Infernal Affairs
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: G. Allen Johnson
    100
    Unfolds as a masterful chess match of wit and ingenuity, a cat-and-mouse chase of the highest order.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    91
    Dazzling psychological cat-and-mouse drama.
  3. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    88
    Throbs with action, suspense and a seductive rhythm all its own.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Allison Benedikt
    88
    It's hard to breathe in Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs, a relentlessly taut Hong Kong cop thriller that, unlike many of its cinematic peers, doesn't burn off tension in choreographed action sequences.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    88
    The plot is intricate and tight. The preamble is a bit challenging to sort out. But the movie's engine is the relationships and the characters' inner lives, all of it boiling with emotional intensity.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Andrew Sun
    80
    Driven by two great performances surrounded by solid supporting acts, Infernal Affairs is the rare testosterone movie that is also mature and thoughtful.
  7. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Stephanie Zacharek
    80
    One of the truest American gangster films of all time.
  8. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Dennis Lim
    80
    Spins in place with aplomb, generating exponentially more vertiginous doublings with each sweaty-palmed set piece.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Derek Elley
    80
    Pic is superbly honed at both script and performance levels, with character taking precedence over action.
  10. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    80
    A runaway hit in Hong Kong, this 2002 crime thriller reinvigorated the genre with its airtight script, taut editing, and sleek cinematography.
  11. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    The movie pays off in a kind of emotional complexity rarely seen in crime movies.
  12. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    75
    Overflows with psychological intrigue, something often missing from such offerings.
  13. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    75
    Viewers who like clean storytelling may not be happy. Those who savor ironic wrap-ups will be.
  14. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Glenn Kenny
    75
    This is a real grabber.
  15. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Liam Lacey
    75
    Here is a psychological twister with an implausible and hard-to-follow plot. All of this is more than compensated for by terrific performances, a seductive colour palette that is greenish and glassy, and a minimalist style reminiscent of Michael Mann.
  16. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    70
    The sophistication of the stylized minimalism here in Infernal Affairs is dazzling.
  17. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    70
    Expect to be confused for 10 minutes. Then sit back and enjoy the ride.
  18. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    60
    It should come as no surprise that there's an American remake in the works, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon and directed by Martin Scorsese.
  19. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Anthony Lane
    40
    The directors, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, manage to convince us that we have witnessed an action movie, although in fact the quantity of violence is so minimal that, under Hong Kong law, Infernal Affairs barely qualifies as a motion picture.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.9 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. grandpajoe6191
    8
    A artistically bizarre, action packed movie that has the untouchable tension between its characters. In my opinion, "Internal Affairs" is better than the American version of the movie, "The Departed".… Full Review »
  2. Terry
    10
    I liked this one better. People don't realize that the Departed is a remake of the Infernal Affairs trilogy. The Departed does take sources from IA 2 and 3. To say that this movie is a rough draft of Departed is downright insulting. WIthout this movie, there goes the Departed as well as Scorsese's career. This movie is much better. The characters are more interesting and this film has more soul than the American counterpart. A much better thriller overall.… Full Review »
  3. nutterjr
    8
    The film that got Scorsese his first Oscar is a remake of this wonderful film, a very perplex and masterfully weaved chess match of wit and ingenuity. The scenario deserves all possible accolades and the directing is very sharp indeed.… Full Review »
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