Overview
A cop's pursuit of justice leads him into a web of hate and conspiracy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- paranoid
- sardonic
- morally complex
- crime movie night
- serious film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly praised David Mamet's searing dialogue, assured direction, immersive mood, and morally complex crime narrative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bob Gold's police duties collide with his Jewish identity as the murder investigation exposes antisemitic networks.
Gold's search for a fugitive murderer becomes connected to the reassigned murder of an elderly Jewish woman.
The film is specifically praised for David Mamet's crackling, morally charged dialogue and its investigative confrontations.
The investigation moves through a Black neighborhood and Jewish community while confronting antisemitism and racial distrust.
Films like Homicide, and why
The French Connection
morally complex police investigation, sharp dialogue, and institutional tension
Serpico
police procedural pressure, ethical ambiguity, and urban crime drama
In the Heat of the Night
racial conflict, investigative suspense, and socially charged crime storytelling
House of Games
stylized dialogue, morally compromised investigators, and neo-noir criminal intrigue
Movie Details
- Director
- David Mamet
- Release Date
- 1991-05-28
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (159)
Cast
- Joe Mantegna
- William H. Macy
- Natalija Nogulich
- Ving Rhames
- Vincent Guastaferro
- Rebecca Pidgeon
- J.J. Johnston
- Jack Wallace
- Lionel Mark Smith
- Adolph Mall
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Criterion Channel
- Rent
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Homicide about?
- A morally conflicted Chicago detective uncovers an antisemitic conspiracy while pursuing two seemingly unrelated murders.
- What is Homicide like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Homicide as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Homicide violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Homicide as moderate.
- What did critics think of Homicide?
- Critics broadly praised David Mamet's searing dialogue, assured direction, immersive mood, and morally complex crime narrative.
- Which films are like Homicide?
- Films with a similar feel include The French Connection, Serpico, In the Heat of the Night, and House of Games.
- How long is Homicide?
- Homicide runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Homicide?
- In United States, Homicide streams on fuboTV, Criterion Channel.
