The Lookout

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The Lookout

R

2007

1h 38m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

164 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a star athlete, has the world at his feet. Then a devastating car accident leaves him with brain damage and his bright future dimmed. He takes a job as a bank janitor and must write everything down in a small notepad in order to remember. Some former schoolmates lure Chris into their inner circle and rope him into helping them carry out a heist at the bank.

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Critics Consensus

The Lookout is a genuinely suspenseful and affecting noir due to the great ensemble cast and their complex, realistic characters.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Nov 2, 2007

3/5

The Lookout is a well made psychological thriller which only disappoints with its ending.

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Nov 2, 2007

It's a pity Frank is too busy laying on the wintry atmospherics to make the story grip as it should.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Nov 2, 2007

4/5

A cracking armed-robbery thriller.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 20, 2025

3/5

The heist plot's cleverness and preparation is still its strength.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Feb 24, 2021

4/5

...unexpectedly menacing and with a palpable tension throughout...

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Nov 26, 2020

5/10

There are too many loopholes in the storyline and an undefined set of rules regarding the main character's brain damage, which generate more aggravation than satisfaction.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 19, 2025

It's unfortunately forgettable. I didn't really "like" it per say, but still worth a watch.

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Marshall C.

@itsjustgeorge Jul 8, 2025

I Joseph Gordon-Loved it.

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Peter P

@HonestandTruthfulReviewsfrommyFoxhole Jun 10, 2025

wow. 5 stars. phenomenal plot, acting, plot progression, storyline, directing, everything. loved it. what a journey.

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Apr 10, 2025

Strong story, stark setting, and invested performances. Really good film.

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Jeremy A

@RT36671323 Nov 15, 2024

Great little flick. 4*

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KB B

@Okbullard Jun 9, 2024

This was such a compelling film with exceptional acting and storyline. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jeff Daniels were both exceptional as usual. It's definitely worth the watch.

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Scott Frank

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Chris

Jeff Daniels

Lewis Canfield

Carla Gugino

Janet

Matthew Goode

Gary

Isla Fisher

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Synopsis

Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a star athlete, has the world at his feet. Then a devastating car accident leaves him with brain damage and his bright future dimmed. He takes a job as a bank janitor and must write everything down in a small notepad in order to remember. Some former schoolmates lure Chris into their inner circle and rope him into helping them carry out a heist at the bank.

Director: Scott Frank
Producer: Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Laurence Mark, Walter F. Parkes
Screenwriter: Scott Frank
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Parkes/MacDonald Image Nation, Miramax Films, Laurence Mark Productions, Spyglass Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 30, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.6M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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