The Foreigner (2017)
Kernel Score: 77% · 2,871 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: 2017-09-28
Runtime: 113 minutes
Is The Foreigner worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A tough, steady revenge thriller with Jackie Chan in a rare dramatic mood, cast against Pierce Brosnan. It's grimmer and slower than you might expect, with some solid action and good performances.
Watch it if you
- want a serious Jackie Chan
- like revenge thrillers
- enjoy political crime plots
Skip it if you
- want his playful comic fighting
- dislike slow-moving plots
Best for: Weeknight thriller
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Foreigner
- Stream: Prime Video, Fubo, Paramount+
- Free with ads: The Roku Channel, The CW, Prime Video (free with ads), Tubi, Amazon MX Player
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love – his teenage daughter – dies in an Irish Republican Army car bombing. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.
The Foreigner parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that The Foreigner is an R-rated revenge thriller involving a bomb explosion, terrorism, and a father's quest for justice.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes a bombing that kills the protagonist's daughter and a violent revenge-driven manhunt against terrorists.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Foreigner
If you liked The Foreigner, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Casino Royale (2006) — 87%: Same director's tough spy reboot
- The Long Good Friday (1980) — 79%: Classic British crime thriller with an IRA link
- Odd Man Out (1947) — 82%: Classic thriller set against Irish politics
- Infernal Affairs (2002) — 86%: Sharp cat-and-mouse crime thriller
- Extraction 2 (2023) — 84%: Brutal, high-energy action
- The Raid 2 (2014) — 86%: Brutal action sequel with a gangster plot
Director
Martin Campbell
Cast
- Pierce Brosnan as Liam Hennessy
- Jackie Chan as Quan Ngoc Minh
- Rory Fleck-Byrne as Sean Morrison
- Ray Fearon as Commander Richard Bromley
- Charlie Murphy as Maggie / Sara McKay
- Orla Brady as Mary Hennessy
- Michael McElhatton as Jim Kavanagh
- Lia Williams as Katherine Davies
- Dermot Crowley as Hugh McGrath
- Stephen Hogan as Christy Murphy
The Foreigner FAQ
Is The Foreigner worth watching?
Depends on your taste. A tough, steady revenge thriller with Jackie Chan in a rare dramatic mood, cast against Pierce Brosnan. It's grimmer and slower than you might expect, with some solid action and good performances.
Where can I watch The Foreigner?
In the US you can stream The Foreigner on Prime Video, Fubo and Paramount+, watch it free with ads on The Roku Channel, The CW, Prime Video (free with ads), Tubi and Amazon MX Player and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is The Foreigner OK for kids?
The Foreigner is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that The Foreigner is an R-rated revenge thriller involving a bomb explosion, terrorism, and a father's quest for justice.
What movies are like The Foreigner?
If you liked The Foreigner, try Casino Royale, The Long Good Friday, Odd Man Out and Infernal Affairs.