# S.W.A.T.: Firefight
**S.W.A.T.: Firefight** is a 2011 American direct-to-video action film directed by Benny Boom and a sequel in name only to the 2003 theatrical film *S.W.A.T.*[1](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/). [Gabriel Macht](https://www.edgepedia.org/gabriel-macht) stars as Paul Cutler, a Los Angeles S.W.A.T. officer and anti-terrorism expert ordered to Detroit to train the city's S.W.A.T. team in the latest hostage rescue techniques. After a botched response to a domestic dispute leaves a hostage dead, a government assassin, Walter Hatch ([Robert Patrick](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-patrick)), becomes obsessed with killing Cutler and his entire S.W.A.T. team.[2](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/swatfirefight)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | Direct-to-video; DVD and Blu-ray released March 1, 2011 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/SWAT-Firefight) |
| Director | Benny Boom, previously known mainly for music video work[1](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/) |
| Lead cast | Gabriel Macht (Paul Cutler), Robert Patrick (Walter Hatch), Carly Pope (Kim Byers), Giancarlo Esposito (Inspector Hollander), Kristanna Loken (Rose Walker)[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight/cast-and-crew) |
| Runtime and rating | 89 minutes; MPAA rating R for violence and language (rating bulletin 2146, 11/10/2010)[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/SWAT-Firefight) |
| Writers | Screenplay by Reed Steiner; story by Reed Steiner, Randy Walker, Michael Albanese, and Ed Arneson[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/fullcredits/) |
| Music | John Paesano; cinematography by Don Davis[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/s-w-a-t-firefight) |
| Reception | 33% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 3 critics; 5.3/10 on IMDb from about 14,000 votes[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/ratings/) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
LAPD Lieutenant Paul Cutler is transferred to Detroit to put the local S.W.A.T. team through a training regimen in new Department of Homeland Security anti-terrorism techniques.[2](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/swatfirefight) • [1](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/) He locks horns with his new captain and meets resistance from the team he must lead, while beginning a romance with police psychologist Kim Byers ([Carly Pope](https://www.edgepedia.org/carly-pope)).[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/s-w-a-t-firefight) A routine hostage call turns deadly, and Walter Hatch, a relentless ex-government agent, vows revenge on Cutler and the entire team for killing the woman he loves; Cutler must use his S.W.A.T. training to save his teammates and defeat a trained killer.[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/s-w-a-t-firefight)
## Production and release
The film was produced by Stage 6 Films, RCR Media Group, and [Original Film](https://www.edgepedia.org/original-film), with Sony Pictures Releasing and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions handling distribution worldwide in 2011.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/companycredits/) Amanda Lewis and [Neal H. Moritz](https://www.edgepedia.org/neal-h-moritz) produced.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight/cast-and-crew) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released it on DVD and Blu-ray on March 1, 2011, at a list price of $24.96.[3](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/SWAT-Firefight) • [1](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/) The supporting cast includes Matt Bushell, Nicholas Gonzalez, Shannon Kane, Gino Anthony Pesi, and Kevin Phillips as members of the Detroit team.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight/cast-and-crew)
## Reception
Critics treated the film as a modest direct-to-video action entry. R.L. Shaffer of IGN DVD gave it 7/10, calling it "hardly fresh or original" but "an enjoyable, action-packed follow-up to the 2003 original and one of the better DTV titles out there."[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight) Brian Orndorf graded it C+, describing a low-budget follow-up that elects "video game stylistics and movie-of-the-week plotting."[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight) The DVD Talk review called it an "admirable but heavily flawed" entry that runs a breezy 89 minutes and feels like a discarded television pilot, while faulting a fumbling conclusion and a hammy appearance by Robert Patrick.[1](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/) Audience scores have been middling: the film holds 5.3/10 on IMDb from about 14,000 votes and a 2.8 out of 5 audience average on Rotten Tomatoes.[8](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/ratings/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight)
The film later reached streaming services; as of late 2026 it streams on Netflix in the United States and can be rented from $3.99 or bought from $12.99 on platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.[10](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/swat-firefight/10050915/where-to-watch/)
## References
1. [S.W.A.T: Firefight review, DVD Talk (Nick Hartel, February 22, 2011)](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/48068/swat-firefight/)
2. [S.W.A.T.: FIREFIGHT, Sony Pictures Entertainment](https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/swatfirefight)
3. [S.W.A.T. Firefight (2011), Box office and financial information, The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/SWAT-Firefight)
4. [S.W.A.T. Firefight: Full Cast & Crew, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight/cast-and-crew)
5. [S.W.A.T.: Firefight (Video 2011), Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/fullcredits/)
6. [S.W.A.T.: Firefight, American Film Institute](https://watch.afi.com/movie/s-w-a-t-firefight)
7. [S.W.A.T. Firefight, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/swat_firefight)
8. [S.W.A.T.: Firefight (Video 2011), Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/ratings/)
9. [S.W.A.T.: Firefight (Video 2011), Company credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621429/companycredits/)
10. [S.W.A.T.: Firefight, Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/swat-firefight/10050915/where-to-watch/)
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