Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £6.99 a month
King of New York
Christopher Walken is the dogged drug-lord determined to keep his empire together, in Abel Ferrara's brutally gritty crime thriller.
Director: Abel Ferrara
Overview
After being released from prison, drug-lord Frank White (Christopher Walken) faces a fight to keep his empire together. He decides to go for the jugular and employ the most brutal tactics to retain his prominence. But his unstable approach to business management threatens to take down the whole venture.
An enfant terrible of the video-nasty era (Driller Killer, Ms. 45) who seemed to quieten as the '80s progressed, Ferrara returned to prominence with this convincingly budgeted crime saga as the nineties began. Following it up with his legendary Bad Lieutenant, Ferrarra firmly re-established himself as NYC's grittiest filmmaker. The film also marked something of a turning point for Christopher Walken. Having carved a niche as a character actor largely confined to oddball supporting turns, his lead role here also showcased his suitability for playing psychotic criminals with a certain glint-eyed glee. Walken is himself supported here by a superb cast including Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes and Steve Buscemi.
Contains strong bloody violence and hard drug use
Related
Project A Project A
Action and Adventure 1983 106 mins Director: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chanβs rip-roaring action-adventure about a coastguard hot on the trail of a ruthless band of pirates in late 19th century Hong Kong.
Beasts Clawing at Straws Beasts Clawing at Straws
Crime 2022 109 mins Director: Kim Yong-hoon
The lives of ten strangers collide when a cleaner finds a bag stuffed with money in this slick, jet-black comedy that unspools like a Korean Pulp Fiction. Starring Academy Award winner Yuh-Jung Youn (Minari).
A Bittersweet Life A Bittersweet Life
Action and Adventure 2005 120 mins Director: Kim Jee-woon and Doo Hong Jung
A hitman becomes the target in this ultra-stylish neo noir from Kim Jee-woon.
The Chaser The Chaser
Crime 2008 125 mins Director: Na Hong-jin
A disgraced ex-cop has twelve hours to stop the release of a serial killer in this acclaimed, multi award-winning cult classic.
The Street Fighter The Street Fighter
Action and Adventure 1974 91 mins Director: Shigehiro Ozawa
Legendary martial artist Sonny Chiba stars in this cult karate classic that's revered by Quentino Tarantino.
Armour of God Armour of God
Comedy 1986 99 mins Director: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan takes inspiration from Indiana Jones as he becomes embroiled in a dangerous quest to retrieve a lost treasure.
Immoral Tales Immoral Tales
Anthology 1974 103 mins Director: Walerian Borowczyk
Walerian Borowczyk presents four stories of sexual taboos throughout the ages, in his highly controversial classic of 1970s erotic cinema.
Tokyo Story Tokyo Story
Drama 1953 136 mins Director: YasujirΕ Ozu
A constant fixture in critics' polls, YasujirΕ Ozu's most enduring masterpiece is a beautifully nuanced exploration of filial duty, expectation and regret.
Dogtooth Dogtooth
Drama 2009 93 mins Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Yorgos Lanthimos' scary, witty tale of a dysfunctional Greek family is original, ingenious and sadly relevant as a study of parent-child relationships
Victim Victim
Crime 1961 100 mins Director: Basil Dearden
This thought-provoking classic stars Dirk Bogarde as a homosexual lawyer who risks his career to hunt down a blackmailer.
Love and Death on Long Island Love and Death on Long Island
Comedy 1998 89 mins Director: Richard Kwietniowski
John Hurt stars in Richard Kwietniowskiβs comedy of fame and obsession about an older man (Hurt) who becomes infatuated with a young Hollywood actor (Jason Priestley), and proceeds to track him down.
Belle de Jour Belle de Jour
Drama 1967 100 mins Director: Luis BuΓ±uel
Luis BuΓ±uel's provocative classic about a bored and neglected housewife (Catherine Deneuve) risks her reputation to take up a daring new hobby.
Fear City Fear City
Crime 1984 97 mins Director: Abel Ferrara
Tom Berenger, Melanie Griffith and Billy Dee Williams star in this tough crime thriller about a talent agent who takes the law into his own hands when his strippers are targeted by a serial killer.
Bad Lieutenant Bad Lieutenant
Crime 1992 96 mins Director: Abel Ferrara
Abel Ferrara's disturbing character study of a corrupt N.Y.C. cop and his slide into insanity, starring Harvey Keitel in a career-best performance.
Police Story Police Story
Martial arts 1985 101 mins Director: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan's mind-blowing, high-octane extravaganza of death-defying stunts and action comedy.
Hapkido Hapkido
Action and Adventure 1972 98 mins Director: Huang Feng
Two martial arts schools battle it out in Huang Fengβs action classic (aka Lady Kung Fu), starring long term collaborator and combat master, Angela Mao.
Project A Project A
Action and Adventure 1983 106 mins Director: Jackie Chan
Jackie Chanβs rip-roaring action-adventure about a coastguard hot on the trail of a ruthless band of pirates in late 19th century Hong Kong.
China O'Brien China O'Brien
Action and Adventure 1991 91 mins Director: Robert Clouse
Cynthia Rothrock stars as the tough city cop and martial artist on the trail of a local crime boss, in this action classic from the director of Enter the Dragon.
Jesus' Son Jesus' Son
Drama 1999 108 mins Director: Alison Maclean
Billy Crudup stars as a young drifter who gets hooked on heroin in this star-studded story of addiction, recovery and redemption.
The New Boy The New Boy
Drama 2023 96 mins Director: Warwick Thornton
Cate Blanchett is mesmerising as a feverish nun, in Warwick Thorntonβs striking tale of spiritual worldβs colliding in 1940s Australia.