Dragnet

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Dragnet

PG-13

1987

1h 46m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

49%

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35 Reviews

41%

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25,000+ Ratings

No-nonsense Los Angeles detective Sgt. Joe Friday (Dan Aykroyd) is partnered with the wisecracking Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks), a hip upstart cop, and the mismatched duo is ordered to investigate a strange series of ritual killings. Though Friday and Pep do their share of quarreling, they eventually trace the clues to an ominous cult, and the officers interrupt a violent ceremony. Friday then begins a romance with near-victim Connie Swail (Alexandra Paul), but it could hinder his police work.

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Critics Consensus

While it's sporadically funny and certainly well-cast, Dragnet is too clumsy and inconsistent to honor its classic source material.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Dan Aykroyd steals the show with a hilarious impersonation and tribute to the stern-faced TV cop Joe Friday, played for more than a decade by Jack Webb.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 16, 2017

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Aykroyd's script has more than its share of clever, witty ideas, but the film still feels the need to descend way too often to Police Academy-style heroes-dress-up-like-idiots sequences.

Rated: 3/5

May 20, 2008

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Variety Staff

Variety

More innocuous than inventive.

May 20, 2008

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Roger Hurlburt

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

This movie is for Aykroyd addicts only. Good old badge 714 isn't exactly tarnished it's just lost its flash.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 19, 2021

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Richard Freedman

Newhouse News Service

This is the only review of it you'll read that resists the temptation to open by quoting the naggingly insistent Dragnet motif of "Dum-de-dum-dum." There's just nothing dumb about this agreeably lightweight spoof.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 15, 2019

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A deadpan Aykroyd is perfectly cast, and it's always nice to revisit Hanks back when he was loose, limber, and eager-to-please.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 21, 2018

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Brian W

I've been watching this movie for years, finally got to catch it again tonight and it made me laugh out loud over and over. Aykroyd steals the show, and Hanks is amazing as his partner.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/17/24

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William F

I dont understand that you nitpicking D-bags dont like this movie. But its a funny movie! It dosent make sense because its supposed to be a funny joke movie. The pagan cult is funny. The charecters were funny. Two great actors and you guys are sqandering it. Why should a good funny nonsense movie be nitpicked. It is stupid and makes no sense for a reanson! Its COMEDY GOLD. Its not a movie to judge, its a movie to enjoy! You guys cant always be like "i thought it was a good concept but this is not how a cop sould act they sould have fired hanks." Or "it is unrealistic that he knows all of the protocal codes." How about give the people a break and go over things you like. It is a movie i will remember and maybe watch it again. If the movie is an obvios parody say it was a funny movie with two good actors. But if you want to have a bad opinion im not stopping you. Every sense of humor is different and i respect you. Its most of the reviews on rotten tomatoes is just judging on nitpicks. I read alot of the reviews its Nitpick after nitpick. If you think thw writing is stupid thats ok, just stop judging on stupid things and make a whole review based on it. So what im saying is get your head out of your a** and judge on the writing, quality, and acting. Which is what makes up a movie! Vif you were directing a movie you worked on it for a few years and people bulls*** it for the worst reasons you would be pissed off! You all pick on low budged movies because they dont look good. But the writing is great. SO STOP! Anyways great movie you guys are great. Thank you to you all who overlooked the nitpickers! They are not real movie fans and are just looking for trouble.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/23

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Steve D

Funny but not consistent enough.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/31/23

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Sam C

My Favorite Tom Hanks Movie. He was never this funny again.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/23

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Philip M

Dragnet is a great movie adaptation of the original tv show. Harry Morgan is great as the police captain. Hanks and Dan Aykroyd are in their prime. Great fun all around.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

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Jimmy P

I never got this film. I know what the film is trying to do. It just doesn't work.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Tom Mankiewicz

Director

Dan Aykroyd

Sgt. Joe Friday

Tom Hanks

Det. Pep Streebek

Christopher Plummer

Reverend Jonathan Whirley

Harry Morgan

Captain Bill Gannon

Alexandra Paul

Connie Swail

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Synopsis

No-nonsense Los Angeles detective Sgt. Joe Friday (Dan Aykroyd) is partnered with the wisecracking Pep Streebeck (Tom Hanks), a hip upstart cop, and the mismatched duo is ordered to investigate a strange series of ritual killings. Though Friday and Pep do their share of quarreling, they eventually trace the clues to an ominous cult, and the officers interrupt a violent ceremony. Friday then begins a romance with near-victim Connie Swail (Alexandra Paul), but it could hinder his police work.

Director: Tom Mankiewicz
Producer: David Permut, Robert K. Weiss
Screenwriter: Dan Aykroyd, Alan Zweibel, Tom Mankiewicz
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Permut Presentations
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.0M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround

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