Drug War (2013)
87%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 10 wins & 28 nominations
A taut, solidly constructed action thriller with uncommon intelligence, Drug War delivers exhilarating set pieces without skimping on sophisticated filmmaking
Drug War is a wild ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. While some critics may question the ethics of the film’s subject matter, there’s no denying that Johnnie To knows how to deliver a thrilling crime story. The action is intense and the set pieces are fantastic, making for a damn solid piece of action craftsmanship. Plus, the messy, inconvenient realism adds an extra layer of excitement. If you’re a fan of To’s work, you can’t miss this one. And if you’re new to his style, Drug War is an excellent introduction to a truly great director.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment,
Distributor
Variance Films
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
South Korea
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):Korean
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Country of origin:Hong Kong
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jul 26, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2013
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Louis Koo, Honglei Sun, Huang Yi, Li Jing, Michelle Ye Xuan, Siu-Fai Cheung, directed by Johnnie To, written by Ryker Chan, Ka-Fai Wai, Nai-Hoi Yau, Xi Yu, action, drug war, police, crime, thriller, death penalty, meth lab, drug lord, former associates, intelligence, filmmaking, box office, budget, reviewed by Steve Erickson, Tom Russo, Ben Sachs, G Allen Johnson, Tirdad Derakhshani, Tom Keogh, Grant Watson, Ard Vijn, Mattie Lucas, Nicholas Bell, CJ Prince, Sarah Gopaul, R MPAA rating, produced by Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
Worldwide gross: $39,047,153
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $45,949,665
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,377
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,010,869
US/Canada gross: $365,639
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $430,274
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,364
US/Canada opening weekend: $146,630
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $172,550
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,721
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Honglei Sun – Zhang Lei
Huang Yi – Yang Xiaobei
Li Jing – Junior Dumb
Michelle Ye Xuan – Sal
Siu-Fai Cheung – Su
Director(s)
Johnnie To
Writer(s)
Ryker Chan, Ka-Fai Wai, Nai-Hoi Yau, Xi Yu
Producer(s)
Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
10 wins & 28 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (54) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (3)
Not only does the film never question the ethics of a war on drugs in which dealers and manufacturers are subject to the death penalty, it appears to enthusiastically endorse it.
November 4, 2013
Steve Erickson
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Another inkling of the style limitations perhaps most responsible for To’s lower visibility stateside compared with, say, his countrymen John Woo and Wong Kar-wai.
October 17, 2013 | Rating: 2/4
Tom Russo
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
Few other working filmmakers display this degree of visual sophistication and old-school craftsmanship.
August 15, 2013
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
As always, To delivers fantastic set pieces …
August 15, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
G. Allen Johnson
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Drug War is a deeply intelligent, exhilarating and eminently satisfying adult crime story, one of the best thrillers you’re likely to see this year.
August 15, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tirdad Derakhshani
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
An intense and constantly surprising crime story in which destiny seems to fold in on itself …
August 8, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4
Tom Keogh
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The action is regularly punctuated by moments of messy, inconvenient realism.
October 13, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Grant Watson
Fiction Machine
Not every last little thing may work in Johnnie To’s new crime thriller, but the vast majority of it clicks together as a damn solid piece of action craftsmanship, anchored by two good leads.
January 13, 2020
Ard Vijn
ScreenAnarchy
To is a born storyteller, and his work here is nothing short of astonishing. Drug War is a great film
August 7, 2019 | Rating: 3.5/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
An elegantly paced thriller that effectively avoids dependence on cliché.
July 24, 2019
Nicholas Bell
IONCINEMA.com
For fans of To Drug War can’t be missed, and for people new to his style it’s an excellent way to get introduced to a truly great director.
June 29, 2019 | Rating: 7.9/10
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
Drug War, is yet another feat of fantastic storytelling brought to the screen.
October 26, 2018
Sarah Gopaul
Digital Journal…
Plot
A police detective determined to catch the unseen boss of Asia’s biggest drug cartel joins hands with a revenge-thirsty member of the gang.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Louis Koo delivers a standout performance as the meth manufacturer turned informant in Drug War.
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