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Poster for Blow Out

Blow Out

Seen it?

1981 | 108 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite a box office loss. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Chinatown, 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 48 min.
What might put you off
Rated R: meant for adults.

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terry stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally from the car, but the other passenger is already dead — a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    85% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.3 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 2 nominations from smaller awards and festivals

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $12 million worldwide on a $18 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 250K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Brian De Palma

  • John TravoltaJack Terry
  • Nancy AllenSally Badina
  • John LithgowBurke
  • Dennis FranzManny Karp
  • Peter BoydenSam
  • John AquinoDet. Mackey
  • John McMartinLawrence Henry
  • Deborah EvertonHooker
  • J. Patrick McNamaraDetective at Hospital
  • Roger WilsonCoed Lover