"sharply detailed landscape" and states that its "brief characterizations are so keenly drawn that dozens of them stand out with the forcefulness of major performances." She concludes that it "begins with the strength and confidence of a great film, and ends merely as a good one. The achievement isn't what it first promises to be, but it's exciting and impressive all the same." The film was not commercially successful in theatres, earning only $8.1 million of its $8.6 million cost. Prince of the City holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 24 reviews with an average rating of 7.5/10. On Metacritic, it has a score of 81% based on reviews from 15 critics. Awards and nominations Nominated, Best Adapted Screenplay (Jay Presson Allen, Sidney Lumet), Academy Awards Nominated, Best Director (Sidney Lumet), Best Picture, Best Actor (Treat Williams), Golden Globe Awards Nominated, Best Picture, Edgar Allan Poe Awards Winner, Best Director (Sidney Lumet), Kansas City Film Critics Circle Selected, Top Ten Films of the Year, National Board of Review Nominated, Best Supporting Actor (Jerry Orbach), National Society of Film Critics Winner, Best Director (Sidney Lumet), New York Film Critics Circle Nominated, Best Film, Best Screenplay (Jay Presson Allen, Sidney Lumet), Best Supporting Actor (Jerry Orbach), New York Film Critics Circle Winner, Best Film, Venice Film Festival Nominated, Best Adapted Screenplay (Jay Presson Allen, Sidney Lumet), Writers Guild of America References Citations Other sources Prince of the City: The Real Story (2006), 30-minute making-of featurette on the DVD release Notes External links 1981 films 1981 crime drama films American crime drama films Films about whistleblowing Films based on non-fiction books Crime films based on actual events American police detective films Films directed by Sidney Lumet Orion Pictures films Films set in New York City Films set in Virginia Fictional portrayals of the New York City Police Department Films about the New York City Police Department Films shot in New York City Films shot in New Jersey Films scored by Paul Chihara American neo-noir films Films about police corruption 1980s English-language films 1980s American films