

Desperate Measures
“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.
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?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | fuboTV, Philo, The Roku Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV | Amazon Video, Canal VOD |
| Spain | — | Rakuten TV |
| Brazil | Sony 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
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
Peter McCabe

Andy Garcia
Frank Conner

Brian Cox
Captain Jeremiah Cassidy

Marcia Gay Harden
Dr. Samantha Hawkins

Erik King
Nate Oliver

Efrain Figueroa
Vargas

Joseph Cross
Matthew Conner

Janel Moloney
Sarah Davis

Richard Riehle
Ed Fayne

Tracey Walter
Medical Inmate

Keith Diamond
Derrick Wilson
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.











