Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

84% Tomatometer 159 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

Tells the dark story of suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. He is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death. As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways.

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Narc

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Critics Consensus

Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are electrifying in this gritty, if a little too familiar, cop drama.

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Critics Reviews

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Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Nell Minow Common Sense Media Intense cop movie for adults. Rated: 3/5 Dec 26, 2010 Full Review Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (2) J. R. Jones Chicago Reader As a director Carnahan definitely has the goods... Unfortunately the script is your basic renegade-cop narrative, with the usual hoo-ha about justice versus the law. Apr 9, 2008 Full Review Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Time Out If Carnahan keeps wrenching this material back an inch or two from clich, it's only an inch or two. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Ian Kane Epoch Times Just note there’s some drug use, though it’s depicted in a cautionary manner. The storyline can be perplexing at times, but the performances from Mr. Patric and Liotta are truly outstanding. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 3, 2024 Full Review Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Emilie Black Cinema Crazed The film is one of those well-written, well-directed, and well-done on just about every single level. The work by Carnahan here shows talent and dedication to the story on his second feature film as a director and an early feature as a writer. Rated: 4.5/5 May 9, 2024 Full Review Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: B- Jan 28, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alexis P I'm watching this movie right now!!! It's on channel 51 (Bounce), in PHX. AZ. Ray liotta has got to be an all-time favorite he looks rather young in this movie but too bad he had to leave us already. If you get a chance watch Jason Patrick in oh my gosh what is that movie the one with Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Rush". Excellent movie if u want close to being REAL!!! Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Nathan W This felt a lot like cop movies of old. Minimal backstory and we have to figure the rest out as the movie unfolds. I thought Ray Liotta gave a top notch performance in this one. He was as intense as I've ever seen him and even a little frightening at times. Definitely had some good cop/bad cop vibes going on that made for an interesting dynamic (The retired family man secretly investigating the loose cannon cop). The story is not anything new, or even special, but there was plenty of drama to keep it interesting right to the end. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/30/24 Full Review Alec C How deep do you have to go under in order to discover the truth?! As a narcotics operative wants to retire from undercover work and pursue a desk job, he's asked to investigate the death of a fellow narc along with the deceased's partner and is forced to confront the harsh reality of the narcotics operations and the moral ambiguity associated with. Haunting in its representation of the cost of doing service, this thriller manages to stay with you long after the credits roll! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/11/24 Full Review Forged S This is an emotional wreck of a movie. A great early entry from director Joe Carnahan that dives deep into the psyche of the two officers, with ulterior motives, as they investigate the murder of an undercover narcotics officer. From the use of color to convey the dichotomy between the warmth and safety inside the lead protagonist's (played by Jason Patrick) home to the cold color palette of the outside world, full of uncertainty, or a gripping conversation between Patrick's character and the officer he's secretly investigating (played by Ray Liotta) and the use of the reflections from the trees on the car window spreading across each character to represent a growing distrust and clouded judgement between the two, the symbolism in this movie is off the charts. Don't expect to leave this movie feeling clean. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review Audience Member The late Ray Liotta and Jason Patric star in a cop drama directed by Joe Carnahan It centers on a suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty He is teamed with Henry Oak, the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death Oak lost his wife to cancer and her passing made his job much easier, more concerned about doing the right and wrong, lsss avoit rules and regulations As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways The blue tint makes this cityscape look cold and calculating, Liotta and Patric make a good pair, and the twist is actually very shocking The ending is super intense and suspenseful cause both characters do what they can to close the case with conflicting ideals It throws back to those old gritty cop dramas of the 1970s Carnahan makes a very grimy, realistic cop film with two intense leads Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/20/22 Full Review william w Awesome movie. Ray Liotta was fire! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/28/22 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Joe Carnahan Director Ray Liotta Henry Oak Jason Patric NIck Tellis Chi McBride Captain Cheevers Busta Rhymes Beery Anne Openshaw Kathryn Calvess
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Synopsis Tells the dark story of suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. He is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death. As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways.

Director
Joe Carnahan

Producer
Diane Nabatoff, Ray Liotta, Michelle Grace, Julius R. Nasso

Screenwriter
Joe Carnahan

Distributor
Paramount Pictures

Production Co
Paramount

Rating
R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Strong Brutal Violence)

Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 10, 2003, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011

Box Office (Gross USA)
$10.5M

Runtime
1h 45m

Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Most Popular at Home Now
Narc | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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