One Good Cop

One Good Cop

Year: 1991

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Heywood Gould

CrimeActionDramaThriller

When his partner is killed in the line of duty, Artie Lewis is thrust into guardianship of his partner’s three orphaned daughters. As he investigates the murder, his own life and the safety of his new family are jeopardized, forcing him to confront a ruthless crime lord with relentless rage and a personal sense of justice.

One Good Cop (1991) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at One Good Cop (1991) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the restless streets of New York City, the precinct hums with a mix of bureaucracy and raw urgency. Artie Lewis is a seasoned detective whose devotion to the badge is matched only by his love for his wife, Rita Lewis, and the camaraderie he shares with his longtime partner, Stevie Diroma. Their partnership, forged over years of dangerous assignments, is a study in loyalty and unspoken trust, set against a backdrop of gritty housing projects and the ever‑present pulse of the city’s underbelly.

When a line‑of‑duty tragedy strikes, the shock ripples far beyond the badge. Stevie’s untimely death leaves behind three young daughters—Marian, Barbara, and Carol—who suddenly become the focus of Artie’s world. Suddenly, the apartment that once felt spacious now feels cramped, and the practicalities of guardianship clash with the emotional weight of stepping into a role he never imagined. The film leans into the tension between a seasoned cop’s disciplined life and the chaotic, tender demands of caring for a new family.

As Artie begins to probe the circumstances surrounding his partner’s death, the investigation tightens around a ruthless criminal element that threatens both his career and the safety of his newly formed household. The narrative balances gritty procedural moments with quiet, human scenes that reveal Artie’s internal struggle: the pull of duty versus the fierce protectiveness of a father‑figure. This tension fuels a moody, atmospheric tone that feels both tense and heartfelt, hinting at the impossible choices he may have to make.

Artie’s journey is as much about confronting external danger as it is about navigating the fragile balance of love, responsibility, and personal justice. The film’s style interweaves street‑level realism with moments of poignant intimacy, leaving the audience eager to see how the detective will reconcile his relentless pursuit of truth with the promise he now owes to the children who look to him for safety and hope.

Last Updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:34

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Action dramas about ethical compromise like One Good Cop

Stories where duty clashes with desperate, personal justice.If you liked the gritty moral choices in One Good Cop, explore these movies like it. This collection features similar crime stories and police thrillers where protagonists are forced to confront ethical dilemmas for personal justice, blending heavy emotional weight with high-stakes action.

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The narrative pattern typically involves a personal catalyst—often a loss or a direct threat to a loved one—that propels a rule-abiding protagonist into a gray area. The journey charts their increasing desperation and the compromises they make, culminating in a confrontation that tests their original identity and leaves a bittersweet or ambiguous victory.

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Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a protagonist's moral decay or compromise, set against a high-stakes crime backdrop. They share a tense, heavy tone, fast pacing, and explore the psychological cost of crossing ethical lines for a cause that feels personally just.

Vengeance thrillers with heavy grief like One Good Cop

Vengeance narratives born from profound personal tragedy.Find more movies like One Good Cop that center on a protagonist's rage after a personal loss. These similar action dramas and thrillers explore the theme of grief-driven vengeance, combining heavy emotional weight with fast-paced, high-intensity plots and a tense, suspenseful mood.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative begins with a traumatic inciting event that shatters the protagonist's world. Their subsequent journey is not just about solving a crime but about channeling their anguish into a singular, often reckless, focus on retribution. This emotional core creates a direct, propulsive plot where the stakes are intensely personal.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the central theme of a protagonist's actions being powered by grief and a thirst for vengeance. They share a high-intensity, fast-paced experience with a consistently tense and gritty tone, prioritizing emotional drive over complex plotting.

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One Good Cop Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in One Good Cop

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