Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

R

2005

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

86%

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183 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he's flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). This deadpan, affectionate parody of film noir tropes is named for film critic Pauline Kael's influential 1968 collection of film reviews and essays.

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Critics Consensus

Tongue-in-cheek satire blends well with entertaining action and spot-on performances in this dark, eclectic neo-noir homage.

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Christopher Orr

The Atlantic

The plot of the film is almost willfully convoluted. But it's also largely beside the point, an excuse for quite a few good scenes, most of them equal parts homage and subversion.

Dec 14, 2014

Full Review

Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

A sarky, sniping film noir homage that assassinates the character of every LA archetype you could imagine.

Dec 14, 2014

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Philippa Hawker

The Age (Australia)

A self-referential noir-screwball-action movie that never wears out its welcome -- although it delights in taking that risk, over and over again.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 14, 2014

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

From its opening moments, it’s clear Black isn’t making a buddy/action movie as much as a send-up of a buddy/action movie.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 9, 2025

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Although the novelty of a protagonist whos aware hes in a noir thriller grows tiresome, the comic banter between Downey Jr. and Kilmer remains priceless for much of the film.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 15, 2022

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Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

Funny, violent, smart and pitched perfectly to anyone who wants their own sun-blasted dirtbag Christmas mystery, this could be your It's A Wonderful Life.

Sep 10, 2021

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Adam K

Despite all the blood, Kiss/Bang ends up being a remarkably good-natured and surprisingly moralistic little film.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/03/25

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Olivia J

Black plays with the 21st-century spectator's expectations of perverse plot twists to highlight his characters' humanity.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/25

Full Review

Piya S

This satire works thanks to Shane Black's assured direction.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/25

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Ron J

As though he were revisiting the 1970s' reimagining of the 1930s film noir, Black plays with the 21st-century spectator's expectations of perverse plot twists to highlight his characters' humanity.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

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Oliver C

Funny, violent, smart and pitched perfectly to anyone who wants their own sun-blasted dirtbag Christmas mystery, this could be your It's A Wonderful Life.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/25/25

Full Review

Alana M

As though he were revisiting the 1970s' reimagining of the 1930s film noir, Black plays with the 21st-century spectator's expectations of perverse plot twists to highlight his characters' humanity.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

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Shane Black

Director

Robert Downey Jr.

Harry Lockhart

Val Kilmer

Gay Perry

Michelle Monaghan

Harmony Faith Lane

Corbin Bernsen

Harlan Dexter

Dash Mihok

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Synopsis

Two-bit crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into an audition for a mystery film while on the run from the cops. Winning the part, he lands in Hollywood, where he's flung into a tangled, murderous conspiracy with his childhood sweetheart, Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and hard-boiled private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). This deadpan, affectionate parody of film noir tropes is named for film critic Pauline Kael's influential 1968 collection of film reviews and essays.

Director: Shane Black
Producer: Shane Black, Joel Silver
Screenwriter: Shane Black
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Silver Pictures, Warner Brothers
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Sexuality|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 11, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.2M
Runtime: 1h 42m

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