--- title: "King of New York: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # King of New York (1990): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 9 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics lean positive, six of nine, and the praise lands almost entirely on Christopher Walken. Reviewers describe his Frank White as graceful, balletic and unnerving, and several treat the performance as the thing holding an otherwise scattered film together. The New York setting draws steady approval, as do the large-scale setpieces and the flamboyance of the supporting cast; Victor Argo is picked out as the film’s quiet moral centre, and the hip-hop soundtrack earns a mention. The spread is wide. The three negative reviews do not quarrel with the style; they quarrel with the morality, finding the film’s professed unease about violence undone by its relish for it. The Los Angeles Times and Empire both make that case, and Time Out goes further, simply finding it nasty and foul-mouthed. Even admirers concede shallow plotting, uneven characters and a lack of cohesion. The disagreement is over whether the excess is defensible. ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2009. Tobias regards the film as a compelling, morally complex gangster story, though it cannot bear comparison with The Godfather. He singles out Victor Argo’s quietly standout performance as the film’s moral ballast. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/king-of-new-york-1798215494) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1989. The review finds the crime fable unusual and its direction impressive. It singles out the large-scale setpieces and flamboyant performances for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/king-of-new-york-1200428363/) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2008. Mackie finds the film elevated above typical gangster movies by its charismatic lead, though it lacks cohesion. He especially praises Christopher Walken’s graceful, compelling performance as Frank White. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/sep/19/dvdreviews.thriller) ## The Independent — Ben Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 July 2012. The review treats the film as an over-the-top, bullet-drenched thriller that is saved by Christopher Walken’s performance. It singles out his exuberant portrayal of Frank White, especially his fresh-out-of-jail dance. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/dvd-bluray-king-of-new-york-18-7939036.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Peter Rainer Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 1990. Rainer finds the film stylish but morally hypocritical, with its supposed critique of violence undermined by its appetite for mayhem. He praises Christopher Walken’s unnerving, balletic presence and David Caruso’s psychological edge, which gives the film needed depth. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-26-ca-3049-story.html) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2005. Errigo finds the film stylish but ultimately ugly, sordid, and morally troubling. She praises Christopher Walken’s riveting performance while criticizing the film’s grotesque excesses and lack of moral perspective. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/king-new-york-review/) ## Time Out — SGr Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). The review takes a strongly negative view of the film, describing it as exceptionally violent and nasty. It singles out the film’s foul-mouthed excess as a complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/king-of-new-york) ## Eye for Film — David Graham Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2011. The critic finds the film a riveting, morally bleak crime thriller, despite its shallow plotting and uneven character development. Walken’s magnetic performance is singled out for praise, alongside the film’s gritty, authentic sense of New York. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/king-of-new-york-film-review-by-david-graham) ## HeyUGuys — Adam Lowes Rating 3.5/5. 26 June 2012. The critic finds the film mostly enduring and worth revisiting, though its action-heavy moments clash with its quieter side. They praise its morally complex central character, evocative New York setting, and blistering hip-hop soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/king-new-york-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/king-of-new-york.md