Laurence Fishburne has described the 1992 drama *Deep Cover* as the most overlooked film of his career, saying it remains effective more than three decades after release. The film matters as an early leading role for Fishburne and as a notable crime thriller that explored the moral damage caused by undercover police work.

Directed by Bill Duke, *Deep Cover* stars Fishburne as Russell Stevens, an officer sent to infiltrate a Los Angeles drug operation, alongside Jeff Goldblum. Although it received a more limited profile than some later Fishburne films, it has developed a reputation for its tense atmosphere, social commentary and Fishburne’s performance.