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.

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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