Gran Torino
After a Hmong teenager tries to steal his prized 1972 Gran Torino, a disgruntled, prejudiced Korean War veteran seeks to redeem both the boy and himself.
Directed by Clint Eastwood · Drama · 116 min · 2009
Trailer
Director
Clint Eastwood
Studio
Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow Pictures / Double Nickel Entertainment / Malpaso Productions
Release
09 Jan 2009
Runtime
116 min
Genres
Drama
Full Plot
Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) is a widower who holds onto his prejudices despite the changes in his Michigan neighborhood and the world around him. Kowalski is a grumpy, tough-minded, unhappy old man who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors. He is a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor Thao Lor (Bee Vang), a young Hmong teenager under pressure from his gang member cousin, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood.
Cast & Characters
Walt Kowalski
Clint Eastwood
Thao Vang Lor, a Hmong teenager
Bee Vang
Father Janovich
Christopher Carley
Sue Lor, Thao's older sister
Ahney Her
Fong "Spider", Thao's cousin
Doua Moua
Smokie, Spider's right-hand man
Sonny Vue
Hmong Gangbanger No. 1
Elvis Thao
Mitch Kowalski, Walt's older son
Brian Haley
Steve Kowalski, Walt's younger son
Brian Howe
Karen Kowalski, Mitch's wife
Geraldine Hughes
Ashley Kowalski, Mitch and Karen's daughter
Dreama Walker
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $33.0M, Gran Torino has grossed $270.0M worldwide — about 8.2x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Clint Eastwood has directed 3 films in our catalog, including Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Clint Eastwood appears in 5 films in our catalog, including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Unforgiven.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that Clint Eastwood co-produced the film with his Malpaso partners Robert Lorenz and Bill Gerber?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The film was shot over five weeks in Metro Detroit.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that the original script was inspired by the Northeast community of Minneapolis, Minnesota, but filmmakers chose to shoot in Michigan instead?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Gran Torino holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (854,482 votes), 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (854,482 votes), 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gran Torino's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Gran Torino holds a 81% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Gran Torino's IMDb rating?+
Gran Torino has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 854,482 votes.
What is Gran Torino's Metacritic score?+
Gran Torino has a Metascore of 73/100 on Metacritic.
Is Gran Torino good? What are critics saying?+
Gran Torino holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (854,482 votes), 81% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Gran Torino?+
Gran Torino has a runtime of 116 min.
Who directed Gran Torino?+
Gran Torino was directed by Clint Eastwood.
Where can I watch Gran Torino?+
Gran Torino is available to stream, rent, or buy on AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Netflix, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Gran Torino" has been mixed, with some critics praising Clint Eastwood's direction and performance as Walt, while others have noted the film's lack of awards recognition. Reviewers have also discussed the movie's cultural significance and its connection to the Hmong refugee experience.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
There's a lot to unpack about <em>'Gran Torino'</em>, probably way more than I could offer an opinion on. I fully acknowledge the talk about this film's potential impact on the world, namely for Hmong Americans (see: Bee Vang's <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/covid…
r96sk · 9/10Clint Eastwood is a good director. I've seen ten of his films, one of them being “Play Misty for Me.” A film that I think is incredible. But like any director, Clint’s films can vary in quality. In the case of “Gran Torino,” it's a good film, but probably not one I'm going to rew…
Matthew Smith · 7/10It's curious that the main English language awards largely ignored this, yet it won both a David and a César in Europe and is definately one of Clint Eastwood's more characterful efforts. He is the curmudgeonly "Walt" who has recently lost his wife, has an arms-length relationshi…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
A little backstory to this movie: Back in the 1970's/80's a shitload of Hmong refugees came to a suburb of Minneapolis, MN called Columbia Heights. Their integration wasn't always easy. This is the story of that time period, updated for modernity. The guy who wrote the movie, Nic…
@warmongerel9743 · 1730 likesHad seen this movie in 2008....back then i wasn't mature enough to appreciate it. Saw it again today, absolute gem.
@rambo68 · 418 likesThats John Wick's father
@IStevenGR · 2883 likesI cried at the end, great movie. One of the best I've seen. I hope Clint Eastwood will live for a long time.
@DBsciakSportsTV · 753 likesApparently, the dude didn't act at all in this movie.
@cholandha · 281 likesOne can not act this BADASS if he/she isn't a BADASS..... for real.
@msjswapnil · 331 likesstory of a guy from history letting go of his hate. powerful shit.
@davemckay4359 · 214 likesThe ending was so sad and every words of that old man made sense. I have just finished the movie and it's really a classic.
@shourov4637 · 797 likes
