The Corruptor (1998)

NEUTRAL

Various

56%

1999, Action, 1h 50m

RT Critics’ Score: 48% (UNBIASED)
RT Audience Score: 43%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination

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Critics Consensus

This uninspiring cop thriller doesn’t measure up to Chow Yun-Fat’s Hong Kong work

Audience Consensus

The Corruptor is like a bad cop movie that’s trying too hard to be cool. It’s got all the cliches you can think of, but none of the charm. Chow Yun-Fat is wasted in this Hollywood vehicle that doesn’t do justice to his talents. The story is trite and the messages are mixed, making it hard to root for anyone. If you want to see Yun-Fat at his best, go back to his Hong Kong films. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Storyline

Nick Chen is one of New York City’s most martial police officers and the first Chinese-born immigrant on the force. Chen’s job is to keep the peace in Chinatown from a turf war that has broken out between the Triads and the ruthless, and dangerous Fukienese Dragons. Chen teams up with Danny Wallace, who is terribly unaware of this situation. When the Tongs boldly attempt to bribe Wallace, Chen is forced to keep his faithfulness.

Production Company(ies)
Bold Films, Blumhouse Productions, Right of Way Films,

Distributor
New Line Cinema

Release Type
Theatrical

Filming Location(s)
Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, language and sexuality

Year of Release
1999

Technical Specs

Color:

Color
Sound mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
Aspect ratio:

2.39 : 1
Runtime:

1h 50m
Language(s):

English, Cantonese
Country of origin:

United States
Release date:

Release Date (Theaters): Mar 12, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 28, 2013

Genre(s)
Action

Keyword(s)
starring Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Jon Kit Lee, Elizabeth Lindsey, Byron Mann, directed by James Foley, written by Robert Pucci, action, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Owen Gleiberman, Michael Atkinson, Tom Maurstad, Tom Keogh, Gene Seymour, James Berardinelli, CSM Staff, Jeanne Aufmuth, James Rocchi, Chuck Rudolph, Jim Chastain, Michael Dequina, R rating, police procedural, corruption, bribery, gangs, New York City, Chinatown, martial arts, Detective Nick Chen, colleague Danny Wallace, bad guys, police forces, law, bloodshed, producer Dan Halsted, released March 12, 1999, runtime 1h 50m, distributor New Line Cinema, sound mix SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround

Box Office Details

Worldwide gross: $24,493,601
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $43,966,697
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,395
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 4,794,623

US/Canada gross: $15,164,492
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,220,686
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,303
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,765,300
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $10,348,874
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 943

Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $44,875,697
Production budget ranking: 870
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $24,165,563
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$25,074,563
ROI to date (est.): -36%
ROI ranking: 1,605

Cast & Crew

Chow Yun-Fat

Mark Wahlberg

Ric Young

Jon Kit Lee

Elizabeth Lindsey

Nick Chen

Danny Wallace

Henry Lee

Jack

Louise Deng

Chow Yun-Fat – Nick Chen
Mark Wahlberg – Danny Wallace
Ric Young – Henry Lee
Jon Kit Lee – Jack
Elizabeth Lindsey – Louise Deng
Byron Mann – Bobby Vu
Director – James Foley
Producer – Dan Halsted
Writer – Robert Pucci

James Foley

Robert Pucci

Dan Halsted

Director

Writer

Producer

Director(s)
James Foley

Writer(s)
Robert Pucci

Producer(s)
Dan Halsted

Film Festivals

Awards & Nominations
1 nomination

Academy Awards

Top Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Michael Atkinson

Tom Maurstad

Tom Keogh

Gene Seymour

Entertainment Weekly

Mr. Showbiz

Dallas Morning News

Film.com

Newsday

THE CORRUPTOR
All Critics (48) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (23) | Rotten (25)
September 7, 2011 | Rating: B

Owen Gleiberman
Entertainment Weekly
TOP CRITIC
It’s rote baloney, trotting out every dead-stupid cop-movie cliche in the book and doing it colorlessly.

January 1, 2000

Michael Atkinson
Mr. Showbiz
TOP CRITIC
Take away all the flash and dazzle, and what you’re left with in The Corruptor is a police procedural.

January 1, 2000

Tom Maurstad
Dallas Morning News
TOP CRITIC
A half-hearted photograph of the real thing.

January 1, 2000

Tom Keogh
Film.com
TOP CRITIC
James Foley directs with lean, mean stylishness and the charismatic Yun-Fat finally gets a Hollywood vehicle worthy of his talents.

January 1, 2000

Gene Seymour
Newsday
TOP CRITIC
January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2.5/4

James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
The trite story has plenty of distasteful moments.

March 21, 2019 | Rating: 2/4

CSM Staff
Christian Science Monitor
May 14, 2003 | Rating: 3/4

Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly
November 7, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5

James Rocchi
Netflix
A memo to Chow Yun-Fat: Get back to Hong Kong on the double!

April 20, 2001 | Rating: short

Chuck Rudolph
Matinee Magazine
The bad messages this film sends out clearly outweigh the positive ones.

March 12, 2001

Jim Chastain
Norman Transcript
For some reason, American filmmakers have yet to figure out how to properly use Chow Yun-Fat.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4

Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com…

Plot
Nick Chen is one of New York City’s most martial police officers and the first Chinese-born immigrant on the force. Chen’s job is to keep the peace in Chinatown from a turf war that has broken out between the Triads and the ruthless, and dangerous Fukienese Dragons. Chen teams up with Danny Wallace, who is terribly unaware of this situation. When the Tongs boldly attempt to bribe Wallace, Chen is forced to keep his faithfulness.

Trivia