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The Maltese Falcon

Play trailer Poster for The Maltese Falcon Released Oct 18, 1941 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 110 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
In this noir classic, detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) gets more than he bargained for when he takes a case brought to him by a beautiful but secretive woman (Mary Astor). As soon as Miss Wonderly shows up, trouble follows as Sam's partner is murdered and Sam is accosted by a man (Peter Lorre) demanding he locate a valuable statuette. Sam, entangled in a dangerous web of crime and intrigue, soon realizes he must find the one thing they all seem to want: the bejeweled Maltese falcon.
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The Maltese Falcon

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Critics Consensus

Suspenseful, labyrinthine, and brilliantly cast, The Maltese Falcon is one of the most influential noirs -- as well as a showcase for Humphrey Bogart at his finest.

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Critics Reviews

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Patricia Ward London Evening Standard The best crook film that's ever been made. Certainly it's the best I've ever seen. Because of brilliant casting, acting and direction it does what every thriller should do: thrills you genuinely and tremendously from start to finish. Nov 16, 2022 Full Review Evelyn Russell Sight & Sound The story is strong of itself with an unusual ending and fine acting, but it is the treatment which makes it the best thriller so far this year. Nov 16, 2022 Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker It is (and this is rare in American films) a work of entertainment that is yet so skillfully constructed that after many years and many viewings it has the same brittle explosiveness -- and even some of the same surprise -- that it had in its first run. Nov 16, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy “The stuff that dreams are made of,” comments Spade about the elusive black bird of the title, a sentiment easily applied to this indisputable masterpiece. Rated: 4/4 Apr 8, 2023 Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect Many people feel The Maltese Falcon is when Bogart became “Bogie”. He exuded a certain calm and cool demeanor that made guys want to grab a beer with him and made women want to date him. Rated: 5/5 Apr 4, 2023 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies The Maltese Falcon gives Humphrey Bogart one of his best roles while playing a pivotal role in shaping the film noir genre for years to come. Rated: 5/5 Apr 4, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike J The Maltese Falcon is not just a film—it’s a timeless monument to cinema, a dazzling jewel that reigns supreme as the greatest movie ever made. Directed by John Huston in 1941, this noir masterpiece crackles with brilliance from its opening shot to its iconic close. Humphrey Bogart delivers an indelible performance as Sam Spade, a private eye whose sharp wit and cool detachment redefine screen charisma. His every line drips with grit and charm, anchoring a tale so perfectly crafted it feels like destiny unfolding. The cast is a constellation of legends—Mary Astor’s enigmatic femme fatale, Peter Lorre’s slippery schemer, and Sydney Greenstreet’s towering presence elevate every scene to electrifying heights. Huston’s direction is flawless, weaving a labyrinth of intrigue with taut pacing and shadowy visuals that practically invented the noir aesthetic. The dialogue snaps, the tension simmers, and the atmosphere wraps around you like a fog-drenched San Francisco night. What makes The Maltese Falcon unparalleled is its alchemy of style and substance—a thrilling mystery that’s as much about human nature as it is about the chase. It’s smart, seductive, and endlessly rewatchable, a film that doesn’t just entertain but etches itself into your soul. This isn’t merely a classic; it’s the gold standard of storytelling, a falcon forged in cinematic immortality. If perfection has a name, it’s this. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/25 Full Review Ken K I'm with some others. I'm watching a lot of classic 40's movies and I find them almost unwatchable. This one was a bore. If it were a slow burn, really building tension, fine. But it doesn't do that. Endless talking. Moves like molasses. And where's the beef? Take a great modern thriller like No country for Old Men. There is nothing like Javier Berdem's force of nature character or the tense unfolding that can mean life or death. Plus modern realism allows for much greater space for the chilling nature of the narrative. I guess Bogey was great back in the day but like The Big Sleep and To Have and Have Not, I couldn't get through them. I understand one must understand context but it only gets you so far. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/25 Full Review T B I just finished watching this movie to see what all the fuss is about. For me i know what it is, OVERRATED! The best part of the movie for me is when they discovered the Falcon is fake. Peter Lorres tyrade towards Greenstreet for botching the whole scheme, and calling him a bloated idiot, then bursting into tears, i thought was hilarious, 😆 the best part of the movie. The rest of the movie, i thought, was just to unbelievable to be believable .Bogart trying to act tough, ridiculous! Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/25/24 Full Review Will G Humphrey Bogart was great in this film. There were 3 actors from Casablanca in this movie. This is a noir movie so it deals with crime and detectives. It sounded like they were talking about the millennium Falcon haha. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/21/24 Full Review Jelisije J A classic noir film with great characters with a great cast that to me feels a bit dated that you can watch with a speed up. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/10/24 Full Review William B Great casting. Awesome mistery movie. Outstanding storyline. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis In this noir classic, detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) gets more than he bargained for when he takes a case brought to him by a beautiful but secretive woman (Mary Astor). As soon as Miss Wonderly shows up, trouble follows as Sam's partner is murdered and Sam is accosted by a man (Peter Lorre) demanding he locate a valuable statuette. Sam, entangled in a dangerous web of crime and intrigue, soon realizes he must find the one thing they all seem to want: the bejeweled Maltese falcon.
Director
John Huston
Screenwriter
Dashiell Hammett, John Huston
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers, First National Pictures
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 1941, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 19, 2016
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Mono
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