Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Action thriller

21 Bridges (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

21 Bridges (2019) movie poster

21 Bridges is a 2019 action thriller directed by Brian Kirk, starring Chadwick Boseman as Andre Davis, Stephan James and Taylor Kitsch. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $49.9 million worldwide on a $33 million budget. Critics gave it 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10.

IMDb rating
6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes
55%
worldwide gross
$49.9M
Echo Score
67
Loading streaming availability…
21 Bridges (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 39m (99 min)
Director
Brian Kirk
Genres
Action , Drama , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$33M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is 21 Bridges About?

The premise of 21 Bridges without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

An NYPD detective, haunted by his past, leads a citywide manhunt for two suspects wanted for the murder of eight officers. As the chase intensifies, the detective and his partner close all 21 bridges connecting Manhattan to the mainland, effectively trapping everyone on the island. He soon uncovers a deeper conspiracy that puts him at odds with his colleagues and forces him to question everything he thought he knew.

21 Bridges Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • detective
  • police
  • nightclub
  • shootout
  • chase
  • police chase
  • fugitive
  • subway
  • murder
  • showdown
  • drugs
  • conspiracy
+38 more
  • corruption
  • police officer
  • new york city
  • neo noir
  • police detective
  • police officer ambushed
  • police shootout
  • police massacre
  • revelation
  • reverse footage
  • suspense
  • cat and mouse
  • manhunt
  • no opening credits
  • no title at beginning
  • title at the end
  • flash forward
  • gunfight
  • on the run
  • street shootout
  • gun battle
  • foot chase
  • one day timespan
  • one night timespan
  • night
  • lockdown
  • die hard scenario
  • race against time
  • time limit
  • near death experience
  • urban setting
  • manhattan new york city
  • brooklyn new york city
  • grand central station manhattan new york city
  • new york city skyline
  • brooklyn bridge
  • bridge
  • subway station
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

21 Bridges Cast & Characters

Chadwick Boseman leads the cast as Andre Davis, with Stephan James as Michael and Taylor Kitsch as Ray. Directed by Brian Kirk; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Brian Kirk

More films directed by Brian Kirk, best-rated first: Dead of Winter, My Boy Jack and Middletown.

Full filmography
Ratings

21 Bridges Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave 21 Bridges 55% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.6/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in art & craft (75) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

67 /100

21 Bridges Echo Score Breakdown

In 21 Bridges, the film balances energetic pacing and solid technical execution with familiar narrative beats that limit its overall impact. The direction and editing are consistently assured, offering clear visual storytelling and measured suspense. Chadwick Boseman’s presence anchors the drama, though supporting roles and plot developments feel underexplored and predictable. While the sensory elements and action sequences maintain interest, the lack of nuanced character arcs and originality tempers the lasting impression. Overall, 21 Bridges delivers an engaging, if conventional, thriller experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 75

    In terms of art and craft, 21 Bridges exhibits steady direction and precise editing that support the action-driven narrative. The cinematography favors clear framing over stylistic flourish, delivering consistent visual readability. Production design remains functional and unobtrusive, focusing on realistic urban settings. While the film lacks bold visual experimentation, its disciplined technical approach sustains momentum and clarity throughout.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When it comes to character and emotion, the film rests heavily on Chadwick Boseman’s committed performance, which brings necessary gravitas. Supporting roles receive limited development, resulting in thin emotional resonance beyond the protagonist. Chemistry between key figures is serviceable but rarely transcends basic archetypes. Despite strong anchoring by the lead, the overall character depth remains modest and somewhat underexplored.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, 21 Bridges follows a clear, action-focused structure with deliberate pacing that maintains forward movement. However, plot originality is constrained by predictable twists and familiar genre conventions. Engagement is sustained through urgent scenarios, yet occasional expository dialogue slows momentum. While the narrative delivers consistent thrills, its lack of unexpected developments and deeper complexity tempers overall impact.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When evaluating the sensory experience, the film offers a robust sound design and an engaging score that heighten tension during action sequences. Visual style prioritizes realism over stylization, resulting in straightforward, coherent imagery. Audio mixing emphasizes environmental and weapon sounds, reinforcing the gritty atmosphere. Although the sensory elements do not break new ground, they competently enhance the film’s immersive quality.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    As a rewatch factor, 21 Bridges presents solid action moments and a reliable central performance that may appeal on repeat viewings. Nevertheless, the familiarity of its plot twists and limited character exploration reduce long-term intrigue. Subsequent viewings deliver comparable thrills but little new discovery. Overall, the film offers moderate replay value, satisfying genre expectations without inspiring sustained revisits.

Plot

21 Bridges Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in 21 Bridges from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

A young man named Andre Davis (played by Chadwick Boseman) finds himself grappling with the painful legacy left behind by his father, a police officer who was tragically murdered while on duty. Years later, Andre rises through the ranks of the NYPD, becoming a formidable law enforcement officer known for his unwavering pursuit of “cop killers.” Despite his success, he remains troubled by the violent reputation he has earned, insisting that each of his actions was justified as self-defense.

Full summary

The whole story of 21 Bridges, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

21 Bridges Box Office & Budget

21 Bridges grossed $49.9 million worldwide on a $33 million budget, 1.5 times what it cost. $28.5 million came from the US and Canada and $21.4 million (43%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$49.9M

1.5× its budget

US & Canada
$28.5M
International
$21.4M
Budget
$33M
US & Canada 57% Rest of the world 43%
Videos

21 Bridges Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 2 trailers and 3 teasers.

21 Bridges | Official Trailer | Coming Soon to Theaters
  • Trailer 21 Bridges | Final Trailer | Now In Theaters
  • Teaser 21 Bridges | "Going Bad Cutdown" TV Commercial | Own it NOW on Digital HD, Blu-Ray & DVD
  • Teaser 21 Bridges | "Catch Cutdown" TV Commercial | Own it NOW on Digital HD, Blu-Ray & DVD
  • Teaser 21 Bridges | "Side Trigger" TV Commercial | Own it NOW on Digital HD, Blu-Ray & DVD
Quiz

How Well Do You Know 21 Bridges?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who is the main character in '21 Bridges'?

Cars

Cars in 21 Bridges

45 cars on screen, including the 2015 Dodge Charger and the 2007 BMW 3 E92.

All 45 cars
  • 2015 Dodge Charger in 21 Bridges 2015 Dodge Charger Main role
  • 2007 BMW 3 E92 in 21 Bridges 2007 BMW 3 E92 Important role
  • 2007 Lincoln Navigator in 21 Bridges 2007 Lincoln Navigator Important role
  • 2006 Chevrolet Impala in 21 Bridges 2006 Chevrolet Impala Minor role
Details

21 Bridges Also Known As

37 alternative titles, including “17 Bridges” and “21 브릿지-테러 셧다운”.

Also known as
  • 17 Bridges
  • 21 브릿지-테러 셧다운
  • Nueva York sin salida
  • MANHATTAN LOCKDOWN
  • Manhattan sin salida
  • 21 Bridges (2019)
  • 21 Bridges - Jagd durch Manhattan
  • 21 Köprü
  • 21 моста
  • 21 브릿지: 테러 셧다운
  • 21 міст
  • 21 мост
+25 more
  • Crime Sem Saída
  • 21 híd
  • Poursuite sous pression
  • 21 Γέφυρες
  • 暴走曼哈頓
  • 21 tilts
  • 21 tiltas
  • 21 silda
  • 21 Cây Cầu
  • City of Crime
  • 21 גשרים
  • 21 Mostów
  • 21 Pontes
  • 21 mostov
  • 21ブリッジ
  • 21 Mostů
  • 21座桥
  • เผด็จศึกยึดนิวยอร์ก
  • 21 de poduri
  • 21 ხიდი
  • 曼克頓封暴
  • ۲۱ پل
  • ٢١ جسر
  • 21 most
  • 21 ponts

Seen 21 Bridges?

FAQ

21 Bridges FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of 21 Bridges, each answered in a sentence.

How long is 21 Bridges?

21 Bridges runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).

When was 21 Bridges released?

21 Bridges was released on November 22, 2019.

Who directed 21 Bridges?

21 Bridges was directed by Brian Kirk.

More films by Brian Kirk

Who is in the cast of 21 Bridges?

21 Bridges stars Chadwick Boseman as Andre Davis, Stephan James as Michael and Taylor Kitsch as Ray, among 18 credited actors.

How much did 21 Bridges make at the box office?

21 Bridges grossed $49.9 million worldwide ($28.5 million domestic, $21.4 million international) on a budget of $33 million.

How is 21 Bridges rated?

21 Bridges has 6.6/10 on IMDb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.

Does 21 Bridges have a post-credit scene?

No. 21 Bridges has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app