Training Day

Name: Training Day
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: October 5, 2001
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke

2001

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 459 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 459 Ratings

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Training Day

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: October 5, 2001 | R

Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke

Summary: A police drama about a veteran officer (Denzel Washington) who escorts a rookie (Ethan Hawke) on his first day with the LAPD's tough inner-city narcotics unit. [Warner Bros.]

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 122 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

It’s fair to say Washington has never quite topped this performance. It’s an unparalleled treat to watch him messing with the bewildered Hoyt at their first meeting at a diner, and then to watch the two men striding out to the car, filmed from a low camera angle. It is all thrillingly ominous. Read full review

David Denby

Trashy and opportunistic as some of it is, Training Day is the most vital police drama since "The French Connection" or "Serpico."

Joe Morgenstern

Training Day can be simplistic, formulaic and absurdly melodramatic -- but Mr. Washington is flat-out great.

Roger Ebert

So extreme is his mad dog behavior, indeed, that it shades over into humor: Washington seems to enjoy a performance that's over the top and down the other side. Read full review

Bob Graham

It is so propulsive so much of the time, it almost looks as if it's going to go the distance. If Washington & Co. don't quite manage to bring it home, the getting there sure is something. Read full review

Carrie Rickey

Training Day has the best performances and worst third act of any movie you're likely to see this year. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

A blandly twisting plot with no meaningful revelations or substantial themes. Read full review

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User Reviews

Hippopotamus94

May 19, 2021

⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙⊙
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thegodfatherson

Mar 28, 2013

Training Day is absolutely one of the best gangster movies ever made, from acting to story it's perfect. Denzel and Ethan are both great in this cat and mice chase filled with thrills. The film is totally fresh with absorbing lore in all of its dynamics and suspense. The film targets manyTraining Day is absolutely one of the best gangster movies ever made, from acting to story it's perfect. Denzel and Ethan are both great in this cat and mice chase filled with thrills. The film is totally fresh with absorbing lore in all of its dynamics and suspense. The film targets many perspectives of New York deep down dirty gangs and director Antoine Fuqua has made his subject very detailed. The Best Gangster Film since The Godfather.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

TheChaser1985

Mar 18, 2011

One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Awesome story, perfect acting. Denzel Washington is my favorite actor and Hawke did great too. Lots of quotable lines in this movie.

12 of 13 users found this helpful121

bfoore90

May 28, 2020

Easily one of the best cop dramas there is. Denzel eats the screen as the charismatic but unhinged Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as almost parallel of Harris in Jake Hoyt, the wide-eyed rookie who has no idea what he's getting into. A film that tugs at your morality, keen-fully displayingEasily one of the best cop dramas there is. Denzel eats the screen as the charismatic but unhinged Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as almost parallel of Harris in Jake Hoyt, the wide-eyed rookie who has no idea what he's getting into. A film that tugs at your morality, keen-fully displaying both sides of the moral coin and the presence of deception in the midst of trustworthiness, where justice prevails and injustice fails.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Nolanjones7

Aug 2, 2011

Grit and power in its finest form in a police tale is exemplified in Antoine Fuqua's Training Day. Never has the line between right and wrong on the streets of LA been more poetic and indulging. Denzel Washington is captivating in his role as Alonzo the mesmerising hard faced detectiveGrit and power in its finest form in a police tale is exemplified in Antoine Fuqua's Training Day. Never has the line between right and wrong on the streets of LA been more poetic and indulging. Denzel Washington is captivating in his role as Alonzo the mesmerising hard faced detective willing to go to unsettling methods to reign in the narcotics line bulging through the drug dominated neighborhoods our protagonists drive through. Ethan Hawke is also perfectly cast and a first day on the job trails for Washington's unit. His upstanding ethos twinned with his Innocent damaged gaze gives the two leads their Shakespearean explosiveness and appeal. Fuqua's real triumph however dwells in his shooting of an authentic LA. The city being the muse and center of the film. The real people , the culture and the threat of their lives are entangled in our characters story. A massive step forward in film making. You have never seen anything like this before. Enthralling entertainment.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

will2econd

Apr 14, 2017

A film that displays the tug-of-war of morality and the presence of deception in the midst of trustworthiness, where justice prevails and injustice fails.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HugoB

Feb 3, 2008

Although the two central characters can hold the film, the rest falls by the wayside.

0 of 4 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 43 REVIEWS

87	#87 Best Movie of 2001
27	#27 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
13	#13 Most Shared Movie of 2001