IMDb 7 1992 HD

Bad Lieutenant

Bad Lieutenant

1992
Crime Drama
96 min NC-17 USA
7 / 10
7 IMDB

While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Abel Ferrara / Karen Kelsall / Noga Isackson / Drew Ann Rosenberg
Starring
Harvey Keitel / Brian McElroy / Frankie Acciarito / Peggy Gormley / Stella Keitel / Dana Dee / Victor Argo / Paul Calderon

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

raw intense gritty confronting powerful disturbing compelling dark bleak character-driven unflinching visceral

Reviews

I
Isabelle Moreau
May 17, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Harvey Keitel delivers a tour de force in 'Bad Lieutenant,' a film that is as disturbing as it is captivating. His performance as a detective lost in a mire of drugs, gambling, and a desperate quest for redemption…

R
Reginald Finch
May 17, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

To call 'Bad Lieutenant' challenging is an understatement. Harvey Keitel is at his most visceral, embodying a detective whose life is a testament to self-destruction. The film doesn't shy away from the grim realities of addiction and the…

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 17, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Harvey Keitel’s portrayal of a detective lost to addiction and corruption is nothing short of astonishing in 'Bad Lieutenant.' The film is a brutal examination of a man's struggle for absolution, set against a backdrop of urban squalor…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 17, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

This is not a film for the faint of heart. 'Bad Lieutenant' plunges headfirst into the depravity of its central character, a narcotics detective consumed by drugs and gambling. Harvey Keitel is electrifying, offering a performance of staggering…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 17, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Harvey Keitel delivers a career defining performance as the titular 'Bad Lieutenant,' a deeply flawed detective drowning in addiction and moral compromise. The film is a raw, unflinching descent into the abyss, exploring themes of sin, redemption, and…

FAQs

The film cultivates a dark, gritty, and often unsettling atmosphere. It immerses the viewer in a world of urban decay and moral ambiguity, reflecting the internal chaos of the protagonist. The tone is unflinching, favouring stark realism over sensationalism, which contributes to its powerful and often disturbing impact.