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Crash

Crash

In L.A., there are no accidents

2008–2009Ended2 seasons26 episodes~60 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

Crash is an American television drama series that tells the story of how the lives of how several very diverse Southern Californians intersect.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Crash?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Crash streaming on Lionsgate+ via Prime Video, MovieSphere+ via Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Crash?

Crash earns 2 badges, led by Interlocking stories and Preferred by Non-US Viewers.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Crash worth watching?

Crash's Midcredits score is the 30th percentile of all shows, from 1.8K ratings across 2 sources. 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

30th percentile

Better received than 30% of shows

25th percentile among Drama26th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)21st
Approval (how many liked it)42nd

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

63 /100

21st percentile of all shows

17th percentile among Drama19th percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Big peaks at both ends — people either love this or bounce off it hard.

Approval

How many liked it

66% liked it

42nd percentile of all shows

35th percentile among Drama37th percentile among 2000s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

62nd percentile

1.8K ratings across platforms

53rd percentile among Drama55th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show is a multi-strand LA ensemble drama trading on its Oscar-winning film title but operating as a slower, sexier cable series.

Fans praised

  • strong ensemble cast across both seasons
  • intertwined storytelling like Short Cuts or Mulholland Dr.
  • first season's intricate writing and character connections

Detractors panned

  • telenovela-style sex-and-betrayal soap opera
  • second season dropped plots and became amateurish
  • slow pacing compared to the film's rhythm and intensity

What stands out

ActingDivisive64

Dennis Hopper lauded as anchor by fans, called hilariously over-the-top by detractors; cast praised overall by fans

Atmosphere60

captures a Lynchian magical feel of Los Angeles

Emotional impact45

hook of intertwined lives creates some emotional engagement

Plot and storyDivisive40

intertwined stories praised in season 1, but second season lost coherence and dropped arcs

PacingDivisive35

slow and spaced out; detractors found it sluggish compared to film

Originality30

derivative of the film and other multi-strand LA dramas; telenovela formula noted

Ending20

unresolved cliffhanger left fans unsatisfied

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 10 points higher than US viewers.

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2009 · 13 episodes

  • S2E1
    S2E1

    You Set the Scene

    Sep 18, 200943 min
  • S2E2
    S2E2

    Always See Your Face

    Sep 25, 200943 min
  • S2E3
    S2E3

    The World's a Mess, It's in My Kiss

    Oct 2, 200943 min
  • S2E4
    S2E4

    Can't Explain

    Oct 9, 200943 min
  • S2E5
    S2E5

    You, I'll Be Following

    Oct 16, 200943 min
  • S2E6
    S2E6

    No Matter What You Do

    Oct 30, 200943 min

Watch experience

What is Crash like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholicContemplative
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Melodramatic · 9% of shows: Heightened emotion, played large.Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Hyperlink · under 1% of shows: Separate storylines that intersect by coincidence.SerializedOne continuous story
TonePlayed straight, with dramatic intensity leavened by wry humour and a knowingly melodramatic flair.
The rideThe series sustains a tense, brooding atmosphere across its run, with emotional peaks in confrontations and personal crises spread throughout.
StructureThe series intercuts several separate storylines that cross and overlap, a central storytelling device.
Episode formatThe series continues a cohesive narrative across seasons, following the interconnected lives of its characters.
Season formatBoth seasons continue the same overarching story and character arcs, building on the themes and conflicts established in the first season.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe unresolved cliffhanger and dropped storylines leave a bittersweet aftertaste, while the racial tensions linger and provoke reflection.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeAn ensemble drama weaving multiple storylines of characters in Los Angeles, with no singular protagonist journey fitting a clear plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfPrejudiceSociety
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% · Isolation 3% (this title) · Prejudice 2% (this title) · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

Prejudice · 2% of showsIsolation · 3% of showsJustice · 14% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores how racial and social prejudice shapes interactions, fuels conflict, and isolates individuals across different communities in Los Angeles.
StanceThe show critically examines racial prejudice in Los Angeles, presenting it as a pervasive, unresolved social problem without offering easy answers.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingThe racially charged, interconnected neighborhoods of contemporary Los Angeles.

Content guide

Is Crash okay for kids?

TV-MA

Crash is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (78/100), sexual content at intense (67/100), language at severe (89/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (78/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • Canada18+
  • Germany16
  • France18
  • Brazil16
  • Austria16
  • MexicoA
  • Portugal12AP
  • Spain13
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Intense
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Profanity
Severe
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (18 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

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

What content warnings does Crash have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Crash?

Cast

Dennis Hopper
as Ben Cendars
Moran Atias
as Inez
Ross McCall
as Kenny Battaglia
Jocko Sims
as Anthony Adams
Dana Ashbrook
as Jimmy
Clare Carey
as Christine Emory
Luis Chávez
as Cesar Uman
Jake McLaughlin
as Bo
Linda Park
as Maggie Cheon
Nick E. Tarabay
as Axel Finet

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