The Krays is a 1990 British biographical crime drama film directed by Peter Medak. The film is based on the lives and crimes of the British gangster twins Ronald and Reginald Kray, often referred to as The Krays. The film stars Billie Whitelaw, Tom Bell, and real life brothers (although not twins) Gary and Martin Kemp, both of whom were members of the band Spandau Ballet.

Plot

The film charts the lives of the Kray twins from childhood to adult life. The plot focuses on the relationship between the twins and their doting mother (Whitelaw). Ronald (Gary Kemp) is the dominant one, influencing his brother Reginald (Martin Kemp) to perform several acts of violence as they rise to power as the leaders of a powerful organised gang in 1960s London. The movie focuses more on the personal life of the brothers, including Reg's marriage and then alienation from his wife, culminating in her suicide. The movie omits the police investigation going against the Krays and ends with a jump-cut to them attending their mother's funeral in 1982, already serving time in prison by then.

Cast

Reception

The Krays holds a rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 reviews. In November 2024, Burdis admitted that he regretted "glamourising" Ronnie and Reggie Kray and was developing a new film to portray them as the thugs they were. "They weren't folk heroes," he told The Guardian. "They were just a pair of cowardly psychopathic bullies, who terrorised the East End of London in the 1960s."

Box office

The film opened at the top of the UK box office with a gross of £1,036,117 for the week. It remained at number one for a second week and went on to gross £3,707,649 ($7 million) at the UK box office. In the United States and Canada, it grossed $2,060,847.

Awards