2026 marks the 20th anniversary of ‘Miami Vice‘, which was the big screen adaption of the classic 80’s TV show directed by Michael Mann and starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, as Sonny Crocket and Ricardo Tubbs, respectively.
While the film was not successful upon release, it has grown to have a huge cult following and is more popular now than it’s ever been. In fact, “Vice Fever” is back as ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ director Joseph Kosinski is currently shooting a new adaption of the TV series called ‘Miami Vice ’85‘, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of ‘Miami Vice’, Moviefone has compiled a list of 5 fun facts about the now cult classic.
Let’s begin!
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1. A Film Adaptation of the TV Show Was Jamie Foxx’s Idea
Foxx first worked with director Michael Mann, who also produced the original ‘Miami Vice’ series, on the biopic ‘Ali‘ starring Will Smith. During the wrap party for ‘Ali’, Foxx pitched Mann on the idea of making a ‘Miami Vice’ movie. Foxx would go on to star opposite Tom Cruise in Mann’s ‘Collateral‘ and win an Oscar for ‘Ray‘ before Mann eventually cast him as Ricardo Tubbs in film.
2. The Film Deliberately Looks Different from the TV Series
The original series was famous for its pastel suits, bright colors and glossy 1980s style. But Mann wanted to go in another direction for the 2006 film, emphasizing undercover work, danger, hard lighting and a more realistic criminal underworld. He described his approach as making ‘Miami Vice’ feel real in the contemporary world rather than simply recreating the nostalgia of the series.
3. Michael Mann Pioneered Digital Filmmaking with ‘Miami Vice’
Mann shot the majority of of the film using high-definition digital cameras, primarily the Thomson Viper FilmStream. Rather than trying to make digital footage look like traditional film, he embraced its ability to capture Miami’s nighttime atmosphere, including distant city lights, storm clouds and the glow of the streets. The demanding production pushed the technology’s limits and gave the film a unique and distinctive look.
4. Colin Farrell Thought he was Participating in a Real Drug Sting
One of the most bizarre stories associated with the film involves Farrell taking part in a real undercover operation. At least Farrell was led to believe he was witnessing a real sting, during which guns were drawn and officers’ identities were questioned. He reportedly feared for his safety before learning that the operation had been staged by Mann as part of his training.
5. Actress Gong Li Learned Her ‘Miami Vice’ Dialogue Phonetically
Although Gong Li was already one of China’s most acclaimed actresses, she faced a unique challenge playing Cuban-Chinese drug trafficker Isabella in ‘Miami Vice’. Li learned much of her English dialogue phonetically and spent months working with language coaches to master her character’s Cuban-accented English. According to director Michael Mann, Li practiced for hours each day to get the pronunciation right.
What is the plot of 2006’s ‘Miami Vice’?
A case involving drug lords and murder in South Florida takes a personal turn for undercover detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx). Unorthodox Crockett gets involved romantically with the Chinese-Cuban wife (Gong Li) of a trafficker of arms and drugs (Luis Tosar), while Tubbs deals with an assault on those he loves.
Who is in the cast of 2006’s ‘Miami Vice’?
- Colin Farrell as Det. James “Sonny” Crockett
- Jamie Foxx as Det. Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs
- Gong Li as Isabella
- Naomie Harris as Det. Trudy Joplin
- Ciarán Hinds as FBI Agent John Fujima
- Elizabeth Rodriguez as Det. Gina Calabrese
- Domenick Lombardozzi as Det. Stan Switek
- Justin Theroux as Det. Larry Zito
- Barry Shabaka Henley as Lt. Martín Castillo
- Luis Tosar as Arcángel de Jesús Montoya
- John Ortiz as José Yero
- John Hawkes as Alonzo Stevens
- Eddie Marsan as Nicholas
List of Michael Mann Movies and TV Shows:
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