The French Connection
Seen it?1971 | 104 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (96% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 5 Oscars, people are still talking about it and audiences rate it highly (7.5 out of 10). Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved King of New York, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, gritty.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 1 hr 44 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence and drug use.
- Made in 1971: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94 on Metacritic
- AudiencesStrong
7.5 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 5 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Picture, Academy Awards: Best Director, Academy Awards: Best Actor, Academy Awards: Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium and 1 more. Won 3 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Golden Globe Awards: Best Director – Motion Picture. Won 2 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Actor in a Leading Role, British Academy Film Awards: Best Film Editing. Won 1 DGA Award: Directors Guild of America Awards: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Drama – Adapted from Another Medium. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars, 1 more Golden Globe and 3 more BAFTAs. Plus 10 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$75 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 445K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
French Connection II
Sunday Safe BetFrom the same French Connection series, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Kiss of the Dragon Sunday Safe BetAnother drug-world crime thriller, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
King of New York
Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime thriller, and a Saturday Special.
Year of the Dragon
Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Payback Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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Cast & crew
Directed by William Friedkin
- Gene HackmanJimmy "Popeye" Doyle
- Roy ScheiderBuddy Russo
- Fernando ReyAlain Charnier
- Tony Lo BiancoSal Boca
- Marcel BozzuffiPierre Nicoli
- Frédéric de PasqualeDevereaux
- Bill HickmanMulderig
- Ann RebbotMarie Charnier
- Harold GaryWeinstock
- Arlene FarberAngie Boca