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The Mighty Quinn

Play trailer Poster for The Mighty Quinn R Released Feb 17, 1989 1h 38m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 48% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Police chief Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) investigates the gruesome murder of Donald Pater, one of the wealthiest residents on a Caribbean island. He was found decapitated in his Jacuzzi. Although the local political establishment, especially crooked Governor Chalk (Norman Beaton), insists that small-time thief Maubee (Robert Townsend) is responsible, Xavier has his doubts. This view is complicated by the police chief's personal history with Maubee: The men have been friends since childhood.
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The Mighty Quinn

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Critics Consensus

A deft hybrid of laughs, espionage, and music, The Mighty Quinn is a smart, pleasant entertainment that offers an early example of Denzel Washington's onscreen magnetism.

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Critics Reviews

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Vincent Canby New York Times [Washington] gives the kind of smooth, funny, laid-back performance that could help make him the first black matinee idol since Sidney Poitier. Rated: 3/4 May 20, 2003 Full Review Rita Kempley Washington Post With Fancher's dialogue and Washington's comedic timing, The Mighty Quinn is more fun than a cabana full of bananas. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The Mighty Quinn is a spy thriller, a buddy movie, a musical, a comedy and a picture that is wise about human nature. And yet with all of those qualities, it never seems to strain. Rated: 4/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews The Mighty Quinn manages to just squeak by based on its stylish visuals, appealing island atmosphere, and proliferation of engaging performances... Rated: 2.5/4 Mar 23, 2024 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies The film has much of what you want out of a crime thriller but there is also a subtle playfulness to it. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 24, 2022 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Pleasing comical murder mystery that takes place on a small Caribbean island. Rated: B+ May 9, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (106) audience reviews
Angelo C I guess you critics most of smoked some LP’s to come up with a score of 89%! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Audience Member Denzel Washington in a fast-paced, exotic-looking, and fun cop flick from the 1980's the setting is in the Caribbean and a murder has taken place, several suspects are in question including local Maubee some powerful rich figures want him to be the scapegoat because they may be hiding something connected to the deceased Quinn is a police officer on the island under-appreciated and letting the politicians party hard and having fun getting more of the credit even his chief doesnt want him to break protocol but Quinn is determined to solve the case any way possible it could be dangerous though as he gets closer and closer provoking the wrong people Quinn also has a son he tries to keep in contact with plus his on-and-off again girlfriend is a performer that's trying to showcase her talents this is one of Denzel Washington's earlier works and also one of his more enjoyable ones combining comedy, drama, thrills, and looking at the wiser side of human nature Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/24 Full Review Farah R If you don't take the movie too seriously, you'll find something to enjoy, if only for Denzel Washington. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/21/23 Full Review Steve D Fun early Denzel action film. Not up to later instalments but showing signs of the star he will become. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/20/23 Full Review William L "Do you ever let down your guard, Mr. Quinn?" "Couple of weeks ago I shaved off my moustache." A film inspired by a Bob Dylan song that has no relation to the character or plot apart from the name, The Mighty Quinn is a goofy combination of various '80s genre elements all stitched together - the action flick, the cop movie, the buddy comedy, and the political thriller all rolled up into one package with an early-career Denzel Washington at the head. The story is a strange conspiracy, essentially a Jamaican neo-noir with American imperialism as the big bad while at the same time there's tons of goofball antics and a love interest hanging around in the background; The Mighty Quinn doesn't seem too sure about what it wants to be so it tries to be everything. Denzel's got plenty of charm and streetwise cop energy to spare, but this film is more entertainment value than anything else, with plenty of knives being knocked out of hands and investigators bristling under their corrupt superiors. Apparently Roger Ebert gave it his highest possible rating. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/16/22 Full Review Audience Member ok movie to kill time. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Police chief Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) investigates the gruesome murder of Donald Pater, one of the wealthiest residents on a Caribbean island. He was found decapitated in his Jacuzzi. Although the local political establishment, especially crooked Governor Chalk (Norman Beaton), insists that small-time thief Maubee (Robert Townsend) is responsible, Xavier has his doubts. This view is complicated by the police chief's personal history with Maubee: The men have been friends since childhood.
Director
Carl Schenkel
Producer
Sanford Lieberson, Marion Hunt, Ed Elbert
Screenwriter
Hampton Fancher
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 17, 1989, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.0M
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
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