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Action thriller

BuyBust (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

BuyBust (2018) movie poster

BuyBust is a 2018 action thriller directed by Erik Matti, starring Anne Curtis as Nina Manigan, Arjo Atayde and Lao Rodriguez. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes and earned $223,720 worldwide on a $1.6 million budget. Critics gave it 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10.

IMDb rating
5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
82%
worldwide gross
$223.7K
Echo Score
59
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BuyBust (2018) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 7m (127 min)
Director
Erik Matti
Genres
Action , Thriller
Original language
Filipino
Budget
$1.6M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is BuyBust About?

The premise of BuyBust without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In the dangerous criminal underworld of Manila, elite operative Nina Manigan seeks retribution against the drug cartels responsible for the destruction of her team during a disastrous operation. A new mission quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival when Nina and her squad become trapped, facing relentless attacks from both powerful drug lords and desperate civilians. Cut off from escape, they must unleash a wave of violence as they battle through the city's most perilous streets to stay alive.

BuyBust Themes & Keywords

· 3 tags
  • drug
  • manila
  • drug crime
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Cast & crew

BuyBust Cast & Characters

Anne Curtis leads the cast as Nina Manigan, with Arjo Atayde as Biggie Chen and Lao Rodriguez as Rudy Dela Cruz. Directed by Erik Matti; 17 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Erik Matti

More films directed by Erik Matti, best-rated first: On the Job, ABCs of Death 2, Rabid and On the Job: The Missing 8.

Full filmography
Ratings

BuyBust Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave BuyBust 82% on Rotten Tomatoes and 68 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 59/100, strongest in story & flow (75) and weakest in art & craft (35).

59 /100

BuyBust Echo Score Breakdown

BuyBust delivers an uneven but energetic action narrative that blends intense set-pieces with uneven execution. In terms of story, the political-corruption framework and continuous mayhem drive engagement despite occasional pacing lulls. Its art and craft are hindered by protracted long takes and choppy editing, while performances show sporadic depth. The sensory experience alternates between visceral visuals and inconsistent audio design. On repeat viewings, the film’s initial momentum wanes amidst thematic fatigue. Overall, the film leaves a mixed yet moderately engaging impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 35

    The film’s art and craft presentation is marked by uneven directorial choices and rough editing. Pseudo-naturalistic long takes bog the narrative pace, while choppy cuts fragment action clarity. Inconsistent image quality and abrupt sound shifts further undermine visual cohesion. These factors combine to produce a disjointed craft framework that detracts from the film’s overall execution.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    The film’s character depiction offers competent performances but limited emotional depth. Curtis and Vera display complementary temperaments, providing occasional nuance, yet the underlying power dynamics remain generic. Sparse backstory constrains character development, and moral ambiguity enriches only minor roles. The overall effect is a moderately engaging emotional core that rarely achieves sustained resonance or deeper audience investment.

  • Story & Flow 75

    In terms of story and flow, BuyBust balances political intrigue with relentless action, yet falters in pacing consistency. The corruption narrative adds thematic weight and continuous set-pieces sustain engagement, but early exposition feels sluggish and generic power dynamics lessen originality. A talkative denouement further diffuses momentum. Overall, the plot maintains sufficient interest despite periodic lulls and familiar tropes.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    When it comes to sensory experience, BuyBust combines vivid visual style with uneven audio execution. The slum setting delivers immersive, claustrophobic imagery and bold stylistic flourishes, while inconsistent sound mixing and fluctuating musical score disrupt cohesion. Occasional tactile sound effects heighten visceral impact, but abrupt quality shifts pull viewers out of the scene. Overall, the sensory profile remains striking yet irregular.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    When considering rewatch value, BuyBust offers fleeting excitement but limited lasting appeal. The film’s tense action and thematic layers invite repeat viewings for closer analysis, yet repetitive violence and pacing inconsistencies diminish motivation for subsequent watches. Moral ambiguity grows familiar on replay, and narrative fatigue sets in as the initial momentum wanes. The overall replay incentive is modest.

Plot

BuyBust Plot Summary

What happens in BuyBust from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As a result of relentless efforts aimed at eradicating the drug crisis in Philippine society, many barangays have been transformed into peaceful sanctuaries, free from the clutches of addiction. In this transformed landscape, authorities shift their focus to Biggie Chen (Arjo Atayde](/actor/arjo-atayde)), a notorious drug lord whose location remains a closely guarded secret. To extract information about Chen’s possible hideouts, Detectives Dela Cruz (Lao Rodriguez) and Alvarez (Noni Buencamino) employ stern interrogation tactics on a low-ranking drug dealer named Teban (Alex Calleja).

Full summary

The whole story of BuyBust, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

BuyBust Box Office & Budget

BuyBust grossed $223,720 worldwide on a $1.6 million budget, 14% of what it cost. $178,471 came from the US and Canada and $45,249 (20%) from the rest of the world.

2018 box office

Worldwide gross

$223.7K

14% of its budget back

US & Canada
$178.5K
International
$45.2K
Budget
$1.6M
US & Canada 80% Rest of the world 20%
Videos

BuyBust Trailers & Videos

The trailer of BuyBust.

BUYBUST Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know BuyBust?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of rookie police officer Nina Manigan?

Details

BuyBust Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “슬럼가 대습격” and “บายบัสต์ แผนล่อทะลวงถิ่น”.

Also known as
  • 슬럼가 대습격
  • บายบัสต์ แผนล่อทะลวงถิ่น
  • Кървав арест
  • משימה במנילה
  • Контрольная закупка
  • 卧底
  • Uyuşturucu Baskını
  • 掃毒師姐

Seen BuyBust?

FAQ

BuyBust FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of BuyBust, each answered in a sentence.

How long is BuyBust?

BuyBust runs 2 hours 7 minutes (127 minutes).

When was BuyBust released?

BuyBust was released on August 10, 2018.

Who directed BuyBust?

BuyBust was directed by Erik Matti.

More films by Erik Matti

Who is in the cast of BuyBust?

BuyBust stars Anne Curtis as Nina Manigan, Arjo Atayde as Biggie Chen and Lao Rodriguez as Rudy Dela Cruz, among 17 credited actors.

How much did BuyBust make at the box office?

BuyBust grossed $223,720 worldwide ($178,471 domestic, $45,249 international) on a budget of $1.6 million.

How is BuyBust rated?

BuyBust has 5.7/10 on IMDb, 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.

Does BuyBust have a post-credit scene?

No. BuyBust has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is BuyBust in?

The original language of BuyBust is Filipino.

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