Ridley Scott’s Black Rain Is Still the Grittiest ’80s Thriller of All Time

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It’s common for a director with a lot of popular films to have some lesser-known works get overlooked. For instance, when people think of Steven Spielberg, movies like Always and Empire of the Sun aren’t usually the first ones they mention. Similarly, Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead and Silence often get overshadowed by his bigger hits like Goodfellas and The Departed. The same is true for Ridley Scott, whose acclaimed films Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator tend to overshadow a fantastic, but underrated, 1980s crime thriller called Black Rain.

Michael Douglas stars in this 1989 crime thriller, Black Rain, shortly after winning an Academy Award for his role in Wall Street (1987). The film also features Andy Garcia, Ken Takakura, and Kate Capshaw. Black Rain was part of a series of three crime thrillers directed by Ridley Scott, beginning with Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) and concluding with Thelma & Louise (1991).

Black Rain Had All the Pieces to be a Massive Success

By 1989, Ridley Scott was a well-respected director in Hollywood, known for successful films like Alien, Blade Runner, and Legend. These movies proved he could direct a variety of different types of stories. Despite partnering with an actor who had just won a Best Actor award, critics weren’t impressed with his latest thriller when it was released.

From a technical standpoint, Ridley Scott’s Black Rain was brilliantly made, like many of his films. The cinematography, handled by Jan de Bont—who later became famous for directing ‘90s hits like Speed and Twister—was particularly impressive, capturing the vibrant, neon-lit streets of Osaka, Japan, on location.

The film Black Rain featured impressive action sequences and sound design. These elements earned it Academy Award nominations for Best Sound and Best Sound Effects Editing, but it didn’t receive any further awards.

Critics weren’t impressed with the screenplay, which was written by two relatively unknown writers. They found Black Rain to be visually flashy but lacking depth, describing the plot as dull and emotionally empty. Many also felt the portrayal of Nick Conklin was cartoonish and didn’t fit the film’s serious, realistic tone.

I’ve been following this film for a while now, and it originally got pretty mixed reviews – around 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. But lately, it’s been making a comeback! With the Blu-ray re-release and some popular podcasters talking about it, people are starting to appreciate it a lot more, and it’s really become a bit of a cult favorite. It’s great to see it getting the recognition it deserves!

Blade Runner Walked So Black Rain Could Run

Ridley Scott was clearly influenced by Japanese culture and art in the 1980s. While Blade Runner included strong science fiction elements, it was fundamentally a detective story inspired by Philip K. Dick’s neo-noir work. Scott continued exploring these themes in Black Rain, captivated by the idea of two American detectives navigating Japan’s dangerous criminal world while escorting a suspect.

Beyond simply mixing genres, Black Rain stands out because it’s a fast-paced action movie at its core. The film keeps you on edge with unexpected deaths of important characters, building to a classic, explosive showdown between the hero and the villain. Some critics may have been thrown off by the change in pace from a slow-burning crime story to a thrilling action film, but that same shift might be what appeals to audiences today.

Despite not being a critical success when it was released, Black Rain was a financial hit. The film earned $134 million globally on a $30 million budget – more than four times its production cost – and proved to be a popular draw for audiences, testing the appeal of both Ridley Scott and Michael Douglas.

While American viewers weren’t impressed, Black Rain was a huge hit in Japan, winning numerous awards at the 1990 Japanese Academy Awards. Japanese audiences connected with the film’s cultural themes and messages, and internationally, it’s considered a classic.

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2025-12-12 17:09