Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Carla Gugino

Two Veteran New York City Detectives hunt a vigilante who may be one of their own.

Flixster Users

46% liked it

20,324 ratings

Critics

21% liked it

136 critics

R, 1 hr. 41 min.

Directed by: Jon Avnet

Release Date: September 10, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 6, 2009

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Stats: 6,033 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,033)


  • September 6, 2009
    It's a knockout. A complete powerhouse of a thriller that laced with suspense, a great cast and explosive action. A tremendous, thrilling, intelligent and sensational film. It is always entertaining with enough action, drama and surprises to keep you satisfyed. It's spellbinding,...( read more) adreniline-pumping, breathtaking and exhilerating all the way through to the end. Absorbing, dark, cold, compelling, intensely gripping, hard-edged and riveting. Well-paced, well-crafted, terifficly written and superbly performed by it's very talented cast. Powerful, extroadinary and unforgettable. Absolutely incrediable, heart-pounding and spectacular. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro are magnififcent, brilliant, compelling and have never been better. Just amasing performances by two amasing actors. It's awsome to see these guys take the screen together again. Their chemistry is brilliant, they have style, humor and attitude. You couldnt ask for a better match up. Where in Heat, they were squaring off, we got only a taste of them being in a few scenes together, where as here they own every scene they are in. A masterpiece. Director, Jon Avnet's best film yet. A fantastic and excellent film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. One of the best police thrillers in years.
  • July 21, 2009
    Awful waste of time. The twist was predictable and pointless. The writing was boring and silly. Not my kind of movie and by that I mean the kind that suck. I respect the actors, but the story and direction didn't support the acting as it should have.
  • June 30, 2009
    When I initially saw the trailer for Righteous Kill I knew it was going to be bad. I just didn't think it was going to be this bad. Robert DeNiro got through his role with a furrowed brow and some grumpiness while Al Pacino coasted through the movie with mostly vacant stares and ...( read more)some vague charm. But all I really saw were dollar signs in both sets of eyes. The story was the very definition of weakness (two of the greatest American actors ever and this is all we can find for them? This is like getting Stephen Hawking a job at a science museum gift shop!) and by the time the twist came around all I could respond with was a lackluster "ooh." Aside from Carla Gugino the only other thing I can give Righteous Kill was the scene where DeNiro kicked the shit out of 50 Cent and the part where Pacino... well,. see for yourself if you've absolutely got to see Righteous Kill. The supporting cast was good enough and the chemistry between Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo was pretty good, unlike the movie. I think the director was either suffering from too many chromosomes or was getting bullied by his producers, who had to be thinking that DeNiro and Pacino were going to carry this steaming turd to the bank. If you Google the words "total waste" or "complete shame" Righteous Kill is bound to show up.
  • June 14, 2009
    This was a pretty good one with the story that flows perfectly. Pacino and De Niro were great. The intelligently presented plot makes this one worth seeing.
  • April 24, 2009
    Big Actors filling big shoes. New generation 21st century movie. Good family cop film. De Niro and Pacino have a good chemistry.
  • November 7, 2009
    Ho passato tutto il film a pensare che fosse De Niro lo stronzo, quando invece era Pacino e soprattutto con un pelino in più d'attenzione lo avrei capito anche all'inizio perché lo spiegava °_°, yay me.
    E comunque vederli insieme è sempre un brivido.
  • November 5, 2009
    De Niro and Pacino are so bad these days that it might just be a good idea for them to hurry up and die, so that we as a society and southern hip hop moguls can just classify them as the greatest actors of the last 40 years. That way, like everyone famous that dies we forget abou...( read more)t all the shit they made in there later years, i.e. Jacko. Bobby D is at least trying a little harder than Al, but not by much. I couldn't tell if I was watching Pacino or maybe it might really just be Frank Caliendo doing his impression. It's pretty much the same thing. When in his career did he decide to never blink and talk like that all time. Yeah he won an Oscar for doing that, but it doesn't mean you have to do it for 20 years after that.

    Oh yeah the story is weak and the it looks like bad episode of NYPD Blue. The one redeeming value I guess is you get to see De Niro bang Carla Gugino. That got a little Chuckle out of me
  • November 1, 2009
    Very intense what a twist at ghe end. Robert and Al still got it.
  • October 30, 2009
    I don't care what reviewers say, I actually liked this movie. I think Al Pacino was my favorite part about the entire film, in fact. His dialogue was funny, I always looked forward to what he had to say. 50 Cent was funny too; I was a little worried about him being in it. He's a ...( read more)funny guy, but that bullet-induced injury to the cheek makes him sound like he's talking with marbles in his mouth sometimes. The only problem with cop drama films nowadays is that they have to compete with televised dramas like the Law & Order franchise and various others. They've already set the bar high, and all films have is a slightly bigger budget and the ability to show nudity and a little more violence and nudity. Sometimes the television plots are better than the film ones. In fact, I kept feeling that if this movie were tweaked properly, it would've been a short series or a made-for-TV movie. =/
  • October 29, 2009
    I was really sorry to see two titans in a horrible movie! It's such a waste of talent!

Critic Reviews


September 26, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

The movie goes nowhere and takes 100 minutes to do so. It should have cut its losses, gone for comedy and called itself Grumpy Old Cops. full review

September 12, 2008
Pete Hammond, Back Stage

If the movie isn't anything to write home about, Pacino and DeNiro are. full review

September 12, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Pacino has a few funny lines, as does Leguizamo, but not nearly enough to save the film from collapsing under the weight of its own self-righteous tedium. full review

September 11, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Enduring a contrived and convoluted crime drama would be worthwhile if it featured powerhouse performances from the two best screen actors of their generation. Such is not the case. full review

September 11, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Righteous Kill, a.k.a. The Al and Bob Show, is a cop flick with all the drama of Law and Order: AARP. full review

View more Righteous Kill reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • terris85017
    January 11, 2009
    (2008 Director: John Avnet) After reading Daniele's review, NOW I want to see this!! I loved the movie "Heat" WHICH co-starred these same 2 legends...but on opposite sides of the law. Overdue to see them both together on the same screen
  • paulhaas91
    December 2, 2008
    it was bull crap that 50 cent had to get shot in the head lol
  • robertallenandersonjr
    September 2, 2008
    This will be the best movie of the year most likely.
  • Ray0fTheDead
    August 4, 2008
    There is definetly a very dark overtone of conspiracy in this flick. I guarantee that one of the two GREATS have their hand in the cookie jar. Just watching the trailer gives me the chills about this synopsis. And I heard Armand Assante is the rip roaring bad ass villian. I'll never know until I am ass deep in that comfy theater chair. Can't wait.
  • kgarnett5
    July 13, 2008
    rob dydreks in it he gets shot in the head...
  • FilmFanatic92
    November 8, 2007
    I Hope 50 Cent Doesnt Ruin This Movie. When You Have Two Great Actors Like Pacino And De Niro, The Last Thing You Need Is A Mediocre Rapper Messing Up The Whole Thing. Lets Hope For The Best. The Film Does Have John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, And Carla Gugino... :)

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Righteous Kill Trivia


  • What is the name of the new Film Pacino and De Niro are doing together?  Answer »
  • What recently released crime thriller saw Robert De Niro and Al Pacino acting together again?  Answer »
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