Face/Off (1997)
Kernel Score: 80% · 5,783 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Action, Crime, Science Fiction
Released: 1997-06-27
Runtime: 139 minutes
Is Face/Off worth watching?
Worth watching. A gloriously over-the-top action thriller in which an agent and a terrorist swap faces. It's silly, loud and fun, with two actors enjoying playing each other. Don't expect realism.
Watch it if you
- love 90s action at full volume
- enjoy actors hamming it up
- like John Woo's style of gunfights
Skip it if you
- need plausible plots
- dislike graphic gun violence
Best for: Popcorn action night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Face/Off
- Stream: Philo, AMC+, BBC America
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
In order to foil a terrorist plot, an FBI agent undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a criminal mastermind. The plan turns sour when the criminal wakes up prematurely and seeks revenge.
Face/Off parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Face/Off is an R-rated action thriller with intense gun violence, a face-transplant premise, and a revenge plot involving terrorism and organized crime.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Rated R with shootouts, a bomb plot, prison violence, and a boat chase; intense and prevalent action violence throughout.
- Language: Moderate — R-rated action film typical of strong language during high-tension confrontations.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Face/Off
If you liked Face/Off, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Killer (1989) — 87%: Same director, with stylish gunfights and a loyal-hitman core.
- Hard Boiled (1992) — 85%: John Woo gunplay at its most extreme.
- A Better Tomorrow (1986) — 83%: The film that made John Woo's style famous.
- Point Break (1991) — 81%: Undercover cop in a heightened, macho action story.
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — 95%: Big, loud 90s action with a strong sci-fi hook.
- The Matrix (1999) — 96%: Stylish sci-fi action about identity and reality.
Director
Cast
- John Travolta as Sean Archer
- Nicolas Cage as Castor Troy
- Joan Allen as Eve Archer
- Alessandro Nivola as Pollux Troy
- Gina Gershon as Sasha Hassler
- Dominique Swain as Jamie Archer
- Nick Cassavetes as Dietrich Hassler
- Harve Presnell as Victor Lazarro
- Colm Feore as Dr. Malcolm Walsh
- John Carroll Lynch as Prison Guard Walton
Face/Off FAQ
Is Face/Off worth watching?
Worth watching. A gloriously over-the-top action thriller in which an agent and a terrorist swap faces. It's silly, loud and fun, with two actors enjoying playing each other. Don't expect realism.
Where can I watch Face/Off?
In the US you can stream Face/Off on Philo, AMC+ and BBC America, watch it free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Face/Off OK for kids?
Face/Off is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Face/Off is an R-rated action thriller with intense gun violence, a face-transplant premise, and a revenge plot involving terrorism and organized crime.
What movies are like Face/Off?
If you liked Face/Off, try The Killer, Hard Boiled, A Better Tomorrow and Point Break.