Bad Lieutenant

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Bad Lieutenant

NC-17

1992

1h 38m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

The Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) is a corrupt cop steeped in gambling debt who exploits his authority to sexually harass teenage girls, embezzle money and abuse drugs. His troubles come to a head when a mob lackey delivers an ultimatum: pay off his debt, or else. His fate appears sealed. But when The Lieutenant learns that a $50,000 reward is being offered to whoever catches a pair of thugs who raped a nun (Frankie Thorn), he jumps at the opportunity, hoping that he can still redeem himself.

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Critics Consensus

Bad Lieutenant will challenge less desensitized viewers with its depiction of police corruption, but Harvey Keitel's committed performance makes it hard to turn away.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Even by the scuzzy standards of Abel Ferrara’s filmography, Bad Lieutenant is particularly filthy.

Jun 5, 2024

Full Review

Peter Rainer

Los Angeles Times

[Keitel] keeps us watching his descent without wanting to look away. Only an actor with tremendous reserves of power could accomplish that.

Jan 8, 2019

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Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

It's a powerhouse performance in a film of jabbing intensity and wit.

Jan 8, 2019

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It may be atypical in its vivid unpleasantries, but this production isn’t particularly entertaining; its presentation of cops and crimes isn’t as original as it is merely boundary-pushing.

Rated: 5/10

Feb 6, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Keitel’s performance is astonishing, with the actor completely exposing himself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 18, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Ferrara seeks to expose his subject. What this film is about is the performance, Keitel’s absolute bearing of his character’s soul.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 30, 2023

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 39 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $47,500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/25/25

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Stephen C

One great classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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Dallas H

The Catholic guilt is spread on thick like Nutella on toast. As usual, Abel Ferrara loves to demonstrate the depravity of morality in the common human. Honestly, I prefer Ms. 45 over Bad Lieutenant, but this movie is filled with the in-our-face emotional strain. And it's crazy to see Zoë Lund appear in a small role as a drug junkie in this movie, as she also shared screenwriting credit with Ferrara and also appeared in the lead role in Ms. 45.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/25/24

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Sams K

Just great! One of Keitel best acting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/10/24

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Noel P

The best film I saw from the 90s. And the best performance by Harvey Keitel I've seen. Raw, disturbing, and even a little funny at times. It's also ironically the best film that maps out the difficult Catholic concept of forgiveness and redemption.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/24

Full Review

KB B

I had high hopes considering the "expert" reviews but it got longer and longer during the last third. Harvey Keitel is a decent actor but definitely cannot carry a movie on his own. Watch if there's absolutely nothing else on.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

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Abel Ferrara

Director

Harvey Keitel

The Lieutenant

Frankie Thorn

The Nun

Zoë Lund

Zoe

Anthony Ruggiero

Lite

Eddie Daniels

Jersey Girl (driver)

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - She Forgives You

1:41

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Fine Brown Stuff

2:59

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - I'm Sorry!

4:15

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Routine Traffic Stop

4:18

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Drug Counselor or Drug Dealer

2:30

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Corner Store Altercation

2:14

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Evidence

1:12

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Forgiveness

3:26

Bad Lieutenant: Official Clip - Baseball Gambling

1:43

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Synopsis

The Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) is a corrupt cop steeped in gambling debt who exploits his authority to sexually harass teenage girls, embezzle money and abuse drugs. His troubles come to a head when a mob lackey delivers an ultimatum: pay off his debt, or else. His fate appears sealed. But when The Lieutenant learns that a $50,000 reward is being offered to whoever catches a pair of thugs who raped a nun (Frankie Thorn), he jumps at the opportunity, hoping that he can still redeem himself.

Director: Abel Ferrara
Producer: Edward R. Pressman, Mary Kane
Screenwriter: Abel Ferrara, Zoë Lund
Production Co: Bad Lt. Productions
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA): $47.5K
Runtime: 1h 38m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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