Bullet

Bullet follows Butch Stein, a grizzled Jewish ex convict who has just walked out of prison and finds the old streets waiting. Instead of laying low, he steps back into a life of crime, hoping to regain control of his world. A meeting with a powerful drug dealer and a long standing rival from the prison yard forces him to choose between retreat and a dangerous comeback that could cost him everything. The city is relentless, filled with smoky bars, neon nights and tense standoffs, while Butch tries to balance survival with loyalty to those he cares about. The film tightens its focus on his decisions, the risks he takes, and the price of returning to the life he knows.

Directed by Julien Temple, Bullet is built around an original screenplay credited to Mickey Rourke and Bruce Rubenstein. The 1996 crime drama pairs hard edged street life with character driven tension and kinetic action with a lean, unflinching energy throughout.

Box office data for Bullet is not widely documented, and the film did not become a mainstream hit. It remained a relatively modest release that appealed mainly to viewers who seek gritty urban crime thrillers, and remains a cult curiosity.

The movie is notable for featuring Tupac Shakur in a principal on screen role, which gives Bullet a crossover appeal for fans of hip hop and crime cinema. Adrien Brody appears early in his career, adding a notable acting pedigree to the cast. That pairing with Rourke adds street energy.

Critics treated the film as a rough around the edges urban thriller with strong performances that sometimes wrestle with uneven pacing. Core themes include the lure of easy money, the pull of loyalty, and the heavy cost of violence on a man's future. Its tone stays severe yet humane throughout.