
Bullitt
Seen it?1968 | 113 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Why it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), people are still talking about it, it won an Oscar and it made about 8 times its budget. 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 fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved Dirty Harry, 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 53 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG: slapstick violence and peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1968: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Senator Walter Chalmers is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross with the help of testimony from the criminal's hothead brother Johnny, who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch of police lieutenant Frank Bullitt. When a pair of mob hitmen enter the scene, Bullitt follows their trail through a maze of complications and double-crosses. This thriller includes one of the most famous car chases ever filmed.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 81 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Best Film Editing. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$42 million worldwide on a $6 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 335K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Dirty HarryFriday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed detective crime thriller.
HavocWeeknight WatchAnother political crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
1992Weeknight WatchAnother political crime thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
PaybackWeeknight WatchAnother mob action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Hard to KillWeeknight WatchAnother mob action film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Yates
- Steve McQueenLt. Frank Bullitt
- Robert VaughnWalter Chalmers
- Jacqueline BissetCathy
- Don GordonLt. Delgetti
- Robert DuvallCabbie Weissberg
- Simon OaklandCaptain Sam Bennett
- Norman FellCaptain Baker
- Georg Stanford BrownDr. Willard
- Justin TarrEddy
- Carl ReindelDetective Stanton