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Action thriller

Death Warrant (1990): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Death Warrant (1990) movie poster

Death Warrant is a 1990 action thriller directed by Deran Sarafian, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Cynthia Gibb and Art LaFleur. It runs 1 hour 29 minutes and earned $16.9 million worldwide. Critics gave it 34 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
worldwide gross
$16.9M
Metascore
34
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Death Warrant (1990) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 29m (89 min)
Director
Deran Sarafian
Genres
Action , Mystery , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Death Warrant About?

The premise of Death Warrant without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An undercover police officer infiltrates a maximum-security prison to expose corruption and violence within its walls. To survive, he must conceal his true identity and rely on his skills as a kickboxer to navigate the dangerous environment and protect himself from ruthless inmates and corrupt guards. The situation becomes increasingly perilous as he uncovers a complex network of deceit and brutality.

Death Warrant Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • prisoner
  • murder
  • jail
  • solitary confinement
  • prison guard
  • detective
  • showdown
  • investigation
  • sociopath
  • psychopath
  • foot chase
  • implied sex
+38 more
  • computer hacker
  • computer cracker
  • interrogation
  • deception
  • crossdresser
  • surveillance
  • firefighter
  • fire truck
  • garrote
  • laundromat
  • sadism
  • sadist
  • person on fire
  • organ harvesting
  • cover up
  • corrupt cop
  • police corruption
  • corrupt official
  • ethnic stereotype
  • stylized violence
  • prison warden
  • police detective
  • machismo
  • undercover cop
  • action hero
  • police brutality
  • prison brawl
  • prison fight
  • love interest
  • prison riot
  • burned alive
  • hand to hand combat
  • axe
  • ethnic conflict
  • undercover
  • fire
  • violence
  • tank top
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Cast & crew

Death Warrant Cast

Jean-Claude Van Damme leads the cast, with Cynthia Gibb and Art LaFleur. Directed by Deran Sarafian; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Deran Sarafian

More films directed by Deran Sarafian: Road Rage, Terminal Velocity, The Road Killers and Gunmen.

Full filmography
Ratings

Death Warrant Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Death Warrant 34 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

Plot

Death Warrant Plot Summary

What happens in Death Warrant from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As Detective Louis Burke (Jean-Claude Van Damme) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police hailing from Quebec plunges into the sinister world of crime, he soon encounters his most formidable foe yet— the enigmatic and malevolent “Sandman”, a psychopathic serial killer who left a lasting scar after brutally murdering his partner. Burke’s relentless pursuit of justice takes him to a desolate house in Los Angeles, where the air is thick with the foul stench of death. There, he comes face-to-face with a horrifying scene of bodies suspended from the ceiling, reminiscent of grotesque art. Just as his instincts kick into high gear, the Sandman launches a brutal assault, and Burke retaliates with remarkable precision, seemingly bringing the killer’s terror to an end.

Full summary

The whole story of Death Warrant, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Death Warrant Box Office

Death Warrant grossed $16.9 million worldwide.

1990 box office

Worldwide gross

$16.9M

US & Canada
$16.9M
Videos

Death Warrant Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 1 trailer and 4 clips.

Official Trailer
  • Clip Louis Goes To Prison
  • Clip The Records Room
  • Clip Laundry Room Fight
  • Clip Prison Escape
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Death Warrant?

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

What role does Detective Louis Burke hold?

Cars

Cars in Death Warrant

7 cars on screen, including the 1988 BMW 325i Cabrio E30 and the Chevrolet Chevy Van.

All 7 cars
  • 1988 BMW 325i Cabrio E30 in Death Warrant 1988 BMW 325i Cabrio E30 Minor role
  • Chevrolet Chevy Van in Death Warrant Chevrolet Chevy Van Minor role
  • 1973 Ford B-Series in Death Warrant 1973 Ford B-Series Minor role
  • 1981 Chevrolet Impala in Death Warrant 1981 Chevrolet Impala Background role
Details

Death Warrant Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “Mandat d'exécution” and “Libertad para morir”.

Also known as
  • Mandat d'exécution
  • Libertad para morir
  • Ölüm Emri
  • Yeraltı Savaşı
  • Mit staehlerner Faust
  • ブルージーン・コップ
  • Mit stählerner Faust
  • Coups pour coups
  • Colpi proibiti
  • Ордер на смерть
  • Börtöncsapda
  • Van Damme - Implacável
+15 more
  • Wykonać Wyrok
  • Smrtící zatykač
  • Εντολή Θανάτου
  • בשליחות החוק
  • Garantia de Morte
  • Condamnarea la moarte
  • Cellat
  • Смъртна присъда
  • 지옥의 반담
  • 地下特警
  • Príkaz na popravu
  • Sentencia De Muerte
  • حکم مرگ
  • Mirties nuosprendis
  • หมายจับสั่งตาย

Seen Death Warrant?

FAQ

Death Warrant FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is Death Warrant?

Death Warrant runs 1 hour 29 minutes (89 minutes).

When was Death Warrant released?

Death Warrant was released on September 14, 1990.

Who directed Death Warrant?

Death Warrant was directed by Deran Sarafian.

More films by Deran Sarafian

Who is in the cast of Death Warrant?

Death Warrant stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Cynthia Gibb and Art LaFleur, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Death Warrant make at the box office?

Death Warrant grossed $16.9 million worldwide.

How is Death Warrant rated?

Death Warrant has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 34 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.

Does Death Warrant have a post-credit scene?

No. Death Warrant has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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