film that holds your interest until the end. Jackson's line of "they only roll in John Woo films" was great. Good summer movie!
  12. ChadS.
    Aug 13, 2003
    6
    "S.W.A.T." asks us to believe that the same man who has the balls to slit the throat of a don, could allow himself to be arrested for a broken tail-light? While you've got to admire the film's subtlety to forego a car chase, this seasoned sociopath must know his identity would be uncovered in due time. Is he stupid, or the writers? Never mind. "S.W.A.T." is watchable from beginning to end. … Expand
  13. EDixon
    Aug 19, 2003
    6
    Not up to snuff. Anyone who thinks this was a great action flick needs to head down to the video store and rent some real action movies. How about Die Hard, or the Terminator 1 or 2. S.W.A.T lacked emotion, humor, or excitement. They try to cover this up by making it extremely loud which is an insult. The last fight scene on the train tracks... Who was who? And would anyone have really cared if someone died. This movie was devoid of any emotion. It would make a great rainy day rental though.....… Expand
  14. JustinB.
    Aug 8, 2003
    9
    S.W.A.T., while boring at times, is an overall good, fun movie.
  15. 8Ball
    Aug 8, 2003
    8
    Yo, this movie is dope! I don't want SWAT after me, they're bad. Samuel Jackson is my boy, you know what I'm saying? It's better than Bad Boys 2 because LL Cool J is in it. I give it an 8 cuz I'm 8 Ball.
  16. JohnY.
    Aug 9, 2003
    5
    Started off well, but the last hour is just plain silly.
  17. OJS.
    Mar 8, 2004
    10
    Definitely 1 of the best movie I have ever seen. it deserves lot more then a f*(**) 44. This movie was great and if u havent seen it watch it. you will c.
  18. AnsonG.
    Jul 27, 2006
    2
    Very poor movie. It was too long to start the real action at the end. The previous chapter was nothing, absolute awful. I was bored of the major action scenes. i would rather take a nap for an hours and watch other action. S.W.A.T is rental.
  19. JonJ
    Aug 11, 2003
    10
    Wow!!!!!!!!!!!
  20. Spriggangirl
    Aug 12, 2003
    10
    Best movie ever!!!!
  21. QuicheaV.
    Aug 12, 2003
    9
    Could Colin get ANY hotter?!?!?!? NO!!! sooo good! it's a must see, but don't sit to close to the front of the theatre! Go! GO SEE IT NOW!!!
  22. JonG.
    Aug 12, 2003
    10
    WOW! Im not gonna lie, this movie was off the hook! this movie was crazy go nuts! and Rodrigez is soo sexy! That plane scene was SICK! A must see! One of the best Cop movies ever!
  23. DinuF.
    Sep 21, 2003
    1
    The first minutes say all about the "proffesional" SWAT. the plot drives snipers to shoot while hostages are still in danger. no operation at same time (too hard for them to set up it seems.) would be a desaster in real life. the movie is a slap to everything more intelligent than a rock.
  24. BitBurn
    Sep 22, 2003
    5
    Well, if you have nothing else to do and you saw every one of the 950000 movies at your local video store then you might find this movie amusing enough to keep you awake for the evening! Seriously, it's an "ok" flick.
  25. asylumspadez
    Nov 24, 2011
    8
    Great film, Not because one area of the film is amazing but simply because the overall product is good. Solid acting by the cast, Great action, and its interesting.
  26. hoops2448
    Jan 21, 2012
    4
    Swat doesn't try to be anything more than a fast paced action film so I'm not going to treat it like high art but boy does it disappoint. It's not that it has bad actors. The leads (Colin Farrel and Samuel L Jackson) are good, the villain (Jeremy Renner) is menacing with decent time devoted to his back story and the supporting members of the team (Michelle Rodriguez and LL Cool J) are decent too. It's not about the writing although it is a little hammy at times. It's just that Swat is half a movie.
    Swat would be a pretty good action film if it didn't take so long to get started. The main story doesn't emerge until an hour has passed with the first hour being slow, uninteresting and just plain aggravating. The forming and training of the team could have taken half the time and could have been much more interesting. The unessential addition of Farrel's characters unhappy girlfriend just delays further and infuriates. The last hour itself is pretty decent with some great action and a nice brisk pace. The night-time setting does lead to some lighting issues with the final fight being hard to follow but it still entertains which is more than I can say about the beginning which is just dire. Finally if you're going to have a menacing villain, actually make him menacing. Olivier Martinez's French villain isn't so much bad as he is laughable. Someone who should be fearsome and dark is pompous and annoying and acts like his mummy took his toys away for being bad. It's just plain funny.    … Collapse
  27. Bruce722
    Dec 21, 2012
    7
    S.W.A.T. is a good movie but the lack of character development for anyone other than the protagonist (and even this was minimal) made you not really care too much for the outcome. That wasn't the worst part of the film though. By far the worst part of this movie was the mediocre dialogue. It's almost like the writers decided to throw as many corny, cheese-ball quips as possible. Not only was this annoying but it made the characters feel fake. It was still entertaining but it's not a great movie at all.… Expand
  28. cameronmorewood
    Nov 12, 2012
    2
    S.W.A.T. is the worst Michael Bay film with which Michael Bay had absolutely nothing to do with.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
45 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 35
  3. Negative: 9 out of 35
  1. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    70
    While the movie is stupid, it is -- hooray, and let's put this in all the national ads! -- not appallingly stupid.
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  2. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    10
    A prototypical new-millennium summer movie, S.W.A.T. is no more than an extended trailer for itself.
    Read full review
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Michael O'Sullivan
    70
    Offers up the kind of pleasures that only a summer movie can...The cast is good-looking, the soundtrack is loud, the plot is stupid.
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See all critic reviews »