Anthony 'Treach' Criss, Delilah Cotto, Denise Richards

Victor Rosa runs a successful "street pharmaceutical" business that peddles a high-in-demand heroin mix, which he has named "Empire". His beautiful fiancee, Carmen, a Baruch College student, befriends...( read more  read more... ) a classmate who has an investment-banker boyfriend named Jack Wimmer. Victor meets Jack, and they instantly connect. Both are hard-core businessmen from two different sides of the legal fence. When Jack offers Victor a piece of the action on the stock market, Victor finally sees that this could be his ticket out of the violent streets of the South Bronx--and so, he jumps at the opportunity. But there is a bigger price to be paid than clean money for his gorgeous new Soho lifestyle. For the first time, Victor is confronted with a price tag that he will find very difficult to pay.

Flixster Users

66% liked it

8,445 ratings

Critics

21% liked it

99 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Franc Reyes

Release Date: January 1, 2002

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DVD Release Date: March 18, 2003

 

Stats: 345 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (345)


  • June 25, 2008
    itz ayte
  • January 30, 2007
    Not as good as it could have been.
  • November 21, 2009
    Vic is a drug dealer and a gang leader with a biutiful g/friend. i wil call him victim of cercumstance, tryin not to physically hurt anybody while doin wat his good at. His life became fucked up when he meet a guy from "WALL STREET" tru his g/friend's friend....
    If Vic were to b...( read more)e born in Maitama, Asokoro or VGC, he shud own upto a 100 company BUT was born in Ajegunle and even at that, still make the best use of his TALENT to make his life worthwhile.
  • October 25, 2009
    Damn good drug dealing, shooting thug, killing everyone, tipe of movie!
  • September 27, 2009
    kinda like a mix between carlito's way and scarface,not as good acting tho.i liked the movie and it was a great twist with the con.
  • September 22, 2009
    its a nice movie with moral lesson.
  • September 15, 2009
    Memories NYC..... Touching base.
  • September 11, 2009
    Not a bad flick could use more depth in my opinion
  • August 26, 2009
    I don't remember this John Leguizamo movie ever receiving a theatrical release. Good thing because it would've saved many viewers their money and time. One word of caution; avoid the trailer at all cost if you really want to enjoy the turn-in-events in the movie that happens in ...( read more)the final act. Another negative was the voice-over narrative by John Leguizamo who plays the leading character. That technique did not work for me here and when the ending of the movie came it was just totally the stupidest thing of I've seen.
  • August 22, 2009
    good about trust & betrayal & "if it sounds too good to be true..."

Critic Reviews


December 6, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

A gangster movie with the capacity to surprise. full review

December 6, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It has the right approach and the right opening premise, but it lacks the zest and it goes for a plot twist instead of trusting the material. full review

December 6, 2002
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The movie's action unfolds laboriously before us, dragged along, bumpety-bumpety, by the plodding voiceover that Leguizamo has the misfortune of delivering. full review

December 5, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Stereotypical, banally written bloodbath. full review

December 5, 2002
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Ultimately just one more urban gangland genre flick. full review

View more Empire reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • zidane25
    August 18, 2006
    Jhon Leguizamo acts very good in this movie, the character was perfect for him. The story is very interesting and the end is...inexpected

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Empire Trivia


  • Name the actress who starred in Empire Records, Armageddon,and LOR Fellowship.   Answer »
  • Which actress has appeared in the following movies: Armageddon, Empire Records, The Lord of the Rings, Jersey Girl and Stealing Beauty?   Answer »
  • From which film does the quote "Damn the man, blame the empire!" come from?  Answer »
  • In which Spielberg film did Welsh actor, Christian Bale, make his debut?  Answer »

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