Collateral (2004)
Kernel Score: 80% · 6,143 TMDB 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: Paramount+, Starz
- Free with ads: Kanopy
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, JustWatch TV Store, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-12.
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 Paramount+ and Starz, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, JustWatch TV Store 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.