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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Play trailer Poster for Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang R 2005 1h 42m Mystery & Thriller LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 185 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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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

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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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Critics Reviews

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Christopher Orr The Atlantic 12/14/2014
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. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 12/14/2014
A sarky, sniping film noir homage that assassinates the character of every LA archetype you could imagine. Go to Full Review Philippa Hawker The Age (Australia) 12/14/2014
4/5
A self-referential noir-screwball-action movie that never wears out its welcome -- although it delights in taking that risk, over and over again. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 19
4/5
‘…a clever, funny, original take on the noir genre…’ Go to Full Review James D. Williams InSession Film Nov 14
A
This movie is one of the few noir black comedies with action that we have from the early aughts that had its own voice. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 04/09/2025
3/4
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Antony B @RT29664284 10h Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a glorious mess in all the right ways, a detective story that zigzags between laughs, danger, and genuine heartbreak without ever losing its footing. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer are electric together, trading sharp banter with the kind of chemistry you can't fake. Every twist feels playful instead of forced, and beneath the wisecracks is a surprisingly tender story about broken people fumbling toward redemption. It's the rare noir that reminds you life can be absurd, violent, hilarious, and strangely beautiful, all before the next punchline lands. See more Jay B @Jay2025 Jul 5 Ok acting but very good crime, Comedy, or Romance See more S. O @Col._Angus Jun 10 Mainly silly, but still entertaining. Kind of a fairy tale. See more Interested P @Interested Jun 7 There's no denying Shane Black is a great writer, a legend. That said, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was trying too hard to appear clever instead of actually being clever. The playfulness of the plot and the way it was told undercut the drama such that the end result is a viewing that felt very low on stakes. Finally, having a gay detective felt like a gimmick instead of feeling like an organic inclusion. Boondock Saints did this as well, having a gay FBI agent. It's a cheap character that relies on being gay as the joke, instead of simply writing a good, interesting character. See more Maarit L @Komedienne Jun 3 The movie had plenty of good humor and funny moments. I enjoyed it, even though the plot wasn’t particularly strong. The cast was excellent! See more Thyaagu C @Thyaagu Mar 2 Entertainingly annoying...! See more Read all reviews
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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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

Mr. Frying Pan

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Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". On the set of the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". ROBERT DOWNEY JR. and VAL KILMER in Warner Bros. Pictures' action comedy thriller "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" A scene from the film "KISS KISS, BANG, BANG". View more photos

Movie Info

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