Jack Nicholson’s underrated 1990 noir movie The Two Jakes, a long-awaited follow-up to Chinatown, arrived in theaters with high expectations but met with commercial disappointment, despite strong performances and favorable critical response. More than thirty years later, the film’s failure to connect with a larger audience remains a puzzling chapter in the storied career of one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
Nicholson’s Evolution and Ray of Stardom in the Decades Before The Two Jakes
Jack Nicholson first built his reputation with standout character parts in the late 1960s, then ascended to international fame through the 1970s, starring in movies that would become classics of the era. Nicholson’s shift toward more natural, emotionally raw performances set him apart and contributed substantially to the New Hollywood movement. After continuing his rise through ambitious roles in films like The Shining and A Few Good Men, he entered the 1980s and 1990s marked by both acclaimed hits and the occasional misfire.
Even as times changed and Hollywood evolved, Nicholson remained a force, delivering memorable turns such as the comic-book villain in Batman and more subdued characters, like those seen in The Crossing Guard. Critics often praised his capacity to enliven scripts regardless of overall movie quality, yet commercial success was not always guaranteed. The Two Jakes would underscore this, arriving as both a creative effort and a box office casualty.
The Two Jakes: Why a Noir Sequel with All the Right Ingredients Fell Short
The Two Jakes, released nearly two decades after Chinatown’s 1974 debut, saw Nicholson not only reprise his legendary role as private detective Jake Gittes but also take over as director, with Roman Polanski having directed the original. Set in the 1950s, the film picks up ten years after Chinatown’s ending; Gittes, now older and marked by his past, becomes tangled in another labyrinthine investigation far bigger than he anticipated. The story continues the film noir tradition, laden with twists, atmospheric visuals, and layered performances by Nicholson.
“He even builds upon the character who is still weary from his previous case, and it’s clear that the PI in The Two Jakes has grown since his harrowing experience back in the 1940s.”
Despite the character depth and noir style, the film faltered financially, bringing in only $10 million against a $25 million budget. Critical response leaned positive, but success at the box office never materialized. A significant reason, sources suggest, stemmed from the era of its release: 1990 was a period marked by cultural shifts and a move away from nostalgia for previous decades. Movies set in an earlier time, especially sequels to 1970s hits, faced resistance among viewers more interested in the new directions cinema was taking in a turbulent time for Hollywood.
The Two Jakes had also endured a lengthy development process that left moviegoers less eager when it finally premiered. Had the film arrived in the later part of the 1980s or several years after 1990, it might have drawn more attention. As it was, audiences of the early ‘90s seemed uninterested in revisiting the era and characters Chinatown made famous, and the movie was largely overlooked.
A Look at Nicholson’s Other ‘90s Films: Where Does The Two Jakes Stand?
The Two Jakes began Jack Nicholson’s work in the 1990s, a decade in which his film catalog ranged widely in both artistic and commercial achievement. The decade would see major hits and celebrated performances—along with a fair number of disappointments and movies that drew mixed reactions from critics and fans. Immediately following The Two Jakes, Nicholson participated in three films in 1992 alone: the iconic A Few Good Men (which became one of his biggest box office hits), as well as Hoffa and Man Trouble, both of which underperformed financially.
Nicholson’s 1990s output included:
The Two Jakes (1990): $10 million box office gross
Man Trouble (1992): $4 million box office gross
A Few Good Men (1992): $243 million box office gross
Hoffa (1992): $29 million box office gross
Wolf (1994): $131 million box office gross
The Crossing Guard (1995): $800 thousand box office gross
Blood and Wine (1996): $1 million box office gross
Mars Attacks! (1996): $101 million box office gross
The Evening Star (1996): $12 million box office gross
As Good as It Gets (1997): $314 million box office gross
Wolf offered Nicholson a chance to explore unusual territory and was rewarded with commercial success, even if the critical reception was mixed. Smaller films like The Crossing Guard and Blood and Wine gave him dramatic space to showcase his range, though both failed to find large audiences. The Evening Star, a sequel to the Oscar-winning Terms of Endearment, struggled at the box office, while Mars Attacks! gradually became a cult favorite. Nicholson would close out the decade triumphantly with another Oscar and a major financial winner in As Good as It Gets.
But, in retrospect, much of Nicholson’s work from the 1990s sits in the middle, not typified by critical disaster or runaway hit status. The Two Jakes, like many of his films from this period, came at a time when the actor was less interested in risks; the movies tended to reflect a nostalgia or conservatism that often put them out of step with a film industry chasing new trends, especially as cinema audiences’ tastes shifted. The challenge each movie faced was the towering legacy of earlier successes, especially when sequels such as The Two Jakes attempted to recapture magic that had contributed to Hollywood history decades before.
The Two Jakes on Screen: Cast and Characters
The Two Jakes featured a strong ensemble alongside Nicholson’s Jake Gittes. Harvey Keitel played Julius “Jake” Berman, bringing complexity to a pivotal role in the new case Gittes takes on. Meg Tilly portrayed Kitty Berman, whose involvement is essential to the film’s twists, and Madeleine Stowe appeared as Lillian Bodine. Each performer added dimension to the intricate storyline, supporting Nicholson’s vision as both leading actor and director.
The Enduring Questions Surrounding The Two Jakes’ Place in Film History
In looking back at Jack Nicholson’s career-defining moments, The Two Jakes stands as a paradox: built on a successful foundation with celebrated talent, the noir failed to find its audience in a dramatically changing Hollywood. Curious timing, audience expectations, and the shadow of Chinatown all played roles in the film becoming a cult footnote rather than a marquee hit.
The enduring appeal of Jack Nicholson’s underrated 1990 noir movie The Two Jakes ultimately lies in its willingness to revisit a beloved character and setting, even at the risk of falling short commercially. For viewers and critics who return to it, the movie remains a complex portrait of trauma, aging, and legacy, offering further proof of Nicholson’s influence on Hollywood and ongoing fascination with the evolution of Jake Gittes.
