Shaft

Name: Shaft
Genre: Crime, Thriller, Drama, Action
Released: 1971-06-25
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John, Gwenn Mitchell

1971 | 100 min | Crime, Thriller, Drama, Action

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar, though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences. 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, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved American Gangster, 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 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.
Made in 1971: an older pace and style.

Cool Black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Song – Original for the Picture. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Original Score – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar, 1 more Golden Globe and 1 BAFTA. Plus 5 other awards.
Box office & staying powerStrong
$12 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 193K people sought it out in the past year