Dead Presidents
Dead Presidents

Dead Presidents

1995Movie119 minEnglish

On the streets they call cash dead presidents. And that's just what a Vietnam veteran is after when he returns home from the war only to find himself drawn into a life of crime. With the aid of his fellow vets he plans the ultimate heist -- a daring robbery of an armored car filled with unmarked U.S. currency!

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes43%
Metacritic50/100
Google Users75%
Director: Albert Hughes, Allen HughesGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller, War

Plot Summary

A young Korean War vet returns home to find few opportunities and gets drawn into a life of crime. He and his friends plan and execute a daring robbery of a Federal Reserve money transport. The heist goes awry, leading to a violent and desperate flight from the authorities.

Critical Reception

Dead Presidents was met with mixed reviews from critics. While the directorial vision and some performances were praised, many found the plot to be derivative and the violence excessive. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating its gritty depiction of urban struggle and its social commentary, while others criticized its bleak tone and convoluted narrative.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its stylish direction and intense atmosphere.
  • Criticized for its predictable plot and reliance on graphic violence.
  • The film attempts a social commentary that is often overshadowed by its crime thriller elements.

Google audience: Audience reviews highlight the film's strong visual style and powerful performances, particularly from Larenz Tate. However, many found the story to be overly violent and somewhat predictable, with some expressing disappointment that the social themes felt underdeveloped.

Fun Fact

The Hughes brothers, Albert and Allen, were only 21 years old when they directed 'Dead Presidents,' making them one of the youngest directorial duos to helm a major studio film at the time.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Andre Gonzales

Andre Gonzales

Bank robbery movie. The planning they do is next to none. Awesome action but also pretty sad.
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

The fairly charismatic Larenz Tate tries quite hard here as "Curtis", a lad with potential who falls in with petty criminal "Kirby" (Keith David) before enlisting in the US Marines to go and fight in Vietnam. After the war, he returns to hi...
John Chard

John Chard

Brothers In Arms. Albert and Allen Hughes direct, produce and co-write (with Michael Henry Brown) this tale about Anthony Curtis (Larenz Tate), a South Bronx boy who goes off to fight in Vietnam, to then return after his tours of duty to...