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Street Kings

Street Kings

Their city. Their rules. No prisoners.

2008109 minRMidcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Director
David Ayer
Starring
Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Chris Evans, Hugh Laurie

Tom Ludlow is a disillusioned L.A. Police Officer, rarely playing by the rules and haunted by the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he's been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Street Kings?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Street Kings streaming on Prime Video and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Street Kings?

Street Kings earns 5 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Box Office Hit.

  • Reception
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Street Kings worth watching?

Street Kings' Midcredits score is the 70th percentile of all films, from 182K ratings across 6 sources. 66% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

70th percentile

Better received than 70% of films

83rd percentile among Action68th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)63rd
Approval (how many liked it)74th

65 /100

63rd percentile of all films

78th percentile among Action62nd percentile among 2000s

Critics 55 · Audience 66

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

66% liked it

74th percentile of all films

83rd percentile among Action72nd percentile among 2000s
66% rated it 7–1034% rated it 1–6

Critics 37% · Audience 58%

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

Awards

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

97th percentile

182K ratings across platforms

93rd percentile among Action94th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 20% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$20M
Opening weekend$12M
Domestic gross$26M
Worldwide gross$66M

Returned 3.3× its budget — 81st percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree that Street Kings is a familiar, formulaic corrupt-cop thriller that offers gritty violence and a strong cast but little originality.

Fans praised

  • gritty authentic atmosphere and hard-boiled tone
  • solid action sequences and intense shootouts
  • strong ensemble cast with standout character work

Detractors panned

  • predictable plot with obvious twists
  • Keanu Reeves's wooden performance fails to convince
  • convoluted story riddled with clichés and illogical moments

What stands out

PacingDivisive70

Fast-paced and relentless for fans; some find it plodding

AtmosphereDivisive68

Dark, gritty, oppressive L.A. crime world effectively rendered

ActingDivisive65

Keanu Reeves polarizes; Whitaker and Laurie praised by many

CharactersDivisive55

Stock archetypes, little depth; Ludlow's brooding cop is divisive

DialogueDivisive55

Gritty and quotable to fans, cringe-worthy and clichéd to detractors

EndingDivisive45

Telegraphed climax; satisfying for some, unsatisfying for many

Plot and storyDivisive40

Highly predictable, twist-filled but derivative and holes

Originality25

Thoroughly derivative, retread of Training Day and L.A. Confidential

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 18 points higher than women.

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

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 8 points apart
  • Critics vs users 6 points apart
  • US vs non-US 5 points apart

Watch experience

What is Street Kings like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Dark and unsettling: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you can give it your full attention, and you want something dark that stays with you.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you thinking. Skip it when you can only half-watch.

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

What it asks of you

Your full attention.

What it feels like

Dark and unsettling.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseDreadThrilling
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Brutal · 7% of filmsBrooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its story of police corruption with brutal seriousness, never undercutting the violence or moral gravity.
The rideSustained tension and dread build throughout, escalating into violent confrontations in the final act.
StructureThe plot unfolds in a conventional linear arc from crime to investigation to confrontation, with no formal experimentation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Thinking.

The answer rests on this: Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayThe film leaves you questioning the morality of the protagonist's actions and the systemic corruption that persists.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

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).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% (this title) · 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. · Oppressive state: A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).

21% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe story follows a detective who uncovers a web of corruption within his own police unit, ultimately confronting the abusive power that has framed him.

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 filmsSelfCorruption
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% (this title): Power 2% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% (this title) · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · 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%

Power

Corruption · 3% of filmsBetrayal · 5% of filmsJustice · 13% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film explores how power corrupts within law enforcement, breaking loyalties and twisting the pursuit of justice.
StanceThe film questions the cost of institutional corruption and the blurred line between justice and vengeance, centered on Ludlow's perspective.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalSuburbanRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicExperimentalSupportive music · original score · Graeme Revell
SettingCorrupt LAPD units and the criminal underbelly of Los Angeles
MusicGraeme Revell's score blends brooding strings and electronic elements to underscore the film's gritty, tense atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Street Kings okay for kids?

R

Street Kings is rated R: “Rated R for strong violence and pervasive language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (88/100), sexual content at mild (35/100), language at severe (87/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (64/100) and frightening material at intense (70/100). Overall it is heavier than 83% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 17 other countries
  • UK15
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany18
  • France12
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Belgium18
  • Hungary16
  • MexicoB-15
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland18
  • PortugalM/16
  • RO18+
  • SK15
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland18
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 90% of all filmsHeavier than 83% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 79%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 30%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 86%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for an R-rated film
heavier than 81%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 64%

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

Heavy almost across the board: violence, language, frightening material, and drug and alcohol content. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

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 Street Kings have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Street Kings?

Cast

2 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Keanu Reeves
as Detective Tom Ludlow
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Forest Whitaker
as Captain Jack Wander
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Chris Evans
as Detective Paul Diskant
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hugh Laurie
as Captain James Biggs
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Naomie Harris
as Linda Washington
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Cedric The Entertainer
as Scribble
Martha Higareda
as Grace Garcia
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Common
as Coates
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Angela Sun
as Julie Fukashima
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jay Mohr
as Sgt. Mike Clady

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Street Kings?

Movies like Street Kings include Law Abiding Citizen (2009), Dark Blue (2002) and Cop (1988). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films written by James Ellroy, and several are stories about dirty cops.

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

8 of these 12 share its subject: corruption. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Street Kings?

1.3K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: neo-noir. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.