Colin Farrell’s Miami Regret

Colin Farrell has opened up about his disappointment with Miami Vice, the 2006 film adaptation of the iconic 1980s TV series in which he starred alongside Jamie Foxx. Directed by Michael Mann, the gritty reimagining was intended as a stylish, grounded take on the original — but for Farrell, something essential got lost in translation.

Farrell revealed that while the film leaned heavily into its moody realism, it failed to capture the camaraderie and chemistry he shared off-screen with Foxx. “Miami Vice got slapped around a bit,” he told The Independent, reflecting on the film’s reception and tone.

He went on to explain that the project’s seriousness left little room for the light-hearted banter he had hoped to see reflected on screen — the kind of energy he likened to the Lethal Weapon films. Despite his initial disappointment, the actor acknowledged that audiences have grown fonder of the movie over time, with some fans now regarding it as an underrated cult classic.

Farrell also touched on another project he believes deserves a second look: True Detective season two. Released in 2015 to mixed reviews, the series followed the widely acclaimed first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Farrell, who played detective Ray Velcoro opposite Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn, described the experience as one of his career’s toughest but most rewarding challenges.

“It got battered,” he admitted, but added that he loved playing the morally conflicted character and working with showrunner Nic Pizzolatto. For Farrell, the criticism that followed the show’s release was simply part of the artistic journey — a reminder that resilience is key in an unpredictable industry.

Now, with his latest film Ballad of a Small Player streaming on Netflix, Farrell appears content to let past projects find their own audiences — even if appreciation sometimes comes years later.