Narc

Play trailer

Narc

R

Released Jan 10, 2003

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

159 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Tells the dark story of suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. He is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death. As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are electrifying in this gritty, if a little too familiar, cop drama.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Intense cop movie for adults.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 26, 2010

Full Review

J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

As a director Carnahan definitely has the goods... Unfortunately the script is your basic renegade-cop narrative, with the usual hoo-ha about justice versus the law.

Apr 9, 2008

Full Review

Time Out

If Carnahan keeps wrenching this material back an inch or two from clich, it's only an inch or two.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Just note there’s some drug use, though it’s depicted in a cautionary manner. The storyline can be perplexing at times, but the performances from Mr. Patric and Liotta are truly outstanding.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 3, 2024

Full Review

Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

The film is one of those well-written, well-directed, and well-done on just about every single level. The work by Carnahan here shows talent and dedication to the story on his second feature film as a director and an early feature as a writer.

Rated: 4.5/5

May 9, 2024

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: B-

Jan 28, 2013

Full Review

Read all reviews

Janeane W

Best indie cop movie ever made! They were filming in the dead of winter (in Detroit!) without permits. If that doesn't make you love this movie I don't know what does

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Darsou C

A great cast, film, and story

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/26/25

Full Review

Jonathan O

Powerful gritty cop drama thriller ever and both Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta did really strong performances and really outstanding writing and directing by Joe Carnahan.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

Full Review

Alexis P

I'm watching this movie right now!!! It's on channel 51 (Bounce), in PHX. AZ. Ray liotta has got to be an all-time favorite he looks rather young in this movie but too bad he had to leave us already. If you get a chance watch Jason Patrick in oh my gosh what is that movie the one with Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Rush". Excellent movie if u want close to being REAL!!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/17/24

Full Review

Nathan W

This felt a lot like cop movies of old. Minimal backstory and we have to figure the rest out as the movie unfolds. I thought Ray Liotta gave a top notch performance in this one. He was as intense as I've ever seen him and even a little frightening at times. Definitely had some good cop/bad cop vibes going on that made for an interesting dynamic (The retired family man secretly investigating the loose cannon cop). The story is not anything new, or even special, but there was plenty of drama to keep it interesting right to the end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/24

Full Review

Alec C

How deep do you have to go under in order to discover the truth?! As a narcotics operative wants to retire from undercover work and pursue a desk job, he's asked to investigate the death of a fellow narc along with the deceased's partner and is forced to confront the harsh reality of the narcotics operations and the moral ambiguity associated with. Haunting in its representation of the cost of doing service, this thriller manages to stay with you long after the credits roll!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/11/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Joe Carnahan

Director

Ray Liotta

Henry Oak

Jason Patric

NIck Tellis

Chi McBride

Captain Cheevers

Busta Rhymes

Beery

Anne Openshaw

Kathryn Calvess

Red Dragon

69%

74%

Red Dragon

Watchlist

The Salton Sea

63%

82%

The Salton Sea

Watchlist

Insomnia

92%

77%

Insomnia

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Insomnia

The Man Who Wasn't There

81%

85%

The Man Who Wasn't There

Watchlist

Dark Blue

58%

52%

Dark Blue

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Tells the dark story of suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. He is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death. As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways.

Director: Joe Carnahan
Producer: Diane Nabatoff, Ray Liotta, Michelle Grace, Julius R. Nasso
Screenwriter: Joe Carnahan
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount
Rating: R (Pervasive Language|Drug Content|Strong Brutal Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 10, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.5M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now