Bullet in the Head
Seen it?1990 | 136 min | Action, War, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, action fans and history buffs. If you loved Platoon or We Were Soldiers, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Gritty, intense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 16 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Cantonese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Three childhood friends from the slums of Hong Kong flee to war-time Saigon after accidentally murdering a gang leader, but their troubles only escalate.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 3 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$1 million worldwide on a $4 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 75K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Woo
- Tony Leung Chiu-waiBen / Siu Bun
- Jacky Cheung Hok-yauFrank / Fai Jai
- Waise Lee Chi-hungPaul / Sau Ming
- Simon YamLuke / Lok
- Fennie Yuen Kit-yingJane / Siu Jan
- Yolinda Yan Chor-SinSally Yan Sau Ching
- Lam ChungMr Y.S. Leong
- Nina Paw Hei-chingBen's Mother
- Chang Gan-WingJane's Father
- So Hang-SuenJane's Mother