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Black Rain

Play trailer 2:18 Poster for Black Rain R Released Sep 22, 1989 2h 5m Crime Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
54% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 55% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
New York City policemen Nick (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) witness a murder in a bar and quickly apprehend the assailant. The killer, named Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), is a member of Japan's infamous Yakuza mob, and Nick and Charlie must transport the gangster back to Osaka for his murder trial. There, Sato's fellow gangsters free him from police custody, forcing Nick and Charlie to scour Japan's dangerous underworld of organized crime in search of their fugitive.
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Black Rain

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Critics Consensus

Black Rain has its fair share of Ridley Scott's directorial flair, but its paint-by-numbers story never rises above genre conventions.

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Critics Reviews

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Joe Clay Times (UK) It’s full of cultural clichés and implausible plot twists, but Scott’s vision of modern-day Osaka as a glittering, futuristic metropolis is dazzling. Dec 14, 2022 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Even given all of its inconsistencies, implausibilities and recycled cliches, "Black Rain" might have been entertaining if the filmmakers had found the right note for the material. Rated: 2/4 Aug 1, 2001 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Analyzing it would be like giving a lobotomy to a pea. But as the waiter or chef would say, eat in silence. [Full review in Spanish] Jul 11, 2022 Full Review Peter Bowen OutWeek A rather xenophobic tale of American cops fighting Japanese crime. May 19, 2020 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Considering the caliber of talent, in front and behind the camera, Ridley Scott's violent cop thriller should have been more engaging and compelling Rated: C Apr 7, 2012 Full Review David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Rated: 3/5 Mar 1, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jerod S Douglas is taking the bad guy to Japan - but the whole thing is a bore. You'd think Ridley Scott would serve up more. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Sams K A badass action drama. Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia are just a great couple. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review Jay H It looks great - most Ridley Scott movies do. Ultimately, it's predictable and forgettable. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Marcus W This is the classic maverick rule breaking American/new York cop where the end justifies the means and if you just break the rules and go your own way then you can get results. Sounds like this could have been interesting juxtaposing it against Japanese culture and their more society based philosophy. However I'm fairly sure that the writer had never been to Japan, if you are thinking that you will get any deep insights into Japanese or even Yakuza culture with this movie then you will be sorely mistaken. The movie tries to create some kind of moral tension or plot by making Michael Douglas's character have ethical issues (theft) which the Japanese character helps him with however none of it makes sense. The NYC detectives have no jurisdiction in Japan but shoot Japanese criminals/citizens with complete impunity which is just one of the plot holes. This movie literally made me dumber by the end of it. Also too long. On a plus note I must say it was Ridley Scott directed so some of the scenes had a great vibe and look and cinematographical style to it however this is just not enough. The buddy cop dynamic just wasn't strong enough although Andy Garcia did make a likeable character. Dynamic between douglas and the Japanese cop just didn't make enough sense either. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/17/24 Full Review steve s I thought it was great. It's way better than the scores indicate. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review Charlie E Despite what many people think of this film, I absolutely loved it, definitely one of Ridley Scotts better films. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/02/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Black Rain

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Cast & Crew

Black Rain

Black Rain: Official Clip - Did You Take Money? Black Rain: Official Clip - Did You Take Money? 2:12 Black Rain: Official Clip - Yakuza Police Raid Black Rain: Official Clip - Yakuza Police Raid 2:05 Black Rain: Official Clip - Kendo Confrontation Black Rain: Official Clip - Kendo Confrontation 2:01 Black Rain: Official Clip - Arresting Sato Black Rain: Official Clip - Arresting Sato 1:47 Black Rain: Official Clip - Motorcycle Decapitation Black Rain: Official Clip - Motorcycle Decapitation 1:52 Black Rain: Official Clip - Yakuza Hideout Gunfight Black Rain: Official Clip - Yakuza Hideout Gunfight 1:14 Black Rain: Official Clip - Airport Trickery Black Rain: Official Clip - Airport Trickery 2:02 Black Rain: Official Clip - Motorcycle Chase Black Rain: Official Clip - Motorcycle Chase 2:04 Black Rain: Official Clip - New York Motorcycle Race Black Rain: Official Clip - New York Motorcycle Race 1:44 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis New York City policemen Nick (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) witness a murder in a bar and quickly apprehend the assailant. The killer, named Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), is a member of Japan's infamous Yakuza mob, and Nick and Charlie must transport the gangster back to Osaka for his murder trial. There, Sato's fellow gangsters free him from police custody, forcing Nick and Charlie to scour Japan's dangerous underworld of organized crime in search of their fugitive.
Director
Ridley Scott
Producer
Stanley R. Jaffe, Sherry Lansing
Screenwriter
Craig Bolotin, Warren Lewis
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Pegasus Film Partners
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 22, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 11, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$44.9M
Runtime
2h 5m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby SR, Stereo
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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