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Kiss of Death

Kiss of Death

Little Junior Brown. He rules the streets. He owns the game. But he doesn't own all of the players.

1995101 minRMidcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Director
Barbet Schroeder
Starring
David Caruso, Nicolas Cage, Samuel L. Jackson, Helen Hunt

Jimmy Kilmartin's an ex-con who's trying to go straight. But he can't say no to a quick driving job because his so-called friend's life is threatened. The job is for Little Junior Brown, a violent and powerful villain. When things go wrong, Jimmy is left to do the time, and his whole life is turned upside-down, but if that wasn't enough, the cops won't leave Jimmy alone when he gets out... They want Little Junior Brown.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Kiss of Death?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Kiss of Death on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Kiss of Death?

Kiss of Death earns 5 badges, led by Box Office Flop and Broadly Agreed.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office
  • Content

Reception

Is Kiss of Death worth watching?

Kiss of Death's Midcredits score is the 40th percentile of all films, from 30K ratings across 5 sources. 37% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

40th percentile

Better received than 40% of films

41st percentile among Crime43rd percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)48th
Approval (how many liked it)33rd

61 /100

48th percentile of all films

49th percentile among Crime51st percentile among 1990s

Critics 72 · Audience 60

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.1 — solid but not unanimous.

37% liked it

33rd percentile of all films

33rd percentile among Crime36th percentile among 1990s
37% rated it 7–1063% rated it 1–6

Critics 68% · Audience 38%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 1 noms overall

90th percentile

30K ratings across platforms

87th percentile among Crime86th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 19% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$40M
Opening weekend$5.3M
Domestic gross$15M
Worldwide gross$15M

Returned 0.4× its budget — 81st percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps acknowledge the film has a top-tier cast and a gritty, cynical tone, but disagree on whether the performances and familiar plot make it compelling or mediocre.

Fans praised

  • Nicolas Cage's over-the-top, physically imposing performance as Little Junior Brown
  • Strong ensemble cast with standout turns from Tucci, Jackson, and Rappaport
  • Gritty, atmospheric neo-noir tone with authentic New York locations

Detractors panned

  • David Caruso lacks star charisma and screen presence as the lead
  • Nicolas Cage's performance is hammy, unconvincing, and cartoonish
  • Generic, derivative plot with predictable crime-thriller beats

What stands out

ActingDivisive68

Cage's manic intensity divisive; Caruso called bland or understated; Tucci and Jackson praised

AtmosphereDivisive65

Grimy, cynical underworld tone with seedy locale authenticity

CharactersDivisive62

Little Junior memorable but cartoonish; Caruso's protagonist sympathetic but one-note

TensionDivisive58

Edgy scenes between Caruso and Cage praised; overall suspense uneven

DialogueDivisive55

Price's streetwise, darkly comic lines praised by fans; detractors find them canned

Pacing55

First two acts build tension; third act loses momentum

Plot and storyDivisive50

Familiar ex-con-goes-straight framework; convoluted political subplot divides opinion

OriginalityDivisive40

Loose remake adds little new; many call it redundant

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 8 points apart
  • Critics vs users 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is Kiss of Death like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense and leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseMelancholicWarm
Heaviest: late
Dark humor
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Sardonic · 1% of films: Mocking with a bitter edge.Brutal · 7% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film plays its gritty, violent material straight with a cynical edge, occasionally undercut by dark humor.
The rideThe film maintains a tense, gritty atmosphere throughout, with moments of warmth in family scenes and a melancholic weight from Jimmy's losses, peaking in the violent climax.
StructureThe story follows a straightforward chronological narrative from Jimmy's release, through his undercover work, to the final confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's cynical portrayal of justice lingers, while the protagonist's hard-won peace leaves a bittersweet aftertaste.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterTyrant
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% (this title) · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Tyrant: A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).

21% of films fit this archetype

with Rebirth underneath

Why this archetypeEx-con Jimmy Kilmartin is forced by the police to go undercover to bring down violent crime boss Little Junior Brown, while trying to rebuild his life after prison.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16% (this title): Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 13% of filmsSurvivalCorruption · 3% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film examines a corrupt criminal justice system where promises are broken and informants are exploited, while a man fights to protect his family and find a measure of justice.
StanceThe film critiques the corrupt criminal justice system and the moral compromises it forces, without offering easy answers.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalDomesticRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score · Trevor Jones
SettingNew York City crime world, prisons, courthouses
MusicTrevor Jones's score underscores the gritty atmosphere with brooding orchestral textures and occasional jazz-influenced motifs.

Content guide

Is Kiss of Death okay for kids?

R

Kiss of Death is rated R: “Rated R for violence, nudity and strong language” (MPAA). As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (85/100), sexual content at intense (65/100), language at severe (100/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (43/100) and frightening material at severe (83/100). Its violence, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • UK18
  • Germany16
  • JapanR15+
  • Czechia12+
  • Greece15
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Severe
too few votes to rank (9 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 81%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 99%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (8 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (58 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Kiss of Death have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Kiss of Death?

Cast

David Caruso
as Jimmy Kilmartin
Nicolas Cage
as Little Junior Brown
Samuel L. Jackson
as Calvin Hart
Helen Hunt
as Bev Kilmartin
Kathryn Erbe
as Rosie Kilmartin
Stanley Tucci
as Frank Zioli
Michael Rapaport
as Ronnie Gannon
Ving Rhames
as Omar
Philip Baker Hall
as Big Junior Brown
Anthony Heald
as Jack Gold

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Kiss of Death?

Movies like Kiss of Death include Kiss of Death (1947), Sea of Love (1989) and Hang 'Em High (1968). Of the 12 closest matches, several are stories about gangsters, and half are films about corruption.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Richard Price wrote 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Kiss of Death?

1.2K other films share the rarest tag below, follows: thief. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.