The Pledge

The Pledge (2001)

  • 78% of critics liked it
    (120 reviews)

  • 55% of users liked it
    (20,487 ratings)

Sean Penn directed this tense drama of loyalty, honor, and obsession, based on a novel by Friedrich Durrenmatt. Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) is a veteran police detective who lives and works in a small Nevada town. On the day of his retirement, it falls to Jerry to handle an especially unpleasant… More

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R, 2 hr. 4 min.
Directed By
Sean Penn
Written By
Jerzy Kromolowski, Mary Olson-Kromolowski, Sean Penn
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
In Theaters
Jan 19, 2001 Wide
On DVD
Jun 19, 2001
Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

    Mystery-thriller buffs, promise yourselves that you'll see The Pledge. And while you're at it, be sure to invite along Jack Nicholson fans and anyone who saw the first two movies that Sean Penn directed.

  • Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

    Penn can't be faulted for his work with the actors. Most of the featured players have only a scene or two, but they're indelible.

  • Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

    Ultimately, the payoffs just aren't there, either psychologically or dramatically.

  • Joel Siegel, Good Morning America

    This is one of Nicholson's finest performances and that's saying one hell of a lot.

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    A fierce, fragmented, downbeat film.

Read all 11 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Melvin W


    This is Sean Penn's masterpiece. He has made other really good movies like The Indian Runner and Into The Wild, but this is easily his best. The cast is amazing with possibly the best two roles coming from Mickey Rourke and Benicio Del Toro who both have very little screen time.… More

  • ♥˩ƳИИ &


    Cast: Jack Nicholson, Dale Dickey, Benicio Del Toro, Aaron Eckhart, Helen Mirren, Tom Noonan, Robin Wright Penn, Vanessa Redgrave, Mickey Rourke, Sam Shepard, Lois Smith, Harry Dean Stanton, Costas Mandylor, Michael O'Keefe, Eileen Ryan, Patricia Clarkson Director: Sean Penn… More

  • Dan S


    A solid, well-aimed look at a cop (Jack Nicholson) who is finding it hard to enjoy retirement after a case that popped up on the evening of his last day made him pledge to the family of a murdered child that he would find her killer. While this movie isn't anything spectacular… More

  • Jens S


    Inspired by Friedrich Dürrenmatt's story that already triggered a couple of good German adaptations of the murder hunt, this is Hollywood's take on it. Not only does it focus on the search for a child murderer but also the grieve the families have to deal with after losing a… More

  • Conner R


    Eerie and suspenseful. Jack Nicholson goes down a path of duty into obsession. It's very original and unconventional, which was refreshing. Great early performance from Aaron Eckhart and Benicio Del Toro at his creepiest.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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