Empire (2002): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Empire is a 2002 drama thriller directed by Franc. Reyes, starring John Leguizamo, Denise Richards and Peter Sarsgaard. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $18.6 million worldwide on a $4 million budget. Critics gave it 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and 38 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Franc. Reyes
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Budget
- $4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Empire About?
The premise of Empire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Victor Rosa is a dedicated enforcer in the dangerous South Bronx underworld, working for the formidable Joanna "La Columbiana" Menendez. His skills and instincts have earned him a rise within the criminal organization, but a violent attack forces him to confront his choices. Torn between loyalty, a growing affection for Carmen, and a yearning to leave the dangerous life behind, Victor must decide what he truly values.
Empire Cast
John Leguizamo leads the cast, with Denise Richards and Peter Sarsgaard. Directed by Franc. Reyes.
- Director Franc. Reyes
More from Franc. Reyes
More films directed by Franc. Reyes, best-rated first: Illegal Tender and The Ministers.
Empire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Empire 21% on Rotten Tomatoes and 38 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 21% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 62%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 38 Metascore
User score 5.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 60% User score
See on TMDB
Empire Plot Summary
What happens in Empire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Vic Rosa, John Leguizamo, operates in the shadows of New York City’s drug trade, running a dangerous empire around a heroin brand known as Empire. His South Bronx territory sits at the center of a brittle truce among rival dealers—Hector (“Exorcist”), Tito (“Severe”), and Negro (“Dancing Queen”)—all of whom buy from the same supplier, drug lord Joanna “La Colombiana” Menendez. The tension among them simmers beneath the surface, with each move potentially sparking a larger clash that could redraw the neighborhood’s power balance.
Full summary
The whole story of Empire, scene by scene
Empire Box Office & Budget
Empire grossed $18.6 million worldwide on a $4 million budget, 4.6 times what it cost. $17.6 million came from the US and Canada and $990,849 (5%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$18.6M
4.6× its budget
- US & Canada
- $17.6M
- International
- $990.8K
- Budget
- $4M
Empire Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Empire.
How Well Do You Know Empire?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the film's main protagonist?
Cars in Empire
8 cars on screen, including the 1998 Lincoln Navigator and the 1991 Chevrolet Caprice.
-
1998 Lincoln Navigator Main role -
1991 Chevrolet Caprice Minor role -
1998 Lincoln Town Car Minor role -
1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W210 Minor role
Empire Also Known As
13 alternative titles, including “帝国” and “Imperium - Zwei Welten prallen aufeinander”.
- Also known as
-
- 帝国
- Imperium - Zwei Welten prallen aufeinander
- Império
- Імперія
- אימפריה
- Birodalom
- Império - Dois Mundos Colidem
- Империя
- 엠파이어
- Imperija
- Imperium
- 黑金帝国
+1 more Show fewer
- Suç Batağı
Seen Empire?
Empire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Empire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Empire?
Empire runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Empire released?
Empire was released on December 6, 2002.
Who directed Empire?
Empire was directed by Franc. Reyes.
More films by Franc. Reyes Who is in the cast of Empire?
Empire stars John Leguizamo, Denise Richards and Peter Sarsgaard.
How much did Empire make at the box office?
Empire grossed $18.6 million worldwide ($17.6 million domestic, $990,849 international) on a budget of $4 million.
How is Empire rated?
Empire has 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, 38 on Metacritic and 60% on TMDB.
Does Empire have a post-credit scene?
No. Empire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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