Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- gritty
- propulsive
- late night
- action movie marathon
What critics said
Critics were divided between admiring the film as an expertly made, energetic B-movie and finding its remake formulaic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The police station becomes an isolated defensive stronghold during a snowstorm, forcing officers and prisoners into a shared survival position.
Officer Jake Roenick is psychologically burdened and professionally isolated before taking command of the station's improvised defense.
Roenick must unite police officers with imprisoned criminals, including Marion Bishop, against a common attacking force.
The New Year's Eve snowstorm cuts off the closing police station and heightens the film's cold, enclosed siege atmosphere.
Films like Assault on Precinct 13, and why
Assault on Precinct 13
shared contained siege structure, hard-edged action, criminal alliances, and claustrophobic tension
The Raid
shared urban siege scenario, morally divided survivors, and escalating survival suspense
Narc
shared isolated police-station setting, corrupt institutions, and brutal crime thriller atmosphere
The Thing
shared trapped-group dynamics, snowbound isolation, and distrust among law enforcement and criminals
Movie Details
- Director
- Jean-François Richet
- Release Date
- 2005-01-19
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (1253)
Cast
- Ethan Hawke
- Laurence Fishburne
- Gabriel Byrne
- Maria Bello
- Drea de Matteo
- John Leguizamo
- Brian Dennehy
- Ja Rule
- Currie Graham
- Aisha Hinds
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 Assault on Precinct 13 about?
- A disgraced officer and a dangerous prisoner forge an uneasy alliance when a snowbound police station becomes the target of a lethal assault.
- What is Assault on Precinct 13 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Assault on Precinct 13 as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Assault on Precinct 13 violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Assault on Precinct 13 as brutal.
- What did critics think of Assault on Precinct 13?
- Critics were divided between admiring the film as an expertly made, energetic B-movie and finding its remake formulaic.
- Which films are like Assault on Precinct 13?
- Films with a similar feel include Assault on Precinct 13, The Raid, Narc, and The Thing.
- How long is Assault on Precinct 13?
- Assault on Precinct 13 runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Assault on Precinct 13?
- In United States, Assault on Precinct 13 is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
