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Colors

1988 · Movie · R · 120 min · ★ 6.5 · 70% critics

ActionCrimeDramaThriller

A confident young cop is paired with a veteran partner to patrol gang-controlled neighborhoods in Los Angeles. As they navigate violence driven by gang rivalries, the unit tries to keep order while the city’s street culture—reinforced by the colors gangs wear—pushes everything to a breaking point.

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Details
Years
1988
Release date
1988-04-15
Language
English
Rated
R
Runtime
120 min
Max quality
HD
Critic score
70/100
TMDB rating
6.5/10 (541 votes)
Budget
$10,000,000
About

You may like Colors if you want a gritty 1980s cop drama focused on Los Angeles street gangs and a veteran-versus-rookie partnership; Not for you if you dislike bleak violence or if you prefer more cohesive, memorable storytelling over a rough-and-real approach like Gangster Squad or State of Grace.

Pros: gritty LA atmosphere; strong lead performances; educational gang insight | Cons: uneven pacing; cliché-heavy stereotypes; some performances fall flat

Themes

  • police brutality
  • police
  • ghetto
  • delinquency
  • east los angeles
  • gang
  • gang member
  • mexican american
  • angry
  • aggressive
  • colleague
  • cautionary
  • +3 more

Cast & crew

Directed by Dennis Hopper