Michael Mann’s next big move — and a look back at Collateral
Director Michael Mann is once again commanding attention with Heat 2, a high-profile follow-up to his 1995 crime classic Heat. The new film is reported to star Leonardo DiCaprio, with Christian Bale, Austin Butler and Stephen Graham circling roles — a project that could become the most prominent of Mann’s career. It’s a reminder of Mann’s pedigree: a filmmaker who has repeatedly reshaped star images while collaborating with actors ranging from Daniel Day‑Lewis and Johnny Depp to Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Russell Crowe.
Two decades ago Mann did just that with Collateral, a lean, nocturnal thriller that helped redefine Tom Cruise’s screen persona and showcased Mann’s early experiments with digital cinematography. The film is currently available to stream for free in the United States on Pluto TV.
What Collateral is about
Released in August 2004, Collateral unfolds over a single, tension-fraught night in Los Angeles. The premise is simple and relentless: Vincent (Tom Cruise), a professional hitman, hires cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx) to chauffeur him between assignments. As the night deepens, the two men become locked into a moral and practical struggle that powers the film’s suspense.
Key cast:
- Tom Cruise as Vincent, the hitman
- Jamie Foxx as Max, the cab driver
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Javier Bardem
- Mark Ruffalo
- Peter Berg
- A brief cameo by Jason Statham, who appears in a role that many viewers interpreted as a nod to his Transporter character
Runtime: 120 minutes
MPAA rating: R
Writer: Stuart Beattie
Director: Michael Mann
Behind the casting and production
Collateral’s casting evolved through several notable near-misses and considerations. Adam Sandler was reportedly in the conversation to play the taxi driver but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts. Robert De Niro was also considered, though studios ultimately pushed for a younger actor for the role, which opened the door for Jamie Foxx.
Mann’s choice to cast Tom Cruise against type — not as an action hero but as a coldly efficient killer — became one of the film’s defining moves. The decision to shoot extensively with digital cameras was another: Mann embraced early digital cinematography techniques to capture L.A.’s nightscapes with a distinct, blue-tinted clarity that complements the movie’s noir atmosphere.
Critical reception and legacy
Collateral earned strong reviews on release and has maintained a favorable reputation. It holds a “Certified Fresh” rating of 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics praised Mann’s visual style and Cruise’s lean, villainous turn. Reviewers highlighted the film’s “moody neo-noir aesthetic” and its unromanticized depiction of violence, noting Mann’s ability to blend procedural detail with mood-driven storytelling.
Jamie Foxx’s performance received particular acclaim and brought him awards-season recognition; Cruise’s performance, while praised, did not result in major nominations that year. Financially, Collateral was a success: it grossed roughly $220 million worldwide against a reported production budget of about $65 million.
Why Collateral still matters
Collateral represents a crossroads for several careers and filmmaking trends:
- For Michael Mann, it confirmed his willingness to innovate technically while preserving a classical noir sensibility.
- For Tom Cruise, it was an opportunity to subvert his blockbuster image and inhabit a darker, more ambiguous role.
- For digital cinematography, the film stands as an early, influential example of how the medium can shape atmosphere and urban texture.
Its combination of tight plotting, moral friction between its two leads, and Mann’s immersive visuals continue to influence contemporary crime thrillers and neo-noir films.
Where to watch it now
Collateral is available to stream for free in the United States on Pluto TV. Check the Pluto TV app or website for current availability in your region. If you prefer rental or purchase options, Collateral is also commonly offered across major digital platforms and physical media retailers.
Final note
Whether you’re revisiting the film ahead of Michael Mann’s upcoming projects or discovering Collateral for the first time, the movie remains a compact, stylish thriller that captures a city at night and two men pushed toward an inevitable confrontation.