Righteous Kill

Two seasoned New York City detectives, Turk and Rooster, reconnect with a living city that feels different from the days when they solved cases with certainty. When a new homicide bears unexpected similarities to a case they believe they already wrapped up years earlier, they start digging for connections that might explain a present crime and a possible serial killer. The search sends them down a murkier path than they anticipated, where routine police work collides with memory and doubt. As they collect fragments of evidence, trusted partners like Det. Simon Perez and the sharp NYPD lieutenant Karen Corelli weigh in, testing loyalties and professional instincts. The truth, they fear, may be harder to pin down than they thought. Old case files echo in their offices as new evidence surfaces that could rewrite what they think they know. Relations with colleagues strain under the pressure of a public crime wave and the glare of media scrutiny.

Directed by Jon Avnet from an original screenplay by Russell Gewirtz, Righteous Kill arrived in 2008 as a hard edged New York crime thriller with its two legendary leads trading one liners and tension for a late career clash.

With a production budget around 60 million, the film grossed roughly 79.5 million worldwide, signaling steady if modest commercial performance for a star driven crime drama.

Critics split on the plotting but often praised the chemistry between De Niro and Pacino while noting a routine twist structure. The movie probes justice and moral compromise as veteran cops wrestle with memory, doubt, and the consequences of past decisions.

Despite the heavyweight pairing, the film did not leave a lasting cultural imprint. It lacks standout quotes or scenes that linger in pop culture, instead serving as a solid late career collaboration for its stars rather than a defining moment.