Narc (2002)
85%RT Audience Score: 79%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 8 nominations
Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are electrifying in this gritty, if a little too familiar, cop drama
NARC” is a cop movie that’s so intense, it’ll make you want to join the police academy just to see if you can handle it. Critics say it’s familiar stuff, but with a stylish conviction that makes it worth watching. The director has the goods, but the script is your basic renegade-cop narrative, with the usual hoo-ha about justice versus the law. It’s bracingly effective, cold, and harsh, with a chokehold of a plot that grabs you but doesn’t ultimately engage you. The leading men are never better, and the director shows flair and confidence. It’s one of the best films of 2002, but it doesn’t illuminate the world of the undercover agent or bring anything new to the table. All in all, it’s a movie that’ll make you want to put on a badge and take down some bad guys.
Production Company(ies)
ITVS International, Kartemquin Films, P.O.V., American Documentary
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Detroit, Michigan, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong brutal violence, drug content and pervasive language
Year of Release
2003
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 2003 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2003
Genre(s)
Crime/Mystery & Thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Jason Patric, Ray Liotta, Chi McBride, Busta Rhymes, Anne Openshaw, Richard Chevolleau, directed by Joe Carnahan, written by Joe Carnahan, Crime, Mystery & Thriller, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Nell Minow, J.R Jones, Sara Michelle Fetters, Alan Morrison, Duane Byrge, Peter Bradshaw, Emanuel Levy, John A Nesbit, Felix Vasquez Jr., Michael Dequina, Philip French, R, Pervasive Language, Drug Content, Strong Brutal Violence, produced by Diane Nabatoff, Ray Liotta, Michelle Grace, Julius R Nasso
Worldwide gross: $12,633,747
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $20,477,684
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,703
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,233,117
US/Canada gross: $10,465,659
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,963,491
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,462
US/Canada opening weekend: $63,303
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $102,606
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,921
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $10,535,666
Production budget ranking: 1,647
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,673,456
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,268,561
ROI to date (est.): 26%
ROI ranking: 1,259
Jason Patric – Nick Tellis
Chi McBride – Captain Cheevers
Busta Rhymes – Beery
Anne Openshaw – Kathryn Calvess
Richard Chevolleau – Latroy Steeds
Diane Nabatoff – Producer
Ray Liotta – Producer
Michelle Grace – Producer
Julius R. Nasso – Producer
Joe Carnahan – Director, Writer
Director(s)
Joe Carnahan
Writer(s)
Joe Carnahan
Producer(s)
Diane Nabatoff, Ray Liotta, Michelle Grace, Julius R. Nasso
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 8 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (157) | Top Critics (43) | Fresh (131) | Rotten (26)
Intense cop movie for adults.
December 26, 2010 | Rating: 3/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
As a director Carnahan definitely has the goods… Unfortunately the script is your basic renegade-cop narrative, with the usual hoo-ha about justice versus the law.
April 9, 2008
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Joe Carnahan’s Narc is familiar stuff, but it is bracingly effective. There hasn’t been a cop and robbers film this cold and harsh since the 1970’s.
December 13, 2005 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
The director is helped in no small part by his leading men.
August 31, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
A chokehold of a movie, grabbing us but not ultimately engaging us.
June 11, 2003
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
Ferociously gritty and unsentimentally tough, Joe Carnahan’s movie is drenched with a cynicism that permeates the celluloid itself.
March 25, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
January 28, 2013 | Rating: B-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
doesn’t illuminate the world of the undercover agent or bring anything new to the table
January 8, 2012 | Rating: C
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
One of the best films of 2002…
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
The stylish conviction of Carnahan and his never-better leads make this familiar yarn worth caring about.
February 18, 2009 | Rating: 3/4
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Carnahan shows flair and confidence.
April 9, 2008
Philip French
Observer (UK)
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound…
Plot
NARC follows suspended undercover narcotics officer Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) as he is drawn back onto the force to investigate the murder of a young police officer, teaming up with the slain officer’s partner, Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), to unravel the case and uncover the dark underbelly of the narcotics world.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ray Liotta’s performance as the trigger-happy renegade cop is “incredibly convincing and captivating.”
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