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Crime drama

Prince of the City (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Prince of the City (1981) movie poster

Prince of the City is a 1981 crime drama directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Treat Williams, Bob Balaban and Jerry Orbach. It runs 2 hours 47 minutes and earned $8.1 million worldwide. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
worldwide gross
$8.1M
award nominations
4
Metascore
80
Prince of the City (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 47m (167 min)
Director
Sidney Lumet
Genres
Drama , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Prince of the City About?

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

Banished from Malaysia after being falsely accused of murder, Prince Amara finds himself stripped of his privileged life. To reclaim his birthright and seek justice, he reluctantly joins forces with a formidable gangster and a skilled bodyguard. Together, they navigate a dangerous path, confronting the powerful figures who orchestrated his downfall and seeking retribution for the betrayal.

Prince of the City Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • police corruption
  • neo noir
  • fbi federal bureau of investigation
  • social commentary
  • judicial system
  • police
  • city
  • new york city
  • corruption
  • detective
  • commission
  • internal affairs
+38 more
  • partner
  • narcotics
  • corrupt cop
  • whiskey
  • marriage
  • law
  • justice
  • mercy
  • pity
  • compassion
  • justice system
  • ethical conflict
  • cruelty
  • rejection
  • verdict
  • judgement
  • testimony
  • vomiting
  • nervous breakdown
  • testifying in court
  • defense lawyer
  • pain
  • personal crisis
  • psychological torment
  • remorse
  • disappointment
  • police car
  • escape
  • running
  • living room
  • barbecue
  • house
  • virginia
  • quarrel
  • sidewalk
  • grudge
  • alcohol
  • wine
Where to watch

Where to Watch Prince of the City

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Prince of the City Cast

Treat Williams leads the cast, with Bob Balaban and Jerry Orbach. Directed by Sidney Lumet; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Prince of the City Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Prince of the City 80 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

Plot

Prince of the City Plot Summary

What happens in Prince of the City 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

In the gritty world of New York City, Detective Danny Ciello, portrayed by Treat Williams, finds himself entangled in an intricate web of corruption that defines the Special Investigative Unit (SIU), a group that has gained notoriety as the “Princes of the City.” They operate under a facade of authority, often toying with the very essence of justice while engaging in illegal activities, including skimming money from criminal operations and equipping informants with illicit goods. Amid this chaos, Ciello’s personal demons resurface, forcing him to confront his troubled past.

Full summary

The whole story of Prince of the City, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Prince of the City Box Office

Prince of the City grossed $8.1 million worldwide.

1981 box office

Worldwide gross

$8.1M

US & Canada
$8.1M
Awards

Prince of the City Awards & Nominations

Prince of the City was nominated for 1 Oscar. The 4 nominations come from 2 ceremonies, the most at the Golden Globes 1982.

4 nominations2 ceremonies

Videos

Prince of the City Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Prince of the City.

Prince of the City (1981) Original Trailer [FHD]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Prince of the City?

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 lead role of Detective Danny Ciello?

Cars

Cars in Prince of the City

67 cars on screen, including the 1974 Dodge Monaco and the 1977 Ford LTD Country Squire.

All 67 cars
  • 1974 Dodge Monaco in Prince of the City 1974 Dodge Monaco Important role
  • 1977 Ford LTD Country Squire in Prince of the City 1977 Ford LTD Country Squire Important role
  • 1977 Buick Electra 225 in Prince of the City 1977 Buick Electra 225 Minor role
  • 1978 Buick Estate Wagon in Prince of the City 1978 Buick Estate Wagon Minor role
Details

Prince of the City Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Prince of the City - Die Herren der Stadt” and “Le Prince de New York”.

Also known as
  • Prince of the City - Die Herren der Stadt
  • Le Prince de New York
  • プリンス・オブ・シティ:1981
  • El príncipe de la ciudad
  • Il principe della città
  • נסיך העיר
  • A város hercege
  • Принц города
  • Принцът на града
  • 도시의 제왕
  • Książę wielkiego miasta
  • 城市王子
+4 more
  • Pán velkoměsta
  • プリンス・オブ・シティ
  • El príncep de la ciutat
  • Vallan terällä

Seen Prince of the City?

FAQ

Prince of the City FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Prince of the City, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Prince of the City?

Prince of the City runs 2 hours 47 minutes (167 minutes).

When was Prince of the City released?

Prince of the City was released on August 21, 1981.

Who directed Prince of the City?

Prince of the City was directed by Sidney Lumet.

More films by Sidney Lumet

Who is in the cast of Prince of the City?

Prince of the City stars Treat Williams, Bob Balaban and Jerry Orbach, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Prince of the City?

In the US, Prince of the City is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Prince of the City make at the box office?

Prince of the City grossed $8.1 million worldwide.

How is Prince of the City rated?

Prince of the City has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 80 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.

Was Prince of the City nominated for any awards?

Prince of the City received 4 nominations across 2 ceremonies.

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