John Q. Archibald is an ordinary man who works at a factory and takes care of his family. His wife Denise and young son Michael are his world.

But when Michael falls seriously ill and needs an emergency heart transplant operation that John Q. can't afford and his health insurance won't cover, he vows to do whatever it will take to keep his son alive. With time and options running out, a desperate gamble becomes his only hope he takes the emergency room hostage.

As John Q. barricades himself inside the hospital along with his unwitting group of emergency room hostages, many of them in need of medical care themselves, he faces off with a veteran police hostage negotiator and a quick-tempered police chief who both want to bring a swift end to the stand-off.

Directed by
Nick Cassavetes

Cast
Denzel Washington - John Quincy Archibald
Robert Duvall - Lieutenant Frank Grimes
Kimberly Elise - Denise Archibald
Anne Heche - Rebecca Payne
James Woods - Doctor Raymond Turner
Eddie Griffin - Lester
Ray Liotta - Chief Monroe
Paul Johansson - Tuck Lampley
Ethan Suplee - Max
Shawn Hatosy - Mitch

Production Co.
Evolution Management

Produced by
Michael de Luca
Richard Saperstein
Avram Kaplan

Studio
New Line Records

Writer
Frederick H Stahly
Jim Kearns
James Kearn

Music
Aaron Zigman