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Trailer+1 trailer

Year of the Dragon

1985Movie2 h 14 minR

Crime
61
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.8Letterboxd3.5/5Metacritic586.9Rotten Tomatoes55%53%

A tense, violent action movie about crime and everyday modern life, with standout performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Where to watch

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

It isn't the Bronx or Brooklyn, it isn't even New York. It's Chinatown... and it's about to explode.

In New York, racist Capt. Stanley White becomes obsessed with destroying a Chinese-American drug ring run by Joey Tai, an up-and-coming young gangster as ambitious as he is ruthless. While pursuing an unauthorized investigation, White grows increasingly willing to violate police protocol, resorting to progressively violent measures -- even as his concerned wife, Connie, and his superiors beg him to consider the consequences of his actions.

Feels like

  • Gritty Crime Drama
  • Psychological Obsession
  • Racial Tension & Prejudice
  • Mickey Rourke Tour de Force
  • NYC Underbelly Atmosphere
  • Tragic Anti-Hero Arc
  • Organized Crime Thriller
  • Character Study in Decline
  • Scorsese-esque Intensity

Cast

24 of 27

Crew

Directed by
Michael Cimino
Written by
Oliver Stone, Michael Cimino, Robert Daley
Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis
Music by
David Mansfield

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 16, 1985 · 2 h 14 min · R

Released
August 16, 1985
Runtime
2 h 14 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Drug Use, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Action, Crime, Thriller
Original language
English
Also spoken
Chinese, Polish, Vietnamese
Made in
United States
Budget
$24 million
Box office
$19 million
Available in
90 countries

Tropes

Politically Incorrect Villain, The Film of the Book, Awful Wedded Life +9

  • Politically Incorrect Villain
  • The Film of the Book
  • Awful Wedded Life
  • Defiant to the End
  • Bookends
  • Alliterative Name
  • Dirty Cop
  • Boom, Headshot!
  • Tagline
  • "The Reason You Suck" Speech
  • Memorial for the Antagonist
  • Mob War

12 of 37 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Year of the Dragon?"

Questions about Year of the Dragon

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Year of the Dragon?

In the United States, you can rent or buy Year of the Dragon from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It streams in 5 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is Year of the Dragon worth watching?

61
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 61 (IMDb 6.8, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 55%, and Metacritic 58).

Will I feel good after watching Year of the Dragon?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for bleakness and 4 for melancholy, against 2 for hopefulness.

Was Year of the Dragon a box office flop?

Budget$24 million
Box office$19 million

Yes: it cost about $24 million to make and earned $19 million worldwide, 78% of its budget.

What tropes does Year of the Dragon use?

Politically Incorrect VillainThe Film of the BookAwful Wedded LifeDefiant to the EndBookendsAlliterative NameDirty CopBoom, Headshot!Tagline"The Reason You Suck" SpeechMemorial for the AntagonistMob Warand 25 more

TV Tropes lists 37 tropes for it, including Politically Incorrect Villain, The Film of the Book, and Awful Wedded Life.