The Jericho Mile
Performance & Direction: The Jericho Mile Review
Last updated: January 29, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Jericho Mile (1980) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE with a verified audience rating of 6.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Jericho Mile features a noteworthy lineup led by Peter Strauss . Supported by the likes of Roger E. Mosley and Richard Lawson , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Jericho Mile
Quick Plot Summary: The Jericho Mile is a Drama, TV Movie, Crime, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: The Jericho Mile
Ending Breakdown: The Jericho Mile concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Jericho Mile reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
The Jericho Mile Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
The Jericho Mile incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a drama, tv movie, crime, thriller film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: The Jericho Mile adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch The Jericho Mile?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Top Cast: The Jericho Mile
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Where to Watch The Jericho Mile Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
Amazon Prime Video
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Amazon VideoThe Jericho Mile Parents Guide & Age Rating
1980 AdvisoryWondering about The Jericho Mile age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Jericho Mile is 97 minutes (1h 37m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.0/10, and global performance metrics, The Jericho Mile is classified as a ABOVE AVERAGE. It remains an essential part of the 1980 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Jericho Mile worth watching?
The Jericho Mile is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6/10 and stands as a ABOVE AVERAGE in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Jericho Mile parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Jericho Mile identifies it as Not Rated. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Jericho Mile?
The total duration of The Jericho Mile is 97 minutes, which is approximately 1h 37m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Jericho Mile
***Run until the walls come tumblin’ down*** A loner at Folsom State Penitentiary (Peter Strauss) gains attention when it’s discovered that he can run a mile in less than four minutes. Officials naturally try to see if they can enter him in the Olympics. The cast includes Brian Dennehy, Geoffrey Lewis, Richard Lawson, Roger E. Mosley and Ed Lauter. "The Jericho Mile" (1979) is a prison movie meshed with sports flick. It’s notable as Michael Mann’s first movie wherein he was limited by TV constraints, yet it shows his potential and explains why he moved on to greatness, e.g. “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992). Being made-for-TV, profanity is replaced by wannabe edgy jive talk, which can be unintentionally amusing. If you can roll with that, this is a worthwhile serious story about great talent being trapped in a cage, not to mention the brotherhood of man regardless of skin color. I could relate to Strauss’ character and I imagine a lot of other viewers can too. The movie runs 1 hour, 37 minutes, and was shot at Folsom State Penitentiary, Represa, California, about an hour northeast of Sacramento. Several of the peripheral cast members were prisoners at Folsom and do a commendable job. GRADE: B-
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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