Clockers

 

Clockers (1995)

NEUTRAL
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Movie Reviews79%
R
1995, Drama, 2h 8m
RT Critics’ Score: 72% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 6 nominations

 

Critics Consensus

A work of mournful maturity that sacrifices little of its director’s signature energy, Clockers is an admittedly flawed drama with a powerfully urgent message
 

Audience Consensus

Clockers is a movie that will leave you feeling like you just got punched in the gut, but in a good way. Spike Lee’s direction is on point, and the performances are top-notch. It’s not a feel-good movie, but it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves gritty crime dramas. Just make sure you have some tissues nearby, because you’re going to need them.
 
Movie Trailer

Movie Info

Storyline

Strike is a young city drug pusher under the tutelage of drug-lord Rodney Little, who, when not playing with model trains or drinking Moo for his ulcer, just likes to chill with his brothers near the benches outside the project houses. When a night man at a fast-food restaurant is found with four bullets in his body, Strike’s older brother turns himself in as the killer. Det. Rocco Klein doesn’t buy the story, however, and sets out to find the truth, and it seems that all the fingers point toward Strike & Rodney.

 
Production Company(ies)
Mosfilm Vtoroe Tvorcheskoe Obedinenie
 
Distributor
NA
 
Release Type
Theatrical
 
Filming Location(s)
Gowanus Housing Projects, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
 
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong graphic violence, strong language and drug content
 
Year of Release
1995
 

Technical Specs
  • Color:
    Color
  • Sound mix:
    Dolby Digital DTS
  • Aspect ratio:
    1.85 : 1
  • Runtime:
    NA
  • Language(s):
    English
  • Country of origin:
    United States
  • Release date:
    Release Date (Streaming): Mar 7, 2006

 
Genre(s)
Drama
 
Keyword(s)
starring Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Delroy Lindo, Mekhi Phifer, Isaiah Washington, Keith David, directed by Spike Lee, written by Richard Price and Spike Lee, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Juan M Mendez, Janet Maslin, Michael Wilmington, Carol Buckland, David Ansen, Jason Bailey, Alistair Lawrence, Margaret A McGurk, David Sterritt, Steve Persall, Rod Dreher, MPAA rating R, drug dealer, homicide detective, crime drama, urban epic, tragic, powerful, urgent message, family man, virtuous, cover up, street drug dealer, drug dealing, drug addiction, drug trade, police investigation, murder investigation, New York City, Brooklyn, violence, corruption, poverty, racial tension, social commentary, police brutality, inner-city life, gang violence, drug war, drug culture, drug trafficking, drug lord, organized crime, drug-related crime, drug overdose, drug abuse, drug rehabilitation, drug treatment, drug recovery, drug prevention, drug education, drug policy, drug laws, drug enforcement, drug legalization, drug decriminalization, drug reform
 

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $13,071,518
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,703,308
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,615
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 2,802,978
 
US/Canada gross: $13,071,518
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $25,703,308
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,328
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,463,560
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $8,776,965
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 989
 
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $49,158,996
Production budget ranking: 809
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $26,472,119
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$49,927,808
ROI to date (est.): -66%
ROI ranking: 1,785

 
Movie Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew

Harvey KeitelJohn TurturroDelroy LindoMekhi PhiferIsaiah Washington
Harvey Keitel
John Turturro
Delroy Lindo
Mekhi Phifer
Isaiah Washington
Det. Rocco Klein
Det. Larry Mazilli
Rodney Little
Ronald “Strike” Dunham
Victor Dunham
Harvey Keitel – Det. Rocco Klein
John Turturro – Det. Larry Mazilli
Delroy Lindo – Rodney Little
Mekhi Phifer – Ronald “Strike” Dunham
Isaiah Washington – Victor Dunham
Keith David – André the Giant

 

Spike LeeRichard PriceSpike LeeMartin ScorseseJon Kilik
Spike Lee
Richard Price
Spike Lee
Martin Scorsese
Jon Kilik
Director
Writer
Producer
Producer
Producer

Director(s)
Spike Lee
 
Writer(s)
Richard Price, Spike Lee
 
Producer(s)
Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, Jon Kilik

 
Movie Reviews & Awards
Film Festivals

 
Awards & Nominations
6 nominations
 
Academy Awards

 

Top Reviews
Juan M. MendezJanet MaslinMichael WilmingtonCarol BucklandDavid Ansen
Juan M. Mendez
Janet Maslin
Michael Wilmington
Carol Buckland
David Ansen
New York Daily News
New York Times
Chicago Tribune
CNN.com
Newsweek
CLOCKERS
 All Critics (61) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (44) | Rotten (17)
 With Clockers, director Spike Lee achieves his best work so far.
 
 August 18, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Juan M. Mendez
 New York Daily News
 TOP CRITIC
 A story told with mournful, epic vision that rises high above its grim setting.
 
 April 9, 2020
 
 Janet Maslin
 New York Times
 TOP CRITIC
 In many ways, it’s better than the book it’s taken from: tighter, tauter, with a deeper vein of sadness opening underneath.
 
 April 9, 2020 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Michael Wilmington
 Chicago Tribune
 TOP CRITIC
 “Clockers” is as grim as it is good. This is not an”entertaining” popcorn- type movie. It’s timely. It’s tragic in many ways. And it leaves a provocative and lasting impression.
 
 April 9, 2020
 
 Carol Buckland
 CNN.com
 TOP CRITIC
 Clockers may be Lee’s strongest film since Do the Right Thing, but he runs into trouble at the end when he tries to tie up all his threads in neat bows…the passion of this raw, mournful urban epic remains in spite of the false moves.
 
 February 26, 2018
 
 David Ansen
 Newsweek
 TOP CRITIC
 There’s no denying the movie’s greatness: the depth of the characters, the urgency of its narrative, the nightmarishness of its vision.
 
 August 16, 2016
 
 Jason Bailey
 Flavorwire
 TOP CRITIC
 Clockers is of its time and now feels slightly dated because of it… But it remains a well-crafted crime drama and feels real and true enough to still hit close to home.
 
 December 2, 2021 | Rating: 4/5
 
 Alistair Lawrence
 Common Sense Media
 Clockers is a tremendous film — and a major addition to the work of a vibrantly talented director.
 
 August 19, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
 
 Margaret A. McGurk
 Cincinnati Enquirer
 ”Clockers” remains a major work by a major film artist, but its cinematic achievements are diminished by its narrative and psychological shortcomings.
 
 April 9, 2020
 
 David Sterritt
 Christian Science Monitor
 Strong performances, edgy dialogue and Lee’s success in luring an audience into his own tempo and urgent perspective make Clockers tough stuff, indeed.
 
 April 9, 2020 | Rating: B+
 
 Steve Persall
 Tampa Bay Times
 What all but sinks Clockers is its muddled script, an indulgent mess that is by turns dull and disorienting.
 
 April 9, 2020
 
 Rod Dreher
 South Florida Sun-Sentinel
 This harrowing portrait of a young, ulcer- ridden, low-level drug dealer, or “clocker,” adds up to the director’s best film since “Do the Right Thing.”
 
 April 9, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4
 
 Malcolm Johnson
 Hartford Courant…

 
Movie Plot & More
Plot
Strike is a young city drug pusher under the tutelage of drug-lord Rodney Little, who, when not playing with model trains or drinking Moo for his ulcer, just likes to chill with his brothers near the benches outside the project houses. When a night man at a fast-food restaurant is found with four bullets in his body, Strike’s older brother turns himself in as the killer. Det. Rocco Klein doesn’t buy the story, however, and sets out to find the truth, and it seems that all the fingers point toward Strike & Rodney.
 
Trivia

 
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Clockers on Fresh Kernels.
 
Movie Links Wikipedia and Rotten Tomatoes

Links
Wikipedia: Go to Wiki
Rotten Tomatoes: Go to RT

 
Where to Watch

 
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