Synopsis

Miami-Dade vice detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs go undercover to infiltrate a powerful South American drug operation after an informant's murder exposes a dangerous leak. As they build ties with the traffickers, Crockett becomes involved with the cartel leader's companion, while Tubbs struggles to protect his partner and keep the operation from collapsing into betrayal and violence.

Factoids & Trivia

• Michael Mann had been an executive producer on the original Miami Vice television series, making the film a rare case of its original creative architect revisiting the property for the big screen.

• Jamie Foxx reportedly suggested making a Miami Vice film to Mann at a party for Ali. Mann later developed the project as a contemporary crime thriller rather than a nostalgic recreation of the 1980s series.

• The movie was shot entirely with high-definition digital cameras, including the Thomson Viper FilmStream. The technology helped Mann capture the grainy, low-light imagery that became one of the film's most distinctive visual traits.

• Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx trained with real undercover law-enforcement personnel and observed undercover operations as preparation for their roles.

• Production traveled beyond South Florida, using locations in the Caribbean, Uruguay, Paraguay, and other parts of South America to give the investigation an international scale.

• The estimated production budget was $135 million. The film earned approximately $164 million worldwide after its July 28, 2006, U.S. release.

• The film's later reputation has been more favorable than its initial reception. Its digital cinematography, nocturnal atmosphere, and unusually immersive approach have helped it gain a strong reappraisal among cinephiles.