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Desperate Measures

1998·Movie·R·100 min·6.0(322)

Desperate times call for. . .

San Francisco police officer Frank Connor is in a frantic search for a compatible bone marrow donor for his gravely ill son. There's only one catch the potential donor is convicted multiple murderer Peter McCabe who sees a trip to the hospital as the perfect opportunity to get what he wants most: freedom. With McCabe's escape, the entire hospital becomes a battleground and Connor must pursue and, ironically, protect the deadly fugitive who is his son's only hope for survival.

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Where to watch Desperate Measures in United States

Click a service to open Desperate Measures there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is Desperate Measures streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesfuboTV, Philo, The Roku ChannelAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
IndiaApple TV Store, Amazon Video
United KingdomApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
CanadaApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo
AustraliaApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
FranceMolotov TVAmazon Video, Canal VOD
SpainRakuten TV
BrazilSony One Amazon Channel

About Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures is a 1998 English-language action, drama and thriller film directed by Barbet Schroeder. The cast is led by Michael Keaton, Andy Garcia, Brian Cox. It has a runtime of 1h 40m. Viewers rate it 6.0/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on fuboTV, Philo, The Roku Channel.

Desperate Measures was produced by Mandalay Entertainment and made in United States of America. It was released on January 30, 1998, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $50 million, it went on to gross $14 million worldwide.

Director
Barbet Schroeder
Writers
David Klass
Release date
January 30, 1998
Original language
English
Age rating
R
Status
Released
Country
United States of America
Budget
$50 million
Box office
$14 million
Production
Mandalay Entertainment
#chase#donation#paranoia#terminal illness#leukemia#prison escape#hospital#psychological thriller#criminal#convict#confrontation#captive#freeway#propane

Desperate Measures cast & crew

Desperate Measures was directed by Barbet Schroeder and written by David Klass.

The cast features Michael Keaton as Peter McCabe, Andy Garcia as Frank Conner, Brian Cox as Captain Jeremiah Cassidy, Marcia Gay Harden as Dr. Samantha Hawkins, Erik King as Nate Oliver, and Efrain Figueroa as Vargas.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Trevor Jones, cinematography is by Luciano Tovoli, and it was produced by Gary Foster and Susan Hoffman.

Is Desperate Measures worth watching?

Desperate Measures holds an audience score of 6.0/10 from 322 ratings, a solidly received action films.

At 1h 40m, it's an easy, time-light watch.

If you enjoy action, drama, and thriller, Desperate Measures is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch Desperate Measures

In United States, you can stream Desperate Measures on fuboTV, Philo, and The Roku Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of Desperate Measures

Michael Keaton

Michael Keaton

Peter McCabe

Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia

Frank Conner

Brian Cox

Brian Cox

Captain Jeremiah Cassidy

Marcia Gay Harden

Marcia Gay Harden

Dr. Samantha Hawkins

Erik King

Erik King

Nate Oliver

Efrain Figueroa

Efrain Figueroa

Vargas

Joseph Cross

Joseph Cross

Matthew Conner

Janel Moloney

Janel Moloney

Sarah Davis

Richard Riehle

Richard Riehle

Ed Fayne

Tracey Walter

Tracey Walter

Medical Inmate

Keith Diamond

Keith Diamond

Derrick Wilson

No photo

Peter Weireter

SWAT Team Commander

Desperate Measures — FAQs

Where can I watch Desperate Measures in United States?

Desperate Measures is streaming on fuboTV, Philo, The Roku Channel in United States.

Is Desperate Measures on fuboTV?

Yes — Desperate Measures is currently available on fuboTV in United States.

What language is Desperate Measures in?

Desperate Measures is originally in English, with audio tracks including English, Spanish. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is Desperate Measures?

Desperate Measures runs 1 hours 40 minutes (100 minutes).

What is Desperate Measures rated?

Desperate Measures is rated R. It holds a 6.0/10 audience score from 322 ratings.

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Desperate Measures (1998) — where to watch online · SearchOTT