Collateral (2004)
Kernel Score: 80% · 6,143 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Crime, Thriller
Released: 2004-08-04
Runtime: 120 minutes
Is Collateral worth watching?
Worth watching. A cab driver finds his passenger is a contract killer and is forced to drive him around Los Angeles for the night. It's a tense, stylish Michael Mann thriller, with Tom Cruise unusually cold as the killer.
Watch it if you
- like stylish, tense crime thrillers
- enjoy Michael Mann's night-time Los Angeles
- want a two-person duel of wills
Skip it if you
- want a lot of surprises
- dislike a slowish, moody pace
Best for: Late-night thriller
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Collateral
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, Paramount+, Peacock, Philo, MGM+
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Cab driver Max picks up a man who offers him $600 to drive him around. But the promise of easy money sours when Max realizes his fare is an assassin.
Collateral parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Collateral is an R-rated crime thriller about a cab driver forced to drive a contract killer through a night of violence.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Depicts a professional hitman committing contract killings and gun violence across a single night.
- Language: Moderate — R-rated crime thriller implies strong language throughout, consistent with the genre.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Collateral
If you liked Collateral, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Heat (1995) — 89%: Mann's masterpiece of cops, robbers and Los Angeles at night
- Drive (2011) — 85%: Stylish, quiet, violent night-time crime story
- Thief (1981) — 82%: Mann's earlier moody heist film
- Taxi Driver (1976) — 90%: Night-time city drama of a lonely man in a cab
- Le Samouraï (1967) — 89%: Cool, minimalist story of a professional killer
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975) — 89%: Tense city crime drama played out over one tough day
Director
Cast
- Tom Cruise as Vincent
- Jamie Foxx as Max Durocher
- Jada Pinkett Smith as Annie Farrell
- Mark Ruffalo as Det. Ray Fanning
- Peter Berg as Richard Weidner
- Javier Bardem as Felix Reyes-Torrena
- Bruce McGill as Frank Pedrosa
- Klea Scott as Zee
- Barry Shabaka Henley as Daniel Baker
- Irma P. Hall as Ida Durocher
Collateral FAQ
Is Collateral worth watching?
Worth watching. A cab driver finds his passenger is a contract killer and is forced to drive him around Los Angeles for the night. It's a tense, stylish Michael Mann thriller, with Tom Cruise unusually cold as the killer.
Where can I watch Collateral?
In the US you can stream Collateral on Prime Video, Fubo, Paramount+, Peacock, Philo and MGM+ and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is Collateral OK for kids?
Collateral is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Collateral is an R-rated crime thriller about a cab driver forced to drive a contract killer through a night of violence.
What movies are like Collateral?
If you liked Collateral, try Heat, Drive, Thief and Taxi Driver.