IMDb > King of New York (1990)
King of New York
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King of New York (1990) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 3)
King of New York (1990) -- A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.
King of New York (1990) -- A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.
King of New York (1990) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   9,237 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 9% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Abel Ferrara
Writer (WGA):
Nicholas St. John (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for King of New York on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 September 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
Not everyone who runs a city is elected. more
Plot:
A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(17 articles)
Game Of Death Loses Director Abel Ferrara
 (From Cinema Blend. 1 November 2009, 2:12 PM, PST)
The Good, The Bad And The Wtf: Taiwanese Transformers Defend Us from Melancholia
 (From JustPressPlay. 11 October 2009, 7:34 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Style Over Substance more (90 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Christopher Walken ... Frank White

David Caruso ... Dennis Gilley

Laurence Fishburne ... Jimmy Jump (as Larry Fishburne)
Victor Argo ... Roy Bishop

Wesley Snipes ... Thomas Flanigan
Janet Julian ... Jennifer
Joey Chin ... Larry Wong

Giancarlo Esposito ... Lance
Paul Calderon ... Joey Dalesio

Steve Buscemi ... Test Tube

Theresa Randle ... Raye
Leonard L. Thomas ... Blood (as Leonard Lee Thomas)
Roger Guenveur Smith ... Tanner (as Roger Smith)
Carrie Nygren ... Melanie
Ernest Abuba ... King Tito
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
Italy | USA | UK
Language:
Spanish | English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Certification:
New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2004) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | USA:X (original rating)
Filming Locations:
5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA more
Company:
Caminito more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Abel Ferrara and screenwriter Nicholas St. John worked on the screenplay for 5 years. There was very little improvisation on the set. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the car chase, the damage on the cop car's rear passenger side door appears and disappears several times. more
Quotes:
Dennis Gilley: Frank's Park-Avenue attorney can get him out in TEN MINUTES. TEN MINUTES later, he's back on the street again. There's only one way to get Frank...
Roy Bishop: So what, are you going to shoot everybody you can't arrest?
Dennis Gilley: ...We can make it look like a rival gang.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in L'appât (1995) more
Soundtrack:
Dream On more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
9 out of 11 people found the following comment useful.
Style Over Substance, 13 October 2005
8/10
Author: jack_thursby from United States

This is a strange movie. The IMDb trivia notes for the movie state that the director and writer spent five years working on the script, yet the story is disjointed and doesn't have a strong plot. The story basically follows the life of drug kingpin Frank White (Christopher Walken) after he is released from prison and re-enters the criminal world to reclaim his drug empire. However, there's not much character development and many of the characters are one dimensional. And the movie could be called over-stylized.

Yet, somehow it all works and this movie, while not a classic, could be considered a cult classic for its great cinematography, superb acting performances, tense action sequences, its cinematic risk taking and its outright coolness. For a movie shot in the late 80's (released in 1990) its ahead of its time.

Christopher Walken gives a great performance as Frank White. Many viewers who may only know Walken from his more recent appearances as "the weird but cool guy" will be surprised by the multifaceted performance he gives here. The late Victor Argo's performance as White's nemesis on the police force, Roy Bishop, should also be noted. Argo gives a note perfect, yet nuanced portrayal, of a weary, "seen it all" cop who is determined to get his man.

Wesley Snipes and Laurence Fishburne were still early in their film careers while appearing in this movie, but you can clearly see the qualities that would make them stars. Both bring depth and realism to their otherwise stock characters. David Caruso also does a great job with his character. One of the shortcomings of the movie is that there's no strong female lead... Frank White has a relationship with one of his attorney's, Jennifer (Janet Julian), but the script leaves out a lot of details (e.g., why they are together in the first place). In fact, all the women in this movie look like models which only adds to the stylized unreality the movie creates.

Finally, I have to mention the oldschool rap soundtrack which fits the proceedings to a "t".

If you are a fan of crime/action movies, "King of New York" comes recommended, but fair warning, its not your typical gangsta flick.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for King of New York (1990)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Here are the many flaws in this movie. Killakai
King of New York better than Scarface?? azn_pryde15
Anyone else find Fishburne hilarious? (spoilers) kevfent
Notorious BIG gizmo2k
This movie is nothing short of great exclusiveburner
Did Frank mess up Gilley's car beforehand (spoilers) kevfent
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