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King of New York

King of New York

Thriller · Crime · 1990

A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

Movie details

King of New York

“Not everyone who runs a city is elected.”

1990 Thriller · Crime 1h 43m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over King of New York?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The French Connection

The French Connection

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Small Engine Repair

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The seemingly casual reunion of three old friends at an out-of-the-way repair shop masks a hidden agenda fuelled by the arrival of a privileged young yuppie.

The Untouchables

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Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

Avengement

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While on a prison furlough, a lowly criminal evades his guards and returns to his old stomping ground to take revenge on the people who turned him into a cold blooded killer.

Year of the Dragon

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Thursday

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A former Los Angeles drug dealer moves far away to Texas, making a new life for himself as a married architect in the suburbs. His old crime partner unexpectedly shows up with heroin and gangster business, attracting a slew of violent unsavory characters.

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Coffy

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After her younger sister gets involved in drugs and is severely injured by contaminated heroin, a nurse sets out on a mission of vengeance and vigilante justice, killing drug dealers, pimps, and mobsters who cross her path.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Abel Ferrara

Written by

Nicholas St. John

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken

Frank White

David Caruso

David Caruso

Dennis Gilley

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne

Jimmy Jump

Victor Argo

Victor Argo

Roy Bishop

Wesley Snipes

Wesley Snipes

Thomas Flanigan

Janet Julian

Janet Julian

Jennifer

Joey Chin

Joey Chin

Larry Wong

Court is in session

Put King of New York on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.