A 1985 crime heist gem starring Chuck Norris and Dennis Farina is now on Amazon Prime Video.
Code of Silence (1985) is not from Norris’ usual martial-arts heyday, but stands out as one of Norris’s most accomplished roles – earning praise for its gritty tone, strong performances, and hard-hitting direction.
The screenplay began life in the late 1970s as Dirty Harry IV: Code of Silence, commissioned by producers linked to Clint Eastwood’s franchise. Eastwood ultimately opted for Sudden Impact instead, and the script was shelved until Orion Pictures picked it up in 1983.
After Kris Kristofferson and others turned it down, Chuck Norris took on the lead role, transforming the project into a gritty Chicago-set cop thriller.
Cast as Sergeant Eddie Cusack, a straight-talking cop who stands alone against both corrupt colleagues and vicious gangsters, Norris delivers what many regard as his career-best performance.
On reviewing platform Rotten Tomatoes, one fan called it “a heavy‑duty thriller… with a lot of genuine human interest,” while another noted that “Chuck Norris takes a big leap in his film career” thanks to its more grounded tone.
It’s a departure from his typical action-heavy roles – fans describe it as surprisingly gritty, with Norris giving a “career‑best acting performance” in a film that echoes Dirty Harry in tone.
Directed by Andrew Davis in his feature debut, Code of Silence leans into urban authenticity. Shot on location in Chicago, the film features tense scenes in bars, back alleys, and city streets.
Davis later went on to helm The Fugitive and Under Siege, but his work here already demonstrated his skill at blending action and suspense.
Dennis Farina, a real-life Chicago police officer at the time, brings authenticity and charisma to his role as Cusack’s rookie partner. Henry Silva plays a menacing mob boss, while newcomer Molly Hagan delivers a strong performance as the mob boss’s daughter. Norris himself later described Code of Silence as “one of my personal favourite films”.
Critics responded positively: on Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a generally favourable rating of 67%, praised for its “slick direction” and “engaging action”. Letterboxd users call it a “Chicago classic,” with strong performances from Norris and Farina.
Made on a $7 million budget, Code of Silence opened at number one with a $5.5 million weekend and went on to gross $20.3 million domestically – making it the second-highest-grossing Chuck Norris film at the time.
Code of Silence is now available to stream, included in the Amazon Prime Video membership.