Traffic
Seen it?2000 | 147 min | Thriller, Drama, Crime
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 4 Oscars, it made about 4 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. 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-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Scarface or Coffy, 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 27 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect drug use.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An exploration of the United States of America's war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the war becomes personal when he discovers his well-educated daughter is abusing cocaine within their comfortable suburban home. In Mexico, a flawed, but noble policeman agrees to testify against a powerful general in league with a cartel, and in San Diego, a drug kingpin's sheltered trophy wife must learn her husband's ruthless business after he is arrested, endangering her luxurious lifestyle.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 4 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Director, Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Academy Awards: Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published, Academy Awards: Best Film Editing. Won 2 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. Won 2 SAG Awards: Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. Won 2 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, British Academy Film Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay. Won 3 Critics' Choice Awards: Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Cast, Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Director, Critics' Choice Movie Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay. Won 1 Berlin award: Berlin International Film Festival: Best Actor. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar, 3 more Golden Globes and 2 more BAFTAs. Plus 14 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$208 million worldwide on a $48 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 410K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Scarface Friday Night FlickAnother much-loved drug-world crime drama.
Coffy
Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime drama that's easy to miss.
Year of the Dragon
Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
New Jack City Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
Close Range Saturday SpecialAnother drug-world crime thriller that's easy to miss.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
- Michael DouglasRobert Wakefield
- Benicio del ToroJavier Rodriguez
- Catherine Zeta-JonesHelena Ayala
- Erika ChristensenCaroline Wakefield
- Don CheadleMontel Gordon
- Jacob VargasManolo Sanchez
- Miguel FerrerEduardo Ruiz
- Luis GuzmánRay Castro
- Topher GraceSeth Abrahms
- Tomas MilianGen. Arturo Salazar