The movie gained negative reviews from critics and holds a 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was also ranked #19 on Rotten Tomatoes' 100 worst films of the 2000s. Movie critic Roger Ebert stated: "Half Past Dead is like an alarm that goes off with nobody in the room. It does its job, stops, and nobody cares." Seagal was nominated a Razzie Award in the category of Worst Actor at the 2003 Golden Raspberry Awards but lost to Roberto Benigni in "Pinocchio".