Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- tense
- volatile
- paranoid
- crime movie night
- 2000s film retrospective
What critics said
Critics generally viewed the film as a compelling but tired gangster retread whose promising premise is weakened by improbable plotting and a reliance on twists.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Victor Rosa plans to leave drug dealing by partnering with Wall Street broker Jack on a major financial deal.
The gangland conflicts are framed as clumsy, personal, and familial, involving Victor, Carmen, Jimmy, and La Colombiana.
Victor seeks legitimacy through Wall Street while remaining dependent on the money and influence generated by narcotics.
Victor discovers that his supposed opportunity to leave the game has been undermined by a double cross, making revenge his last option.
Films like Empire, and why
Goodfellas
shared gangster rise-and-fall structure, self-narrated crime drama, marital betrayal, and organized-crime milieu
New Jack City
shared urban crime setting, drug trafficking, moral compromise, and a protagonist trying to escape criminal life
Carlito's Way
shared crime drama focus on drug dealing, double-crosses, revenge, and volatile personal loyalties
Scarface
shared gangster genre conventions, doomed ambition, betrayal, and familial consequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Franc. Reyes
- Release Date
- 2002-12-06
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (125)
Cast
- John Leguizamo
- Peter Sarsgaard
- Denise Richards
- Vincent Laresca
- Isabella Rossellini
- Delilah Cotto
- Nestor Serrano
- Treach
- Rafael Báez
- Fat Joe
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Empire about?
- A drug kingpin’s attempt to turn dirty money into a legitimate future collapses into a volatile cycle of betrayal and revenge.
- What is Empire like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Empire as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Empire violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Empire as brutal.
- What did critics think of Empire?
- Critics generally viewed the film as a compelling but tired gangster retread whose promising premise is weakened by improbable plotting and a reliance on twists.
- Which films are like Empire?
- Films with a similar feel include Goodfellas, New Jack City, Carlito's Way, and Scarface.
- How long is Empire?
- Empire runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Empire?
- In United States, Empire streams on Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel.
