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Prince of the City

1981·Movie
2h 47min·R
79
GreatGoodWatch score

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Masterful craft, high energy, light on feelings.

Energy

Tense and thrilling

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension8
  • Adrenaline7
  • Fast Pace6

Heart

Moving and cathartic

  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Dark Humor3
  • Satire & Parody2

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and characters

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Direction9
  • Acting9
  • Character Depth9

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Music Composition7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

A cop is turning. Nobody's safe.

New York City detective Daniel Ciello agrees to help the United States Department of Justice eliminate corruption in the police department, as long as he will not have to turn in any close friends. In doing so, Ciello uncovers a conspiracy within the force to smuggle drugs to street informants.
Gritty Crime DramaPolice CorruptionMoral AmbiguityNew York CityComplex CharactersIntenseRealisticSlow Burn

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Prince of the City

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Prince of the City legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Prince of the City worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 93%, and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Prince of the City rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDrug use

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and drug use.

How long is Prince of the City?

2 h 47 min

Prince of the City runs 2 h 47 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Prince of the City?

Critics87
Audiences74

Not quite. Critics rate Prince of the City higher (87) than audiences (74). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was Prince of the City a box office hit?

Budget$9 million
Box office$8 million

No. It cost about $9 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 94% of its budget.

What language is Prince of the City in?

EnglishSpanishItalian

It was made in English, with some Spanish, Italian. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Prince of the City?

23ATAUBECACHCZDEDKESFIFRGBGGIE+9

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Prince of the City in 23 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Prince of the City use?

Bittersweet EndingWham ShotHollywood LawBig Rotten AppleAnti-VillainShout-OutFilm NoirCrapsack WorldRoman à Clef

TV Tropes lists 9 storytelling tropes for Prince of the City, including Bittersweet Ending, Wham Shot, Hollywood Law.