Point Break (1991)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Film C

  
  Well i think whenever we think of this movie its going to be for that iconic scene where Reeves trys to shoot his best bud but points it to the air ! Its an enjoyable enough movie thats got enough action to keep you entertained!

• KJ P

  
  Here is the mother of all action thriller movies in one. I loved this movie from smart to finish. I wish it went on for another half hour. Patrick Swayze is a really cool actor, Keanu Reeve's on the other hand, cannot act is his life depended on it. Their on screen chemistry is… More
  Here is the mother of all action thriller movies in one. I loved this movie from smart to finish. I wish it went on for another half hour. Patrick Swayze is a really cool actor, Keanu Reeve's on the other hand, cannot act is his life depended on it. Their on screen chemistry is fun to watch, as their opposite lives collide. Kathryn Bigelow has created a testosterone fuelled crime thriller, and the pleasant twists, the intense action sequences, and the witty dialogue, are all something that I will remember this film by. There are so many twists that I lost count, but not so much that I lost where I was during the viewing. "Point Break" has a fantastic story, amazing characters, solid acting (excluding Reeve's), and a jaw-dropping conclusion! I have so much fun watching this movie that I lose track of my brain cells most of the time. There may be a few times where you will role your eyes, and say, "Oh that would never happen," but overall, it's an adrenaline fuelled thrill ride!

• Dean M

  
  This Feds-vs-surfers thriller is one of the dippiest action movies ever mounted. The twist is that it's also one of the best. As Keanu Reeves's greenhorn agent embarks on a seafoam-flecked duel of wits with Patrick Swayze's mystical boarder, <i>Point… More
  This Feds-vs-surfers thriller is one of the dippiest action movies ever mounted. The twist is that it's also one of the best. As Keanu Reeves's greenhorn agent embarks on a seafoam-flecked duel of wits with Patrick Swayze's mystical boarder, <i>Point Break</i> notches up brilliantly shot set pieces, rocketing from land to air to sea in its unquenchable thirst for kicks.

• Jens S

  
  The premise of a cop being forced to infiltrate a gang of surfers, who are suspects in a robbery spree may sound a bit silly. But director Bigelow created a high adrenaline action thriller that's nothing less but one of the highlights of the 90s. Young Keanu Reeves is the obvious… More
  The premise of a cop being forced to infiltrate a gang of surfers, who are suspects in a robbery spree may sound a bit silly. But director Bigelow created a high adrenaline action thriller that's nothing less but one of the highlights of the 90s. Young Keanu Reeves is the obvious and perfect choice for the newcomer, but Busey and Swayze steal every scene they are in. For most of its running time, the film refuses to make the villains all hate-worthy, presenting ambiguous characters in an enthralling script. The surfing and especially the parachuting scenes are beautifully shot and cause an adrenaline rush in the audience as much as the actors. The camera work, the editing, the music, it all adds up to a wild and exciting ride.

• Clintus M

  
  "You gotta go down, its gotta be that way," thunders FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) to Patrick Swayze's Bodhi in the climactic scene of Point Break. It's the irresistible force versus the immovable object in Kathryn Bigelow's wild ride of a thriller.… More
  "You gotta go down, its gotta be that way," thunders FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) to Patrick Swayze's Bodhi in the climactic scene of Point Break. It's the irresistible force versus the immovable object in Kathryn Bigelow's wild ride of a thriller. It's a thrill a minute, captivating, yet completely preposterous. The movie succeeds despite the ubiquitous "surfer dude" attitude, so suspend disbelief, and come along for the rush. Its all about adrenaline junkies, and I've always loved the adrenaline rush and the sheer lunacy of it all. Here's the plot: surfers dress up as ex-presidents and rob banks to finance their endless summer. Only its not about money; these guys have something to prove to us average working morons on the freeway. The cast is fantastic. Reeves is a spectacularly bad actor and perfect for this role. Gary Busey is an old burnout of an agent with a crackpot theory. Swayze is the Zen-master surfer/robber. Lori Petty is the sweet yet troubled surfer babe. Red Hot Chili Pepper frontman Anthony Kiedis is somewhat enjoyable as a violent surfer lunatic. The surfing crowd and Utah make Busey look like the sane one, quite an accomplishment for Bigelow. So, the unlikeliest villain is being pursued by the unlikeliest cop. The existential hero rages against the system, pursued by the ex-football player/virgin surfer, now with the FBI. Its hokey and corny, but you can't take your eyes off it. I'm not sure I can explain how this film works or why I like it so much. Maybe the appeal is living by your own rules and chasing your dream to (literally) the end of the earth. The action sequences are some of the greatest ever, maybe the most memorable being Reeves' Utah leaping out of a plane without a parachute to catch Bodhi and save Tyler (Petty). After all, it is all about the adrenaline.

• Mike S

  
  Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, produced by her ex-husband James Cameron, and with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in their absolute prime. Not such a wonder then that this movie turned out to be really good. Made during a time when "cowabunga" was a popular phrase and Gary… More
  Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, produced by her ex-husband James Cameron, and with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze in their absolute prime. Not such a wonder then that this movie turned out to be really good. Made during a time when "cowabunga" was a popular phrase and Gary Busey amazingly sane, it's a story that really knows how to thrill and intrigue. Moreover, I've never seen a movie that got me so pumped to try out surfing and sky diving. The way it depicts these extreme sports is appealing beyond words. A film that's got a little bit of everything, with great acting, exciting action and a captivating plotline. Like the cinematic equivalent of an adrenaline-shot. And I mean that in the most positive sense.

• Jeff "

  
  Point Break has got to be one of the most eccentric action films ever made. The story is quite bizarre, and it works in so many ways. I say bizarre because the premise is not what you'd normally expect from an action film. The premise is a bunch of surfers who rob banks in order… More
  Point Break has got to be one of the most eccentric action films ever made. The story is quite bizarre, and it works in so many ways. I say bizarre because the premise is not what you'd normally expect from an action film. The premise is a bunch of surfers who rob banks in order to fund their surfing expeditions. What follows is a rookie cop by the name of Johnny Utah who is on the trail of the bandits and it leads him to a group of surfers lead by the name of Bodhi who is brilliantly played by Patrick Swayze. Keanu Reeves stars as Johnny Utah and along with Speed, Point Break is his best film. Kathryn Bigelow who is one of my favorite directors helms this film and crafts a film that is purely and simply pulse pounding. The film is just as testosterone driven as it's characters, and Bigelow knows how to craft a spectacular action film. Bigelow who previously directed the vampire horror film Near Dark, and despite this, Bigelow is able to direct an effective action film. I think it be fair to say that Kathryn Bigelow is able to master any genre of film, and she knows how to create something that stands out. Point Break is a non stop action film that will appeal to action fans, but it's not everyones cup of tea. Point Break is one of my favorite action films as it combines the traditional cops and robbers formula with adrenaline soaked action. Point Break is one awesome film.

• Thomas B

  
  Some fantastic set-pieces though it often comes off a little too silly for its own good. Full review later.

• Conner R

  
  Point Break is considered a classic for many reasons. One is just because it's so bizarre and almost inhuman. The characters, especially Keanu Reeves, are like aliens trying to imitate people. Now that's not really a bad thing because this benefits from being so incredibly… More
  Point Break is considered a classic for many reasons. One is just because it's so bizarre and almost inhuman. The characters, especially Keanu Reeves, are like aliens trying to imitate people. Now that's not really a bad thing because this benefits from being so incredibly outrageous. Without it, we wouldn't have the endlessly quotable lines and awkward moments galore. While this may lack strength story-wise, it is completely brilliant from a visual standpoint. It honestly stands out as one one of the most well shot action movies of all time. Kathryn Bigelow is like the female Tony Scott in terms of directing action.

• Candy R

  
  Cool movie. Patrick is crazy surfer / bank robber and Keanu is in the FBI who goes undercover to catch the ex-president bank robbers. Keanu falls for one of the gang and becomes buddies with Patrick the gang leader.

• Lady D

  
  Extreme sport junkies, bank robberies, under cover agent, this 90's Action flick arose during Keanu Reeves peak (if it's possible to say he had one) yes I'll join the band wagon on that one and agree he's a wooden Actor, but there is a little nostalgia in this one… More
  Extreme sport junkies, bank robberies, under cover agent, this 90's Action flick arose during Keanu Reeves peak (if it's possible to say he had one) yes I'll join the band wagon on that one and agree he's a wooden Actor, but there is a little nostalgia in this one for me, plus Nick Frost sells it so well in Hot Fuzz. This time around, I started to realise how similar the plot of Fast and Furious is to this film.

• Khris N

  
  Kathryn Bigelow's stand out hit before The Hurt Locker is an action thriller which takes everyone to the edge and beyond... Simple, Keanu plays a rookie FBI agent assigned to old timer Gary Busey, investigating a series of Bank Robberies committed by the… More
  Kathryn Bigelow's stand out hit before The Hurt Locker is an action thriller which takes everyone to the edge and beyond... Simple, Keanu plays a rookie FBI agent assigned to old timer Gary Busey, investigating a series of Bank Robberies committed by the "ex-Presidents." Following some vital clues, they determine that the robbers are a group of surfers, high adrenaline junkies led by the charismatic and devious Patrick Swayze. Simple plot, confusing ideology and story put into practice... I guess most people would be confused or laughing at the idea of "freedom" and "sticking it to the man" but once the guns go off, then nothing is funny about this high stakes game where the bet is your own life in pursuit of the Ultimate Rush. Some good cinematography, a gem from the early nineties, this is no way similar to the marvelous Hurt Locker, but its a good thriller, and with James Cameron producing, its obvious you see some of his influences... though Bigelow does have some standout signature moments, the use of the camera and the melancholy ending. Standout performances I think goes to Gary Busey, who did a great job as the grizzly veteran Agent and Swayze's bad guy... Reeves kinda sucked but guess its no point criticizing nearly 20 years later, he's a part of the movie as much as Swayze is.

• Dan S

  
  A ridiculously over-the-top and ultimately cheesy feeling film concerning an FBI agent (Reeves, who rivals Paul Walker as being the worst cop/FBI agent ever caught on screen), who goes undercover to track down a group of bank-robbers who wear masks of the former Presidents of the… More
  A ridiculously over-the-top and ultimately cheesy feeling film concerning an FBI agent (Reeves, who rivals Paul Walker as being the worst cop/FBI agent ever caught on screen), who goes undercover to track down a group of bank-robbers who wear masks of the former Presidents of the United States when they commit their crimes. What he doesn't know (but probably should've) is that once you're in, sometimes you can't get out. As predictable as a film that channels this movie was, that being "The Fast and the Furious", at least actors Paul Walker and Vin Diesel (whose performance rocked the house) had more of a believable relationship than Reeves and Swayze. Swayze actually gives a fine performance, but Reeves' robotic face when he's shouting his lines just gives off the feeling of forced and amateurish. The only thing that saves this movie from being called a bad one is due to some of the insane action sequences that Bigelow puts on display. Although even these brief moments of awesome-ness can't topple the avalanche of plot holes, the predictability of the whole film, and Reeves' less than stellar performance (seriously Keanu, go back and watch your stuff in "Speed" and ask yourself, "Why can't I go back to acting and making stuff like this?").

• Drew S

  
  Oh my God, this movie is so bizarre...but in a totally awesome way...I don't really know how to feel. Of course it doesn't work, if only because Keanu Reeves is by far the worst FBI agent ever committed to film - you could play a drinking game out of all the different ways… More
  Oh my God, this movie is so bizarre...but in a totally awesome way...I don't really know how to feel. Of course it doesn't work, if only because Keanu Reeves is by far the worst FBI agent ever committed to film - you could play a drinking game out of all the different ways he fucks up - and because the mumbo-jumbo mysticism is more laughable than effective. But when you suspend all your disbelief, the action scenes actually become unusually badass. You don't care about how plausible that skydiving scene is because it's FUCKING KEANU REEVES JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE, HOW COOL IS THAT, and really if you're taking this movie seriously then you're doing it wrong. It really is, as the back of the box says, an adrenalin rush, and there's nothing wrong with that.

• Al S

  
  An adrenaline-charged action classic. A real knockout. A stylish, cool, very exciting and pulse-pounding edge of your seat action-thriller that never lets up. It has plenty of surfing, bullets, fighting and chases an action fan could want. It's a 100% pure adrenaline action… More
  An adrenaline-charged action classic. A real knockout. A stylish, cool, very exciting and pulse-pounding edge of your seat action-thriller that never lets up. It has plenty of surfing, bullets, fighting and chases an action fan could want. It's a 100% pure adrenaline action flick. An exhilarating entertainment rush that you will love getting caught in. Being caught undercover has never been so wicked. Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves are sensational. Gary Busey is terrific. A stunningly well-crafted crafted and explosive film. A nail-biting, jaw-dropping and eye-popping no-holds-barred thrill-ride. It's an ass kicking joy-ride that never lets up until the final shot.

• Tim S

  
  An action masterpiece.

• Tsubaki S

  
  A silly story that somehow was made into a really cool movie. You will keep wondering stuff like: why is the FBI chasing small time robbers? Why does Reeves keeps leaving his wallet around with his fucking badge in it? But you won't care, you will be eating all of Swayze's… More
  A silly story that somehow was made into a really cool movie. You will keep wondering stuff like: why is the FBI chasing small time robbers? Why does Reeves keeps leaving his wallet around with his fucking badge in it? But you won't care, you will be eating all of Swayze's lines, even if you know their dumb, you will be cheering for Gary Busey, because he's Gary Busey. You will think it's cool to "fight da system!" and you might even pretend to love surfing, even if you haven't been on a beach for years. My point is, you're going to like this dumb movie, and there's nothing you can't do about it. Why? Because it actually has engaging characters, the action is fun and well directed and the story, while silly, flows well. The irony here is that it was directed by a woman, no fucking Tony Scott or anything like that. Turns out that a woman truly knows better how to direct an all-male action flick that won't insult your intelligence.

• Anthony L

  
  I never got into this film, not then, not now! It?s overrated tripe.

• David L

  
  Kathryn Bigelow's "Point Break," is a movie some of my friends ridicule due to the fact that it is so high on my list of the best action films. Conceptually a "B" movie (FBI rookie infiltrates gang of surfer bank robbers), this film could easily have been… More
  Kathryn Bigelow's "Point Break," is a movie some of my friends ridicule due to the fact that it is so high on my list of the best action films. Conceptually a "B" movie (FBI rookie infiltrates gang of surfer bank robbers), this film could easily have been dismissed as an action-thriller among the likes of "Lethal Weapon" or "Die Hard." But I have a hard time finding a movie that matches this film's serenity and luster, which ultimately defines the spell under which special agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves) falls after meeting surfer Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). They say there's something about surfing unlike anything in the world. And there's a reason why people get up at 5am each day to hit the waves before the tourists show up. There's something magical about the ocean's power, something transcendent about reaching a harmony with its rhythms, which Bodhi describes as a "spiritual side" of it (that nazi surf punks like Anthony Kiedis fail to understand). Go watch "Endless Summer" and see men in their 50s abandoning careers and material possessions traveling the world in search of the perfect wave. This is what Utah is seduced by, a blend of adrenaline and total clarity that Bodhi embodies and by which he leads his minions into the "rush" of armed robbery. At several moments in the film, we too can imagine ourselves picking up a surfboard or jumping out of a plane, even if normally we'd consider ourselves too cowardly to do so. "Point Break" features relentless stunt sequences arguably unmatched since its 1991 release-- and best of all, it mounts them one after another until its jaw-dropping climax. The raid on the meth house with a sequence involving a knife and lawnmower, the (already-mentioned) chase through Venice Beach including narrow alleyways and literally breaking through private residences, and a leap with no parachute out of a cessna over the Ensenada desert-- they're just highlights. Those don't even include the surf sequences, beginning at Leo Carrillo with Utah first learning how to pop up, on to the haunting final scene with Bodhi vanishing into a 70-footer on Bells Beach, Australia. Director Bigelow, who began her career as a painter, clearly places a high emphasis on visual appeal, rarely leaving a shot without some majesty to it. Meanwhile, in the context of California beach culture, Reeves and Swayze (and even Lori Petty) are perfectly cast, while Gary Busey has some of the best moments of his career as Utah's older, energetic partner Angelo Pappas. Universal Pictures essentially remade this movie for the post-millennium audience as "The Fast and the Furious," with Paul Walker in the Utah role and Vin Diesel in the Bodhi role. And that film was precisely what I mentioned earlier "Point Break" could've been-- an adequately entertaining action thriller among the likes of "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard." But street racing,, lacks the spellbinding serenity of surfing. Driving at speeds of 120mph can get you a rush, but there's no feeling of the earth, no spiritual harmony, no lucidity in one's existence. I seen this film when it was first released, in a summer when "Terminator 2" was all the rage at the theaters. It wasn't a huge hit at the time but was one of those films that later became came with the tag line "I can't believe I didn't see this in the theater!" among all of my friends. To sum up here Point Break is a non-Oscar-aspiring action film able to jolt adrenaline in viewers at a purely visceral level from its frenetic sensory experience. Highly recommended

• Lewis C

  
  Point Break is one of the few "surfing" movies that I've seen, and it is definitely pretty far out there. Sure, some of it doesn't make any sense, but it's really just an excuse to see some stunts and some surfing. An Oscar-worthy screenplay isn't exactly… More
  Point Break is one of the few "surfing" movies that I've seen, and it is definitely pretty far out there. Sure, some of it doesn't make any sense, but it's really just an excuse to see some stunts and some surfing. An Oscar-worthy screenplay isn't exactly a requirement for that. After seeing it, I can now say that young Keanu and present day Keanu have the same amount of acting ability. I can also say that I've seen Gary Busey in something besides Entourage. Add in the hilarious "shooting in the air and screaming" scene, and you've got a 3 star movie.

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