Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
IMDbPro

Suicide by Cop

  • 2024
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
50
YOUR RATING
Vernon Wells in Suicide by Cop (2024)
Thriller

Jim Smith (Vernon Wells) was the pride of the precinct, a heroic cop who'd saved lives over and over. But when he awakens in purgatory, he's stuck and the only way out is by convincing Sgt. ... Read allJim Smith (Vernon Wells) was the pride of the precinct, a heroic cop who'd saved lives over and over. But when he awakens in purgatory, he's stuck and the only way out is by convincing Sgt. Yeshua that his life deserves to be finished. As they re-watch the evidence of his life, a... Read allJim Smith (Vernon Wells) was the pride of the precinct, a heroic cop who'd saved lives over and over. But when he awakens in purgatory, he's stuck and the only way out is by convincing Sgt. Yeshua that his life deserves to be finished. As they re-watch the evidence of his life, analyzing each choice and each fact put before them his glories, his faith and his flaws ar... Read all

  • Director
    • Eric Rafael Ibarra
  • Writer
    • Pete Bollinger
  • Stars
    • Vernon Wells
    • Mariano 'Big Dawg' Mendoza
    • Joe Finfera
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.2/10
    50
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Eric Rafael Ibarra
    • Writer
      • Pete Bollinger
    • Stars
      • Vernon Wells
      • Mariano 'Big Dawg' Mendoza
      • Joe Finfera
    • 16User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos29

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 24
    View Poster

    Top cast29

    Edit
    Vernon Wells
    Vernon Wells
    • Jim Smith
    Mariano 'Big Dawg' Mendoza
    Mariano 'Big Dawg' Mendoza
    • Officer Mendoza
    Joe Finfera
    Joe Finfera
    • Scared Officer
    Tom McLaren
    Tom McLaren
    • Bobby
    Brian Eric Johnson
    Brian Eric Johnson
    • Freddy Garcia
    Lou Pizarro
    Lou Pizarro
    • Detective Miguel
    Michael Anthony Perez
    Michael Anthony Perez
    • Officer Perez
    Vince Romo
    • Vince
    Vincent Rivera
    Vincent Rivera
    • Doctor Johnson
    Mark Krenik
    Mark Krenik
    • Angel Mark
    Anna Kabis
    • Young Kassidy
    Donald DeNoyer
    • Lt. Don
    Ronnie Alvarez
    Ronnie Alvarez
    • Sgt. Yeshua
    Eric Reingrover
    Eric Reingrover
    • Saint Peter
    Joe A. Castro Jr.
    Joe A. Castro Jr.
    • Shot Caller Big Joker
    Wilfred Lopez
    • Officer Torres
    Chuck Saale
    • Chuck Sally
    Anna Colona
    Anna Colona
    • Nurse Kassidy
    • Director
      • Eric Rafael Ibarra
    • Writer
      • Pete Bollinger
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    9.250
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10Zaki-54

    A Masterclass in Tension and Tragedy

    Suicide by Cop builds unbearable tension from its opening frames, leading to an inevitable yet shocking conclusion. The film's greatest strength is its psychological realism - every decision feels tragically plausible, every interaction crackles with dangerous energy. Cinematography uses tight close-ups and shaky camerawork to put us directly in the protagonist's deteriorating mental state. What could have been exploitative instead becomes a profound meditation on despair and the systems that fail those in crisis. The final moments will leave you emotionally wrecked, questioning how society handles mental health emergencies. This is important, challenging cinema at its finest.
    10Danish-192

    A Heartbreaking Portrait of Systemic Failure

    Suicide by Cop exposes how multiple systems - mental healthcare, law enforcement, social services - can fail those in crisis. The film's brilliance lies in its even-handed approach, assigning blame to circumstances rather than individuals. The protagonist's journey is portrayed with heartbreaking authenticity, his pain visible in every frame. Police characters are equally well-drawn, showing the human cost of these encounters for all involved. The direction creates unbearable tension without resorting to manipulation, letting the tragedy unfold with devastating realism. By the final moments, you'll be left with profound questions about how society handles mental health emergencies. This is cinema as social commentary at its most powerful.
    10Arslans-01

    Emotional Dynamite With a Slow Burn Fuse

    Suicide by Cop builds its tragedy methodically, making the inevitable conclusion all the more devastating. The film's power comes from its intimate focus on one man's unraveling, showing how isolation and despair can lead to unthinkable decisions. Cinematography immerses us in the protagonist's deteriorating mental state through disorienting angles and a muted color palette. What could have been exploitative instead becomes a profound character study, with a lead performance that deserves awards recognition. The film's greatest achievement is making us understand a decision we'd rather condemn, forcing empathy where we'd prefer judgment. This is challenging, important filmmaking that lingers long after viewing.
    9Darren-3257

    Vernon Wells' Career-Defining Performance

    Wells has never been better than in this haunting meditation on guilt and redemption. As Jim Smith, he creates a character of shocking complexity - by turns heroic, flawed, defiant, and repentant. The film's purgatory premise allows for fascinating narrative experimentation, revealing Smith's life in carefully measured fragments. The celestial interrogation scenes have the intensity of a grand jury proceeding, with each revelation forcing us to reconsider everything that came before. The minimalist production focuses all attention on the powerhouse performances and profound questions about moral accounting. What begins as a simple judgment narrative evolves into a deeply moving exploration of how we measure a life's worth. The final scenes will leave you emotionally devastated in the best possible way.
    9johns-9228

    The Year's Most Thought-Provoking Character Study

    Suicide by Cop proves that great drama needs little more than two outstanding actors and profound questions to explore. Wells is magnificent as the cop on trial for his soul, his performance ranging from defiant to broken across the film's runtime. The Sgt. Yeshua character serves as perfect foil, his calm interrogation exposing cracks in Smith's moral armor. The nonlinear storytelling creates brilliant dramatic irony - we know outcomes before we understand their causes. The sparse setting focuses all attention on the psychological and spiritual battle at the film's core. What could have been a stagey premise instead becomes utterly cinematic through sheer acting power and directorial confidence. A masterclass in economical, impactful storytelling.

    More like this

    Mundo
    9.4
    Mundo
    Cholo Zombies Monstro
    8.7
    Cholo Zombies Monstro
    Road Wars: Max Fury
    2.0
    Road Wars: Max Fury
    Wine Thief
    7.8
    Wine Thief
    Blood and Snow
    3.5
    Blood and Snow
    The Road Warrior
    7.6
    The Road Warrior
    Commando
    6.7
    Commando

    Storyline

    Edit

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 5, 2024 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • interview
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Cedra Films
      • Movie Magic and Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Color
      • Color

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.