Colors

Colors (1988)

  • 82% of critics liked it
    (28 reviews)

  • 66% of users liked it
    (27,157 ratings)

Colors stars Robert Duvall and Sean Penn as partners on the LAPD's gang crime division. Duvall had hoped to spend more time with his family, but he's pulled back into active service because of a step-up in gang activity. He makes no secret of his contempt for his novice partner Penn, but eventually… More

Play Trailer

R, 2 hr.
Directed By
Dennis Hopper
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Apr 15, 1988 Wide
On DVD
Oct 2, 2001
Orion Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    Colors is a solidly crafted depiction of some current big-city horrors and succeeds largely because of the Robert Duvall-Sean Penn teaming as frontline cops. They're terrific together as members of the gang crime division of the LAPD.

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    Though its story has the makings of standard stuff, and is sometimes sketchily told, nothing about 'Colors is ordinary.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    It's an exhilarating sparring match between Duvall's workmanlike fine-tuning and Penn's raw energy.

  • Hal Hinson, Washington Post

    There's great pleasure in watching these two actors work. And Hopper, a great actor himself, knows what they need to thrive.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    Colors is a special movie -- not just a police thriller, but a movie that has researched gangs and given some thought to what it wants to say about them.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Anthony L


    A fairly decent film but a little contrived at times. Oh, and the word ?Color? should have a U in it!! Expected more from Hopper though!

  • Lenny M


    Good cop film, nothing special about the film if you watch it now, back then it had more of an impact. Good acting and screenplay.

  • Lady D


    A film with issues, still very relevant today, yet dated by the music and clothing. I particularly like the relationship between Penn and Duval, a great rookie film.

  • Al S


    A explosive, shocking, unsettling and heart-pounding drama. Thrilling, frequently exciting and all the way exhilerating. Gritty and realistic. Robert Duvall and Sean Penn are excellent. Their performances are truly brilliant and satisfying.

  • EightThirty .


    Oldshool...This is what started that Gangster Gangster ^_^

Read all 12 featured audience ratings

Cast

See full cast

Trailers & Clips

More Like This

facebook_logo

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

  • Discover movies your friends are watching
  • Keep track of what you want to see
  • Add your reviews to your Timeline