Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- aggressive
- cynical
- irreverent
- action movie night
- 1990s nostalgia
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an overlong, stale, and lifeless buddy-cop thriller whose action spectacle could not overcome weak performances and thin execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Nick Pulovski continues the case against Strom while David Ackerman struggles to work with his rule-bound, insubordinate senior partner.
The investigation centers on an auto theft and chop shop ring, culminating in prominent car chases and stunt-driven sequences.
Pulovski sees Strom’s case as his chance to prove himself after an undistinguished career and refuses to surrender it when homicide takes over.
Pulovski’s aggressive, individualistic approach is repeatedly opposed by Ackerman’s preference for rules and procedure.
Films like The Rookie, and why
Lethal Weapon
shared buddy cop structure, crime investigation, confrontational masculinity, and brisk action set pieces
Rush Hour
shared rookie detective pairing, criminal underworld investigation, comic friction, and police action
The Gauntlet
shared hard-boiled police protagonist, car chases, criminal conspiracy, and cynical thriller tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
- Release Date
- 1990-12-07
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (643)
Cast
- Clint Eastwood
- Charlie Sheen
- Raúl Juliá
- Sonia Braga
- Tom Skerritt
- Lara Flynn Boyle
- Xander Berkeley
- Coleby Lombardo
- Pat DuVal
- Mara Corday
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Rookie about?
- A hard-edged veteran cop drags his cautious rookie partner into a personal pursuit of a ruthless auto-theft kingpin.
- What is The Rookie like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Rookie as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Rookie violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Rookie as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Rookie?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an overlong, stale, and lifeless buddy-cop thriller whose action spectacle could not overcome weak performances and thin execution.
- Which films are like The Rookie?
- Films with a similar feel include Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, and The Gauntlet.
- How long is The Rookie?
- The Rookie runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Rookie?
- In United States, The Rookie is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
