Chris Penn, Don Cheadle, Kate Walsh

Max "The King of Alibis" Burdett and his beautiful accomplice Lola have come to Paradise Island in the Bahamas, fresh off their final big score in which they lifted the second of the three famous Napo...( read more  read more... )leon diamonds. With their financial future set, the couple is ready to relax and enjoy their hard-earned riches. But Stan, the FBI agent who has spent years in dogged but failed pursuit of Max, refuses to believe that his nemesis is actually calling it quits. He thinks that Max and Lola are actually plotting to steal the third Napoleon diamond--one of the three largest non-flawed diamonds in the world--, which is coincidentally scheduled to arrive on Paradise Island as part of a touring cruise ship exhibition. Since he has no jurisdiction in the Caribbean country, Stan teams with a local cop and sets out to catch the sly Max and Lola in the act, while at the same time a local gangster has his own plans for the diamond. When the longtime adversaries meet up in paradise, Max quickly turns the tables and befriends the frustrated detective, showing him that Paradise Island has no shortage of pleasures to offer. But in order for Stan to figure out exactly what Max and Lola are up to, he will have to navigate all the twists and double-crosses of an action-packed story of friendship, suspicion and thievery

Flixster Users

59% liked it

12,432 ratings

Critics

19% liked it

134 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Brett Ratner

Release Date: November 12, 2004

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DVD Release Date: March 29, 2005

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Stats: 1,230 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,230)


  • September 24, 2009
    Quite good considering I had not expectations for it! Brosnan is still a bit Bond like though and will have to work hard to shake the typecast!
  • July 11, 2008
    brosnans best non bond film, good flick
  • March 5, 2008
    could not come up with a single original idea
  • August 12, 2007
    Oh this is bloody the bomb. Incredible! The story of what happens after a master thief achieves his last big score, when the FBI agent who promised he'd capture him is about to do just that.
  • August 1, 2007
    A movie with nothing new nor distinctive to offer. still mildly charming. a harmless entertainment.
  • November 8, 2009
    Crazy plot, but still a fun movie.
  • October 23, 2009
    No matter what filmgoers think of him as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan has always been great at one thing ? playing thieves.

    From Remington Steele to Neil Skinner (The Heist) to Thomas Crown, Brosnan has always been Hollywood?s go to guy to play suave, handsome burglars. The same q...( read more)ualities that make him an excellent James Bond ? urbane wit, tough sophistication, tangible resourcefulness, burning sexuality ? make him the perfect choice to play an unstoppable thief. And while most actors would try to avoid type-casting, staying away from roles that they?re perfect for, Brosnan embraces his calling, playing thief after thief after thief with infectious joy.

    His latest charismatic crook is Max Burdett, the world?s greatest jewel thief. Max, along with his partner and lover, Lola (Salma Hayek), pulls off the greatest heist of his career, stealing the second Napoleon diamond from its protector ? FBI Special Agent Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson).

    Mission complete, diamond in hand, Max and Lola retire to an island in the Caribbean and put their thieving days behind them -- until Lloyd shows up on their island a year or so later. He brings along news that the third and final Napoleon diamond ? the one Max has never stolen ? is being displayed aboard a cruise ship that?s making berth on the island for two full weeks. And Lloyd is here to catch Max in the act.

    There really is nothing new under the sun, and there is definitely nothing new in After the Sunset. It is a classic, cliché ridden, jewel heist picture from start to finish. But, despite its standard issue plot and direction, there are two reasons to see After the Sunset ? Brosnan and some strong character development.

    As usual, Brosnan makes us believe he?s capable of the conniving, trickery and skill Max needs to pull of the theft. But it?s the other things he does that make After the Sunset worth watching. There are some moments of real comedic chemistry between Brosnan and Harrelson, with the former playing straight man to the latter?s goofiness, and, in this case, it?s the straight man who is the key to their chemistry. Brosnan?s best work, however, is with Salma Hayek. He makes the most of a couple of nice plot devices, turning his unwritten marriage vows and his lack of a hobby into fine moments of character development.

    Screenwriters Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg provide similar opportunities to the other actors, and both Woody Harrelson and Salma Hayek make the most of their chances to create compelling and fun characters. Hayek?s beach deck building, yoga stretching and lovemaking help her to rise above cliché, while Harrelson?s complete embracing of cliché makes him a loveable throwback to the buddy films of the 80s.

    All told, After the Sunset is not particularly inventive, surprising, thrilling or exciting. But, thanks to its stars, particularly Pierce Brosnan?s scruffy but sophisticated thief, it is very entertaining. And that?s just what a good night at the movies should be.
  • October 21, 2009
    The filmmakers of After the Sunset get all the ingredients right, but have no idea how to measure them in a way that makes for a tasty dish. Instead, everyone goes through familiar motions in predictable ways, in the hopes that by following the directions of others so closely, t...( read more)he same results will occur in the finished product. Without inspiration, it just doesn't ever rise to be anything more than a good looking, sexy diversion. It delivers the predictable goods, but never manages to cross into unexpected territory, content to play out like the b-movie that it is.

    Of course, most of the humor comes from the two adversaries (Max and Stan) linked by their love for the same game, and perhaps this love is more than platonic. Amusing, although a bit overdone.
  • September 30, 2009
    Welcome to the paradise. A very fascinating action film with a bitter sweet taste of a Paradise like Island of the Bahamas.
  • September 21, 2009
    Somehow manages to be funny, action packed, intriguing and sleek all at the same time. Also as a plus it kind of merges Brosnan's James Bond and his Thomas Crown characters to make Max in this film.

Critic Reviews


May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Behind the curve. full review

November 18, 2004
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A movie utterly devoid of wit , excitement and any reason for being. full review

November 12, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

After the Sunset is content to take in the sights and ogle the ladies. full review

November 12, 2004
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

After the Sunset is about as flat-footed a heist caper as I've ever seen: clumsy where it should be graceful, lumpy where it should be sleek. full review

November 12, 2004
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

The movie floats by like a drunken, mindless afternoon. full review

November 12, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

After the Sunset is skillfully made, but it's not necessary. full review

November 11, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

After the Sunset is the kind of glossy, Hollywood-forged waste of time that would depress even the most happily lackadaisical retiree. full review

View more After the Sunset reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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After the Sunset Trivia


  • Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson and Don Cheadle.  Answer »
  • in which movie did pierce brosnan had the role of a thief?  Answer »
  • In which movie feature all of this actor:Pierce Brosnan,Salma Hayek,Woody Harrelson,Don Cheadle,Naomie Harris,Karl Malone,Gary Payton,Shaquille O'neal and Chris Penn?  Answer »
  • Who starred in the movie "After the Sunset"?  Answer »

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