Shaft

R

Released Jul 2, 1971

1h 40m

Crime

Drama

List

88%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

68%

Audience Score

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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Craig Fisher

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

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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

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Gordon Parks

Director

Richard Roundtree

John Shaft

Moses Gunn

Bumpy Jonas

Christopher St. John

Ben Buford

Charles Cioffi

Vic Androzzi

Gwenn Mitchell

Ellie Moore

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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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