The Passenger
Seen it?1975 | 126 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (88% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite soft box office. 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 anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Bourne Identity or The Man Who Knew Too Much, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 6 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13: peril. Probably too much for younger kids.
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1975: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
David Locke is a world-weary American journalist who has been sent to cover a conflict in northern Africa, but he makes little progress with the story. When he discovers the body of a stranger who looks similar to him, Locke assumes the dead man's identity. However, he soon finds out that the man was an arms dealer, leading Locke into dangerous situations. Aided by a beautiful woman, Locke attempts to avoid both the police and criminals out to get him.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 90 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsBelow par
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$769K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 129K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Michelangelo Antonioni
- Jack NicholsonDavid Locke
- Maria SchneiderGirl
- Jenny RunacreRachel Locke
- Ian HendryMartin Knight
- Steven BerkoffStephen
- Ambroise MbiaAchebe
- José María CaffarelHotel Keeper (uncredited)
- James CampbellWitch Doctor (uncredited)
- Manfred SpiesGerman Stranger (uncredited)
- Jean-Baptiste TiéméléMurderer (uncredited)