Synopsis

After serving time for a crime he did not commit, Han Sing returns to Oakland to investigate his brother's murder. His search draws him into a violent feud between Chinese and Black crime families. Han joins forces with Trish O'Day, whose father is tied to the conflict, as they uncover a conspiracy involving betrayal, illegal deals, and a deadly power struggle.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is loosely modeled on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, replacing the feuding households with rival Chinese and Black criminal organizations in contemporary Oakland.

• Romeo Must Die marked Aaliyah's film acting debut. She also contributed several songs to the soundtrack and served as an executive producer of the album.

• The soundtrack's lead single, "Try Again," became a major hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100. The song was notable for reaching number one without a traditional chorus.

• The movie helped popularize stylized X-ray visual effects during fight scenes, allowing viewers to see the impact of punches, kicks, and broken bones in exaggerated detail.

• Although the story is set in Oakland, most of the production was filmed in Vancouver, including locations in Chinatown, Gastown, and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

• A planned kissing scene between Han and Trish was removed after test screenings. The released version leaves their relationship romantic but nonphysical.

• The movie was produced on an estimated $25 million budget and earned more than $91 million worldwide.