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Shaft

Play trailer Poster for Shaft R Released Jul 2, 1971 1h 40m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is the ultimate in suave black detectives. He first finds himself up against Bumpy (Moses Gunn), the leader of the black crime mob, then against black nationals, and finally working with both against the white mafia who are trying to blackmail Bumpy by kidnapping his daughter.
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Shaft

Shaft

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Critics Consensus

This is the man that would risk his neck for his brother, man. Can you dig it?

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Critics Reviews

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Budd Wilkins Slant Magazine Quintessential blaxploitation that launched a thousand imitators, Gordon Parks’s Shaft is much more than a rollicking crowd-pleaser, as it’s also a snapshot of a bygone era. Aug 2, 2022 Full Review Margaret Hinxman Daily Telegraph (UK) A good, gutsy crime yarn in the 'forties style. Jun 8, 2020 Full Review Craig Fisher The Hollywood Reporter If Shaft were indeed a hard-hitting, fast-paced, action-packed detective thriller, as it was meant to be, then it would be an acceptable entertainment. But it isn't. Jun 25, 2018 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy One of the best of all blaxploitation flicks. Rated: 3/4 Mar 29, 2023 Full Review Brian Susbielles InSession Film Oozing masculinity with his streetwise manner towards suspects, Shaft is a triumph... Feb 22, 2023 Full Review Imran Khan PopMatters There has been a slew of lesser imitations of Park’s film, but none have cut it close. Shaft has become incontestably Roundtree’s own through a performance that seems not only natural and off-the-cuff but imbued with a sense of street life... Jul 12, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dick C In the 70's, this motion picture is very good... Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Steve D It is dated but I can still dig it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/01/23 Full Review Jonathan O I'm really entertain for shaft is definitely the best blacxploitation of the 70's very magnificent performance by Richard Roundtree and terrific musical soul by Issac Hayes and really outstanding sharp writing and directing and incredible cinematography ever made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/31/23 Full Review Chris M One of the OG is Blaxploitation action and even though it's not perfect. It's still fairly great. It has some really annoying minor characters and pacing issues. Like the studio wanted it to be a certain runtime and they had to pad it to get the length they wanted. But overall, one of the GOAT of Blaxploitation cinema. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 04/11/23 Full Review Jelisije J An average don't play by the rules bad ass detective cop movie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member The greatest 01 hour: and 40 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!! Theme sung by the late Issac Hayes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Shaft

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Movie Info

Synopsis John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is the ultimate in suave black detectives. He first finds himself up against Bumpy (Moses Gunn), the leader of the black crime mob, then against black nationals, and finally working with both against the white mafia who are trying to blackmail Bumpy by kidnapping his daughter.
Director
Gordon Parks
Producer
Joel Freeman
Screenwriter
Ernest Tidyman, Ernest Tidyman, John D. F. Black
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Shaft Productions Ltd.
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 2, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 40m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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