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Poster for Z

1969 | 122 min | Thriller, Crime, Drama

Friday Night Flick

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 2 Oscars, audiences rate it highly (7.8 out of 10) 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 Missing or The Bourne Ultimatum, 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 2 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1969: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A prominent politician is murdered during a demonstration. The government and army are trying to suppress the truth, but a tenacious magistrate is determined not to let them get away with it.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 86 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesStrong

    7.8 out of 10

  • AwardsVery strong

    Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards: Best Film Editing. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globes: Best Foreign Language Film. Won 1 BAFTA: BAFTA Awards: Best Film Music. Won 2 Cannes awards: Cannes Film Festival: Best Film Music, Cannes Film Festival: Best Actor. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars, 3 more BAFTAs and 1 DGA Award. Plus 3 other awards.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $83K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 153K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Costa-Gavras

  • Yves MontandZ
  • Irene PapasHélène
  • Jean-Louis TrintignantExamining Magistrate
  • Jacques PerrinPhotojournalist
  • Charles DennerManuel
  • François PérierPublic Prosecutor
  • Bernard FressonMatt
  • Pierre DuxGendarmerie General Missou
  • Georges GéretNick
  • Magali NoëlNick's Sister