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Kiss of Death

Play trailer Poster for Kiss of Death R 1995 1h 41m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
68% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 38% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After his time in prison, Jimmy Kilmartin (David Caruso) keeps his head down and provides for his wife and kids, until his cousin Ronnie (Michael Rapaport) ropes him into a large-scale car heist that goes bad. After several more years in the pen, a district attorney (Stanley Tucci) offers Jimmy a deal that will spring him if he agrees to go undercover and help nail murderous crime lord Little Junior Brown (Nicolas Cage). But Little Junior won't go down without a fight.
Kiss of Death

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An outstanding ensemble cast propels Kiss of Death, a noir-ish crime thriller that's slick and big on atmosphere, even if its script may only provide sporadic bursts of tension.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 06/07/2022
2/4
Both versions qualify as high-toned hackwork fitfully redeemed by a good story and some incidental pleasures involving the casting and camera work. Go to Full Review
Richard Schickel TIME Magazine 09/19/2008
What's most effective about the new Kiss of Death is Tucci's marvelously slimy prosecutor. Go to Full Review
Todd McCarthy Variety 09/19/2008
A crackling thriller that feels unusually attuned to its lowlife characters. Go to Full Review
Justin Brown Medium Popcorn 04/08/2024
3/5
David Caruso did a solid job leading this film and going up against an unhinged Nic Cage. I definitely don't think Caruso deserved a "Razzie" nomination for this performance. Go to Full Review
Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn 04/08/2024
4/5
I greatly enjoyed this crime thriller despite some heavy elements and moments. Nic Cage is insane per usual but the rest of the cast did a solid job as well. Go to Full Review
Mal Vincent The Virginian-Pilot 03/14/2022
3.5/4
Most effective are the authentic New York settings. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Blake- N @PBSAniDom 1d Kiss of Death (1995) is honestly a pretty creative crime thriller that immediately grabs your attention, especially after seeing the trailer. It sets up an interesting world with strong atmosphere and a solid premise that feels like it’s building toward something intense and meaningful. The cast does a good job bringing weight to the story, and there are moments of real tension that keep it engaging in the first two acts. However, as it moves into the third act, the film loses a bit of its earlier focus. The pacing becomes uneven and some of the momentum it built starts to fade, making the ending feel less impactful than expected. It doesn’t completely fall apart, but it does lose some of the edge that made the beginning so compelling. Still, it’s an interesting watch with strong ideas and decent execution overall. I rate it a 7/10. See more Ernie K @ErnieK Mar 18 This didn't do well when released but should have; good acting, real tension, and a compelling story line hold your interest. Now, in comparison I prefer the 1947 original, but this one is fine too. See more Matt L @Mattliptak Jan 14 Kiss of Death (1995) is a solid throwback to gritty ’90s crime thrillers, elevated by an unexpectedly deep and talented cast. David Caruso anchors the film with a restrained, grounded performance that gives the story real weight, while Nicolas Cage is perfectly unhinged as the villain, stealing every scene with his chaotic intensity. Add in strong supporting turns from Samuel L. Jackson, Stanley Tucci, Katherine Erbe, Helen Hunt, and Michael Rapaport, and you have a lineup that far exceeds what most crime remakes of the era ever delivered. The film moves well, keeps its tension intact, and delivers that dark, urban atmosphere that defined mid-’90s studio thrillers. The only real misstep is the background score, which feels overly dramatic and often clashes with the raw tone of the story, at times pulling you out of scenes that should feel far more natural. Not flawless, but carried by a powerhouse ensemble and anchored by two lead performances that make it well worth revisiting. See more colleen 04/19/2025 tight noir thriller shot entirely on location in nyc area mid-20th century. exceptional performance by richard widmark as criminal sociopath and solid turn by victor mature as the complex criminal with a heart yearning for a moral high ground in an unjust world. beautfully shot, tight and tense. top notch noir. See more Michael V @RT01374702 03/31/2024 Kiss of Death is a 1995 American crime thriller film directed and produced by Barbet Schroeder 🍿 It's ok, but I feel mixed about this one 😉 I'd recommend it if you like this genre, but if not then probably give it a miss 👍🏼👎🏼 S Jimmy Kilmartin is an ex-con trying to stay clean and raise a family. When his cousin Ronnie causes him to take a fall for driving an illegal transport of stolen cars, Detective Calvin Hart is injured and Jimmy lands back in prison. In exchange for an early release, he is asked to help bring down a local crime boss named 'Little Junior' Brown. However, he's also sent undercover by Detective Hart to work with Little Junior and infiltrate his operations. As soon as Little Junior kills an undercover Federal agent with Jimmy watching, the unscrupulous DA and the Feds further complicate his life. See more Steve D @RT35616104 02/18/2023 Caruso isn't good enough to make it work. See more Read all reviews
Kiss of Death

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis After his time in prison, Jimmy Kilmartin (David Caruso) keeps his head down and provides for his wife and kids, until his cousin Ronnie (Michael Rapaport) ropes him into a large-scale car heist that goes bad. After several more years in the pen, a district attorney (Stanley Tucci) offers Jimmy a deal that will spring him if he agrees to go undercover and help nail murderous crime lord Little Junior Brown (Nicolas Cage). But Little Junior won't go down without a fight.
Director
Barbet Schroeder
Producer
Susan Hoffman, Barbet Schroeder
Screenwriter
Eleazar Lipsky, Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, Richard Price
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 21, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$14.7M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo