# John Q

> 2002 film directed by Nick Cassavetes

**Wikidata**: [Q1141457](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1141457)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Q.)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-q

## Summary
John Q is a 2002 American crime drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes. The film stars Denzel Washington as a father who takes a hospital emergency room hostage to secure a heart transplant for his dying son.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Nick Cassavetes
- Released in 2002
- Genre: Crime drama
- IMDb ID: tt0251160
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 26%
- Metacritic score: 30/100
- Runtime: 112 minutes
- Production companies: New Line Cinema, Burg/Koules Productions
- Country of origin: United States
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 37
- Wikidata description: "2002 film directed by Nick Cassavetes"

## FAQs
**What is the plot of John Q?**
John Q follows John Quincy Archibald, a factory worker whose son is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and needs a transplant. When his insurance won't cover the procedure and he can't afford it, John takes the emergency room hostage to force the hospital to perform the surgery.

**Who stars in John Q?**
Denzel Washington plays the titular role of John Quincy Archibald. The cast also includes Robert Duvall as a veteran police negotiator, James Woods as a heart surgeon, and Anne Heche as the hospital administrator.

**What themes does John Q explore?**
The film explores themes of healthcare access, insurance bureaucracy, parental desperation, and social inequality in the American medical system. It raises questions about the ethics of healthcare as a business versus a human right.

**How was John Q received by critics?**
John Q received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 26% approval rating, with critics praising Denzel Washington's performance but criticizing the film's heavy-handed approach to its social message.

## Why It Matters
John Q matters as a dramatic exploration of the American healthcare crisis that resonated with audiences during a time of intense debate about medical access and insurance reform. The film brought attention to the real-world struggles of families facing catastrophic medical costs and the limitations of insurance coverage. By presenting a morally complex scenario where a desperate father takes extreme action, it sparked conversations about the ethics of healthcare as a commodity versus a fundamental right. The film's commercial success demonstrated public appetite for socially conscious entertainment that addresses systemic issues, while Denzel Washington's powerful performance anchored the emotional core of the story.

## Notable For
- Denzel Washington's critically acclaimed lead performance
- Its controversial portrayal of healthcare system failures
- Sparking public debate about medical insurance and access
- Being one of the few mainstream films to directly address healthcare inequality
- Its dramatic hostage scenario as a metaphor for systemic medical injustice
- Commercial success despite mixed critical reception
- Its release timing during debates about healthcare reform in the United States

## Body
### Production and Release
John Q was produced by New Line Cinema, an American film studio founded in 1967 and headquartered in the United States. The film was released in 2002, with a runtime of 112 minutes. It was directed by Nick Cassavetes, known for his work on films that often explore complex emotional and social issues.

### Critical Reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 26% approval rating, while Metacritic gives it a score of 30 out of 100. Despite the lukewarm critical reception, the film found an audience and sparked significant discussion about its themes.

### Cast and Performances
Denzel Washington stars as John Quincy Archibald, delivering a powerful performance as a desperate father. The supporting cast includes Robert Duvall as a veteran police negotiator, James Woods as a heart surgeon, and Anne Heche as the hospital administrator. The performances were generally praised, particularly Washington's portrayal of a man pushed to extremes by circumstances beyond his control.

### Themes and Social Commentary
John Q explores the American healthcare system's failures, focusing on insurance bureaucracy, medical access inequality, and the desperation of families facing catastrophic medical costs. The film presents a morally complex scenario where a father's love drives him to take extreme action, raising questions about the ethics of healthcare as a business versus a human right.

### Cultural Impact
The film resonated with audiences during a time of intense debate about healthcare reform in the United States. It brought attention to the real-world struggles of families facing medical bankruptcy and insurance denials. John Q became part of the cultural conversation about healthcare access, contributing to ongoing discussions about medical reform and insurance policy.

### Genre Classification
John Q is classified as a crime drama, combining elements of thriller with social commentary. The crime element comes from the hostage situation, while the drama focuses on the emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by the characters. This genre blend allowed the film to reach a broad audience while addressing serious social issues.

### Distribution and Availability
The film has been distributed through various platforms and maintains a presence in film databases and streaming services. Its Wikipedia page has 37 sitelinks across different language editions, indicating its international reach and continued relevance in discussions about healthcare and social justice in cinema.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251160/)
2. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film181581.html)
3. [Source](http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/John-Q)
4. [Source](http://www.adorocinema.com/filmes/filme-28494/)
5. [Source](http://www.interfilmes.com/filme_12678_Um.Ato.de.Coragem-(John.Q).html)
6. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=28494.html)
7. [Source](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/john-q)
8. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251160/fullcredits)
9. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
10. The Movie Database
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Source](http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/259468/John-Q-/trailers)
13. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251160/releaseinfo)
14. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
15. Kinopoisk
16. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/john-q/)
17. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
18. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/104882)
19. Cineplex
20. Online-Filmdatenbank
21. [Source](https://sede.mcu.gob.es/webicaa/Ficheros/118301/34/118301/1/209.pdf)
22. mymovies.it
23. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/0535-245E-8D04-468D-9AAB-W)
24. Trakt.tv
25. FilmVandaag.nl