The Glass Shield
“In a world filled with violence... his only weapon is the truth!”
Synopsis
J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the first female officer to work there, who also suffers similar discrimination in the otherwise all-white male work environment. When J.J. becomes increasingly aware of police corruption during the murder trial of Teddy Woods, whom he helped to arrest, he faces difficult decisions and puts himself into grave personal danger in the service of justice.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Glass Shield 1994 Trailer | Michael Boatman | Lori Petty
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-06-17
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Michael Boatman
Dep. J.J. Johnson
Lori Petty
Dep. Deborah Fields
Ice Cube
Theodore 'Teddy' Woods
Erich Anderson
D.A. Ira Kern
Bernie Casey
James Locket
Richard Anderson
Watch Cmmdr. Clarence Massey
Elliott Gould
Greenspan
Victoria Dillard
Barbara Simms
Michael Ironside
Det. Gene Baker
Natalija Nogulich
Judge Helen Lewis
Wanda De Jesus
Carmen Munoz
Michael Gregory
Dep. Roy Bush
Don Harvey
Dep. Jack Bono
Ernie Lee Banks
Mr. Woods
M. Emmet Walsh
Det. Jesse Hall
Thomas Babson
U.S. Marshall
Monty Bane
Coroner
Julio Oscar Mechoso
Assistant D.A.
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 2, 1995
Wide Cinema Exhibition
December 13, 1995
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.66x
-$1.7M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Charles Burnett
- Screenplay & Story
- John Eddie Johnson, Ned Welsh
- Original Score
- Stephen James Taylor
- Original Title
- The Glass Shield
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, France
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 50m
- Production Budget
- $5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.3M
- Production Studios
- CiBy 2000, Byrnes Schroeder Walker Productions, Miramax
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Charles Burnett
John Eddie Johnson, Ned Welsh, Charles Burnett
Stephen James Taylor
Elliot Davis
Curtiss Clayton
Thomas S. Byrnes, Carolyn Schroeder, Chet Walker
Department Leadership Roster
Charles Burnett
Director
Charles Burnett
Writer
John Eddie Johnson
Screenplay
Ned Welsh
Screenplay
Stephen James Taylor
Original Music Composer
Elliot Davis
Director of Photography
Curtiss Clayton
Editor
Penny Barrett
Production Design
Gaye Shannon-Burnett
Costume Design
Thomas S. Byrnes
Producer
Carolyn Schroeder
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Glass Shield.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Glass Shield.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Promote Black Filmmakers®™ Playlist
Streaming Top: Everything
Auto-updated 2026-09-23. Top-rated movies streaming on: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, Apple TV, Paramount Plus Premium, Peacock Premium (US).
Movies
Crime Movies (Top Rated From 1980 to Today)
Ush Kino
More Like The Glass Shield
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Glass Shield
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Glass Shield about?
J.J. is a rookie in the Sheriff's Department and the first black officer at that station. Racial tensions run high in the department as some of J.J.'s fellow officers resent his presence. His only real friend is the other new trooper, the first female officer to work there, who also suffers similar discrimination in the otherwise all-white male work environment. When J.J. becomes increasingly aware of police corruption during the murder trial of Teddy Woods, whom he helped to arrest, he faces difficult decisions and puts himself into grave personal danger in the service of justice.
Who directed The Glass Shield?
The Glass Shield was directed by Charles Burnett.
Who stars in The Glass Shield?
The principal cast of The Glass Shield includes Michael Boatman, Lori Petty, Ice Cube, Erich Anderson, Bernie Casey.
When was The Glass Shield released and how long is it?
The Glass Shield was released in 1994 with a total runtime of 1h 50m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Glass Shield?
The Glass Shield had a reported production budget of $5M and grossed $3.3M at the worldwide box office (0.66 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Glass Shield?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Glass Shield was composed by Stephen James Taylor.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Glass Shield?
The Glass Shield holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).