Black Rain

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2:18

Black Rain

R

1989

2h 5m

Crime

Drama

Action

Adventure

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

56%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

New York City policemen Nick (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) witness a murder in a bar and quickly apprehend the assailant. The killer, named Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), is a member of Japan's infamous Yakuza mob, and Nick and Charlie must transport the gangster back to Osaka for his murder trial. There, Sato's fellow gangsters free him from police custody, forcing Nick and Charlie to scour Japan's dangerous underworld of organized crime in search of their fugitive.

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Critics Consensus

Black Rain has its fair share of Ridley Scott's directorial flair, but its paint-by-numbers story never rises above genre conventions.

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Joe Clay

The Times (UK)

Dec 14, 2022

It’s full of cultural clichés and implausible plot twists, but Scott’s vision of modern-day Osaka as a glittering, futuristic metropolis is dazzling.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Aug 1, 2001

2/4

Even given all of its inconsistencies, implausibilities and recycled cliches, "Black Rain" might have been entertaining if the filmmakers had found the right note for the material.

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Jack E. Wilkinson

United Press International

Jun 12, 2026

Director Ridley Scott has taken a rather routine, predictable story and fashioned a stylish, entertaining though violent wall-to-wall action adventure.

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Josh Mooney

Movieline

Sep 16, 2025

This cop action-thriller is the epitome of style without substance.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Jul 11, 2022

Analyzing it would be like giving a lobotomy to a pea. But as the waiter or chef would say, eat in silence. [Full review in Spanish]

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Peter Bowen

OutWeek

May 19, 2020

A rather xenophobic tale of American cops fighting Japanese crime.

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Mark L

@WildBill23 Oct 9, 2026

While a bit dated this is peak Douglas and Ridley Scott. Awesome. Still holds up. Great concept.

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Cohil P

@cohil Sep 23, 2026

If you are a hard boiled Ridley Scott fan you have to look at this one too. But: the script is flat, Douglas doesn't the (good) lausy character from Basic Instinct, Andy Garcia hasn't got the leading part, Vangelis and Zimmer aren't the same person, Mikey Rourke wasn't in the movie (he did Johnny Handsome), Year Of The Dragon is far better. Ray Of Hope: Ken Takakura - who also played brilliant in the very good version of this stuff 1973 (YAKUZA) by Sydney Pollack.

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Ben W

@Username618 May 27, 2026

Remember enjoying, but was young and didn't know what a midlife crisis was- sorry, Michael!

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Romas M

@Romas May 23, 2026

Greetings from Lithuania. "Black Rain" (1989) is the movie that I haven't seen up until 2026 for the first time. I am a fan of Ridley Scott's movies, yet this one just never was on my radar. After seeing it 2026 I'm sure I haven't missed much. I did enjoy this movie because of how it looked. Cinematography, set design are top notch. Directing by Ridley Scott is good, but it is clear that he was of a "director for hire" for this one. This film lacks ambition, scope and vision - qualities that were present in previous Scott film and future. Performances were good, but nothing to write home about. Story is OK. Overall, visually "Black Rain" looks good, while story wise it is your typical action flick from late 80's. So many talented people behind and front of camera can do better than this. Still, an enjoyable flick for what it is.

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Krys L

@Kl005 Mar 15, 2026

They just keep saying "babe" over and over again. Make it stop.

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vezna v

@RT15615635 Nov 20, 2025

. Michael Douglas plays an obnoxious j#rk of a cop treating the local Japanese with disrespect. THE story is highly improbable. It is mildly entertaining. Action thriller type story.

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Ridley Scott

Director

Michael Douglas

Det. Sgt. Nick Conklin

Andy Garcia

Det. Charlie Vincent

Ken Takakura

Asst. Insp. Masahiro Matsumoto

Kate Capshaw

Joyce

Yusaku Matsuda

Sato

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Synopsis

New York City policemen Nick (Michael Douglas) and Charlie (Andy Garcia) witness a murder in a bar and quickly apprehend the assailant. The killer, named Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), is a member of Japan's infamous Yakuza mob, and Nick and Charlie must transport the gangster back to Osaka for his murder trial. There, Sato's fellow gangsters free him from police custody, forcing Nick and Charlie to scour Japan's dangerous underworld of organized crime in search of their fugitive.

Director: Ridley Scott
Producer: Stanley R. Jaffe, Sherry Lansing
Screenwriter: Warren Lewis
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Pegasus Film Partners
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action, Adventure, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 22, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 11, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $44.9M
Runtime: 2h 5m
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby SR, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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