Miami Vice (2006)

Last updated:
August 10, 2025

Miami Vice (2006), directed by Michael Mann, is a gritty, stylish reimagining of the classic 1980s TV series. It dives deep into the dangerous world of undercover narcotics work, blending sleek visuals with intense realism and an emphasis on atmosphere over conventional storytelling.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Opening: Nightclub Sting

The movie starts in the middle of an undercover operation. Detectives Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) work with their Miami-Dade police team to intercept a potential drug exchange. Midway through the op, they receive an urgent call from an informant revealing that a major federal sting in South Florida has been compromised, resulting in multiple murders.

Going Deep Undercover

Sonny and Ricardo are pulled into an FBI-led mission to infiltrate a powerful drug trafficking network run by the enigmatic Arcángel de Jesús Montoya. The deal is high-risk—if their cover is blown, they’ll be killed instantly. The detectives pose as transport specialists to gain Montoya’s trust, setting up a deal to move drugs by sea.

Meeting Isabella

Sonny meets Isabella (Gong Li), Montoya’s financial partner and lover. She’s sophisticated, intelligent, and mysterious. Against all rules of undercover work, Sonny and Isabella develop a romantic relationship, creating a dangerous personal complication. Meanwhile, Tubbs becomes romantically involved with Trudy (Naomie Harris), another member of the Miami-Dade team.

The Haitian Ambush

Tensions escalate when the detectives find themselves in a violent standoff with a Haitian gang that tries to hijack one of their drug shipments. The firefight is brutal and reinforces the danger of their deep-cover operation.

Double Cross Looming

Through careful maneuvering, Sonny and Tubbs gain Montoya’s full trust. However, Montoya’s right-hand man, José Yero (John Ortiz), grows suspicious and begins plotting to eliminate them.

Movie Ending

The climax begins when Yero kidnaps Trudy to force the detectives’ hand. Tubbs races against time to save her, leading to a brutal rescue sequence in which Trudy is freed but badly injured from an explosion. This personal attack forces Sonny and Tubbs to abandon the slow infiltration strategy and strike back.

In the final shootout, they set up a meeting under the guise of doing another deal. The exchange turns into a fierce gun battle, with Sonny and Tubbs using tactical precision to take down Yero’s crew. Yero is killed during the confrontation, removing Montoya’s most suspicious lieutenant.

Sonny drives Isabella to a safe location, intending to get her out before Montoya retaliates. Their relationship ends in bittersweet silence—Isabella leaves for Havana by boat, knowing they can never be together without risking both their lives.

The film closes with Tubbs at the hospital, watching over Trudy, while Sonny silently reflects on the cost of living in the world they operate in. The ending is abrupt, leaving the emotional aftermath hanging in the air, a Michael Mann trademark.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Miami Vice has no post-credits scenes. Once the final scene fades to black, the credits roll without any additional footage.

Type of Movie

Crime thriller, action drama, neo-noir. This is not a glossy action blockbuster—it’s an intense, slow-burn undercover story with bursts of hyper-realistic violence and a heavy focus on mood and authenticity.

Cast

Colin Farrell – Sonny Crockett
Jamie Foxx – Ricardo Tubbs
Gong Li – Isabella
Naomie Harris – Trudy Joplin
Ciarán Hinds – FBI Agent Fujima
John Ortiz – José Yero
Luis Tosar – Arcángel de Jesús Montoya

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by John Murphy and Klaus Badelt, with additional contributions from Mogwai and Moby. The soundtrack mixes electronic beats, moody instrumentals, and rock tracks (including a heavy cover of “In the Air Tonight”) to reinforce the film’s atmospheric tone.

Filming Locations

Miami, Florida – Iconic skyline shots, club scenes, and coastal visuals.
Dominican Republic – Doubled for several South American and Caribbean settings.
Uruguay & Paraguay – Certain river and border-crossing sequences.
Michael Mann insisted on shooting on location for authenticity, often using available light and handheld cameras to enhance realism.

Awards and Nominations

While the film didn’t win major awards, it was praised for cinematography and sound design by various critics’ associations and was nominated for Best Cinematography at some international festivals.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Michael Mann rewrote parts of the script after a real undercover officer was killed, making the tone darker.
Production faced major delays due to hurricanes in the Dominican Republic.
Colin Farrell later admitted he was struggling with personal issues during filming, which affected his performance.
Jamie Foxx refused to shoot in certain dangerous locations after an on-set incident involving gunfire.

Inspirations and References

The film is inspired by the original Miami Vice TV series (1984–1989), also produced by Michael Mann. The movie uses the same core characters but modernizes the world with post-9/11 smuggling routes, real-world cartel structures, and more realistic undercover tactics.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Some early test screenings had a slightly extended ending between Sonny and Isabella, but Mann chose to cut it to maintain emotional ambiguity. Several dialogue-heavy scenes between Crockett and Tubbs were also trimmed to keep pacing tighter.

Book Adaptations and Differences

There is no direct book adaptation, but the screenplay is heavily based on Mann’s own background research into undercover narcotics operations, combined with elements from the original TV show.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The opening nightclub bust, instantly immersing the viewer without exposition.
Sonny and Isabella’s speedboat ride to Havana at night.
The Haitian ambush with sudden, chaotic gunfire.
The climactic shootout with Yero’s crew.

Iconic Quotes

Sonny Crockett: “Time is luck.”
Ricardo Tubbs: “I’m a fiend for mojitos.”
Isabella: “You pay me to run the numbers, not to make choices.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The “In the Air Tonight” scene is a nod to the original TV pilot episode.
Michael Mann reused certain camera techniques from Heat (1995) for the gunfights.
Some of the boat models are exact replicas of those used in the 1980s show.

Trivia

Michael Mann initially considered Edward Norton for the role of Sonny.
Jamie Foxx’s contract demanded he always fly privately after a dangerous on-set incident.
The film used over 100 real firearms, many on loan from law enforcement.

Why Watch?

For fans of realistic crime dramas, Miami Vice offers raw intensity, gorgeous digital cinematography, and a grounded take on undercover police work. It’s stylish but unglamorous, prioritizing authenticity over cliché action beats.

Miami Vice (2006)