Overview
A gripping tale of a man's struggle against his own mind and the criminal underworld.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- suspenseful
- affecting
- brooding
- quiet night
- crime film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film genuinely suspenseful and affecting, with a strong ensemble and complex, realistic characters.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Chris Pratt’s memory impairment shapes his work, relationships, vulnerability, and response to the bank robbery.
Chris records obligations and reminders in a small notebook to compensate for extended memory loss.
Gary and Luvlee exploit Chris’s isolation, romantic hopes, and frustration with his diminished circumstances.
The film’s bank robbery plot is grounded in complex relationships, disability, and moral uncertainty.
Films like The Lookout, and why
Memento
Shares an affecting noir atmosphere, psychologically complex protagonist, and crime thriller built around a robbery.
A Simple Plan
Shares a grounded heist premise, moral uncertainty, and damaged characters caught in escalating criminal schemes.
The Town
Shares an intimate crime drama tone, realistic character writing, and a protagonist drawn into a dangerous robbery.
The Machinist
Shares a cerebral, character-focused noir approach to memory, manipulation, and criminal entanglement.
Movie Details
- Director
- Scott Frank
- Release Date
- 2007-03-09
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (736)
Cast
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
- Jeff Daniels
- Matthew Goode
- Isla Fisher
- Carla Gugino
- Bruce McGill
- Alberta Watson
- Aaron Berg
- Morgan Kelly
- Greg Dunham
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 Lookout about?
- A memory-impaired former hockey star is manipulated into a bank robbery before fighting to reclaim control of his life.
- What is The Lookout like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Lookout as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Lookout violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Lookout as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Lookout?
- Critics broadly found the film genuinely suspenseful and affecting, with a strong ensemble and complex, realistic characters.
- Which films are like The Lookout?
- Films with a similar feel include Memento, A Simple Plan, The Town, and The Machinist.
- How long is The Lookout?
- The Lookout runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Lookout?
- In United States, The Lookout is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
