S.W.A.T. (2003 film)

S.W.A.T. is a 2003 American action crime thriller film based on the 1975–76 television series of the same name. The film was directed by Clark Johnson from a screenplay by David Ayer and David McKenna, based on a story by Ron Mita and Jim McClain. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Colin Farrell, Michelle Rodriguez, LL Cool J, Josh Charles, Jeremy Renner, Brian Van Holt and Olivier Martinez with Reg E. Cathey and Larry Poindexter in supporting roles.

Like the TV series, the film revolves around a police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team operating in Los Angeles California. The plot follows Hondo (Jackson) and his SWAT team as they are tasked to escort an imprisoned drug kingpin/international fugitive to prison after he offers a $100 million reward to anyone who can break him out of police custody.

Plans for a film adaptation of the 1975 TV series began in the 1990s, but never materialized until the early 2000s. Johnson was hired as director and Jackson, Farrell and LL Cool J were cast in 2002.

S.W.A.T. was released in the United States on August 8, 2003, by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $207.7 million worldwide against a production budget of $70 million. A direct-to-video sequel, S.W.A.T.: Firefight, was released in 2011.