Face/Off (1997)
John Woo's high-octane action thriller where an FBI agent and a terrorist literally swap faces — and identities.
Face/Off - Movie Information
- Original Title: Face/Off
- Release Year: 1997
- Directed by: John Woo
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 19m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English, Latin
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 27, 1997 (Romania - 18), June 27, 1997 (United States - R), November 7, 1997 (United Kingdom - 18), September 25, 1997 (Germany - 16), September 10, 1997 (France - 16), August 4, 1997 (Australia - MA15+), September 25, 1997 (Brazil - 14), August 22, 1997 (Mexico - B-15), October 3, 1997 (Spain - 18), August 9, 1997 (South Korea - 19)
- Alternative Titles: Face Off (US), 夺面双雄 (HK), Face Off - Im Körper des Feindes (DE), Face Off - Due facce di un assassino (IT), Contracara - Face Off (ES), Ál-Arc (HU), Volte Face (FR), Αδίστακτα Πρόσωπα (GR)
- Production Companies: WCG Entertainment Productions, Douglas/Reuther Productions, David Permut Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Face/Off - Plot
In order to foil a terrorist plot, an FBI agent undergoes facial transplant surgery and assumes the identity of a criminal mastermind. The plan turns sour when the criminal wakes up prematurely and seeks revenge.
Face/Off - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the face-swapping mayhem unfold:
In order to trap him, he must become him.
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Face/Off - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- John Woo
Main Cast
- John Travolta
- Nicolas Cage
- Joan Allen
- Alessandro Nivola
- Gina Gershon
- Dominique Swain
- Nick Cassavetes
- Harve Presnell
- Colm Feore
- John Carroll Lynch
Writers
- Michael Colleary
- Mike Werb
Producers
- Barrie M. Osborne
- David Permut
- Terence Chang
- Christopher Godsick
Face/Off - FAQs
Who plays who in Face/Off?
John Travolta plays FBI agent Sean Archer and Nicolas Cage plays terrorist Castor Troy — but here's the twist: after the face-swap surgery, each actor essentially plays the other's character. It's a wild dual performance that lets both stars chew scenery in gloriously over-the-top fashion.
Where can you stream Face/Off right now?
Face/Off is available to stream on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, and Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel. You can also rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand.
Is face transplant surgery in Face/Off realistic?
The film takes serious creative liberties — in 1997, face transplants were pure science fiction. The first real partial face transplant didn't happen until 2005. The movie's version, which also swaps voice boxes and body shape, remains firmly in the realm of fantasy, but that's a big part of its charm.
What is Face/Off about?
FBI agent Sean Archer undergoes experimental face-transplant surgery to infiltrate a prison and extract bomb information from terrorist Castor Troy's brother. When Troy wakes up and steals Archer's face, the two men are trapped in each other's identities, setting off a relentless, stylized cat-and-mouse chase.
How long is Face/Off and what is its rating?
Face/Off runs 2 hours and 19 minutes and is rated R in the United States, reflecting its intense action sequences, strong violence, and adult themes. It's a full-throttle ride from start to finish, so the runtime flies by faster than you'd expect.
Did Face/Off win any awards?
Face/Off earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Editing and won the Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film. John Woo's kinetic direction and the dual performances of Travolta and Cage were widely praised, cementing the film as a landmark of 1990s action cinema.
How was Face/Off received by critics and audiences?
Critics and audiences loved it. Face/Off holds a strong approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed over $245 million worldwide against an $80 million budget. Reviewers praised Woo's operatic action choreography and the gleefully committed performances by both Travolta and Cage.
What movies are similar to Face/Off?
If Face/Off hit the spot, you'll likely enjoy Point Break (1991), The Usual Suspects (1995), Pulp Fiction (1994), Scarface (1983), and The Departed (2006). For more John Woo-style action, Miami Vice (2006) and Hard Boiled are also worth a look.
More About Face/Off
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