The American Friend
Seen it?1977 | 125 min | Drama, Thriller, Crime
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (88% on Rotten Tomatoes). A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Cop Land, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 5 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in German, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1977: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Tom Ripley, an American who deals in forged art, is slighted at an auction in Hamburg by picture framer Jonathan Zimmerman. When Ripley is asked by gangster Raoul Minot to kill a rival, he suggests Zimmerman, and the two, exploiting Zimmerman's terminal illness, coerce him into being a hitman.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 83K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Wim Wenders
- Dennis HopperTom Ripley
- Bruno GanzJonathan Zimmermann
- Lisa KreuzerMarianne Zimmermann
- Gérard BlainRaoul Minot
- Nicholas RayAndrew Pogash Derwatt
- Samuel FullerThe American
- Peter LilienthalMarcangelo
- Daniel SchmidSamuel Igraham
- Sandy WhitelawDoctor in Paris
- Jean EustacheFriendly Man