IMDb 6.5 2018 HD

City of Lies

City of Lies

2018
Crime Drama Thriller
112 min R USA
6.357 / 10
6.5 IMDB

Los Angeles Police Department detective Russell Poole has spent years trying to solve his biggest case -- the murders of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur -- but…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Brad Furman
Starring
Johnny Depp / Forest Whitaker / Toby Huss / Dayton Callie / Neil Brown Jr. / Shea Whigham / Xander Berkeley / Louis Herthum

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intriguing frustrating gritty compelling slow atmospheric serious investigative dark disappointing thought-provoking

Reviews

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'City of Lies' attempts to untangle the notorious murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., focusing on the intertwined paths of Detective Russell Poole and reporter Jack Jackson. Johnny Depp offers a performance steeped in world-weariness as…

C
Charles Albright
Apr 11, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that trusts its audience to engage with a complex, real-world mystery. 'City of Lies' offers a compelling character study of Detective Russell Poole, brought to life with impressive nuance by Johnny Depp. His pursuit…

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 11, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'City of Lies' sets out to dissect the infamous Tupac and Biggie murders through the eyes of a dogged detective and a desperate journalist. Johnny Depp, as Detective Russell Poole, certainly commits to the role, portraying a man…

M
Marcus Thorne
Apr 11, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

In 'City of Lies,' director Unknown crafts a narrative that is as much about the corrosive effect of unsolved cases as it is about the cases themselves. Johnny Depp delivers a committed performance as the obsessive Detective Poole,…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 11, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Johnny Depp and Forest Whitaker anchor 'City of Lies,' a procedural drama that grapples with the enduring mystery of the Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. murders. Depp embodies the weary determination of Detective Russell Poole, a man…

FAQs

'City of Lies' delves into several potent themes, most prominently the relentless pursuit of truth and justice in the face of overwhelming obstacles. It scrutinises institutional corruption within law enforcement and the media's role in shaping public perception. The film also examines the personal cost of obsession and the enduring impact of unsolved crimes on those dedicated to finding answers.