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The Rock

The Rock

Alcatraz. Only one man has ever broken out. Now five million lives depend on two men breaking in.

1996136 minRMidcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Director
Michael Bay
Starring
Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, John Spencer

When vengeful General Francis X. Hummel seizes control of Alcatraz Island and threatens to launch missiles loaded with deadly chemical weapons into San Francisco, only a young FBI chemical weapons expert and notorious Federal prisoner have the skills to penetrate the impregnable island fortress and take him down.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Rock?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Rock streaming on Disney+ and Peacock and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about The Rock?

The Rock earns 13 badges, led by Top 5% in Action and Top 10% of films.

Show 5 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Rock worth watching?

The Rock's Midcredits score is the 90th percentile of all films, from 601K ratings across 6 sources. 81% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

90th percentile

Better received than 90% of films

95th percentile among Action91st percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)86th
Approval (how many liked it)91st

73 /100

86th percentile of all films

94th percentile among Action89th percentile among 1990s

Critics 58 · Audience 74

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.5 — solid but not unanimous.

81% liked it

91st percentile of all films

94th percentile among Action92nd percentile among 1990s
81% rated it 7–1019% rated it 1–6

Critics 76% · Audience 85%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of audiences approved than critics.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 1 Oscar noms · 7 wins / 10 noms overall

  • NominatedAcademy Awards· Best Sound

98th percentile

601K ratings across platforms

96th percentile among Action98th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$75M
Opening weekend$25M
Domestic gross$134M
Worldwide gross$335M

Returned 4.5× its budget — 94th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree it delivers big-budget action spectacle and strong performances, even if opinions split on the story's logic and originality.

Fans praised

  • standout cast chemistry led by Connery and Cage
  • propulsive action and explosive set pieces keep momentum
  • composer score adds to suspenseful atmosphere

Detractors panned

  • plot holes and laughable logic undermine credibility
  • overlong and formulaic 90s action clichés
  • where's the surprise, suspense, and character depth?

What stands out

Acting85

connery and cage shine, strong ensemble support

Effects and spectacle85

explosive set pieces and action sequences

TensionDivisive80

suspenseful sequences, keeps audience engaged

AtmosphereDivisive75

immersive Alcatraz setting and tone

PacingDivisive70

fast-moving, few dull moments, but overlong

CharactersDivisive60

depth in leads, especially Ed Harris's general

Plot and storyDivisive45

clever twists but full of holes, defies logic

Originality30

derivative 90s action formula

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 14 points higher than women.

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 10 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Critics vs users 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Rock like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Fun ride: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want a fun ride.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Fun ride.

The answer rests on this: Moods
ThrillingTenseAbsurd
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsExuberant · 2% of films: Bursting with energy and joy in its own filmmaking.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film balances high-stakes action with self-aware humor, played with earnest intensity and a sense of fun.
The rideHigh-octane action sustains tension throughout, punctuated by absurd humour; the heaviest emotional weight lands in the climax with Hummel's death and the airstrike.
StructureThe story unfolds in a straightforward chronological sequence from setup to infiltration to climax and resolution.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Entertained.

The answer rests on this: FunRousing · 10% of films
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you energized and grinning, with a triumphant sense of adventure and camaraderie.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA rogue general seizes Alcatraz and threatens San Francisco with chemical weapons; an unlikely duo must infiltrate and stop him, fitting the archetype of overcoming a human villain who controls the situation.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% (this title) · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% (this title) · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsRedemption · 6% of films: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Duty · 2% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film revolves around Hummel's sense of justice for his fallen soldiers, Goodspeed's duty to disarm the threat despite his inexperience, and Mason's quest for redemption and a second chance.
StanceThe film questions when righteous anger crosses into terrorism, and whether the system can provide justice; it neither fully condemns nor endorses Hummel's actions.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernForeground music · original score · Nick Glennie-Smith, Hans Zimmer
SettingAlcatraz Island prison and San Francisco environs
MusicIconic heroic theme that underscores the main title and key moments of triumph.

Content guide

Is The Rock okay for kids?

R

The Rock is rated R: “Rated R for strong violence, language and a sex scene” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (79/100), sexual content at moderate (40/100), language at severe (80/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (32/100) and frightening material at moderate (60/100). Overall it is heavier than 57% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14A
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland15
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil16
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK-16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary12
  • ItalyVM14
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • PortugalM/12
  • Spain18
  • Sweden15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 75% of all filmsHeavier than 57% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 64%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 37%
Profanity
Severe
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 73%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 23%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 44%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is language and violence. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Rock have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Rock?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Sean Connery
as John Patrick Mason
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Nicolas Cage
as Stanley Goodspeed
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ed Harris
as General Francis X. Hummel
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
John Spencer
as F.B.I. Director Womack
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.
David Morse
as Major Tom Baxter
William Forsythe
as Ernest Paxton
Michael Biehn
as Commander Anderson
Vanessa Marcil
as Carla Pestalozzi
First film: No prior film role; they had worked in television.
John C. McGinley
as Marine Captain Hendrix
Gregory Sporleder
as Captain Frye
Career best: Their highest-reaching film role by billing, audience size and rating.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Rock?

Movies like The Rock include Con Air (1997), Transformers (2007) and Half Past Dead (2002). Of the 12 closest matches, most are action comedies, and most are films about law enforcement.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Michael Bay directed 4 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

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What else shares a premise, people or place with The Rock?

386 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: soldier. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.