Target

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Target

R

1985

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

36%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Chris Lloyd (Matt Dillon) doesn't understand his father at all. Chris has a spontaneous personality and loves racing cars, while his father, Walter (Gene Hackman), is a conservative businessman. When Donna (Gayle Hunnicutt), Walter's wife, goes missing on her European vacation, Walter and Chris fly to Europe to locate her. But what Chris doesn't know is that Walter is a former CIA agent, and that some of his old intelligence contacts are the key to finding Donna.

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Critics Consensus

Target's increasingly implausible plot is offset by a commanding performance from Gene Hackman, reunited with director Arthur Penn.

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Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The basic concept is excellent and could have resulted in a nice, attractive movie with considerable style. But I'm afraid "Hollywood" got to it and as action came in the door, credibility leaped out a rear window.

May 26, 2021

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Marsha McCreadie

Arizona Republic

Standard as it is, Target still manages to be entertaining and fun, and it contains a fine performance by Gene Hackman, a guy who always manages to keep his cool no matter what he's cast in or as.

May 26, 2021

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

On one level, it's a well-told spy thriller. On another, it's an affecting, often humorous look at a father-son relationship. On any level, it's a sturdy vehicle for the talents of Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon...

May 26, 2021

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

Target might be a lightweight assignment, but Penn works through its dramatic dilemmas with a proper moral seriousness.

Jul 25, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Gene Hackman’s first two collaborations with director Arthur Penn were 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde and 1975’s Night Moves -- it goes without saying that Target, their third and final teaming, proves to easily be the least of three.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 10, 2024

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Surprisingly misses the target.

Rated: C+

May 1, 2023

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Fredric H

Probably the worst Gene Hackman film I've ever seen. Seems like it was originally a great script. But Hollywood's idiots got to it and worked hard to dumb it down, make it predictable and formulaic, putting in unnecessary silly dialogue that would never find the light of day in a properly written and directed international spy thriller. This flick really could have been great. But it turned into a total yawn. I only watched until the end because I liked watching Hackman and Dillon together in maybe their only professional pairing. If the target of Target was a sloppy caricature of a spy thriller, then Bullseye and Bravo!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/23/24

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Jelisije J

Another under appreciated gem from Gene Hackman where a former CIA agent must find who kidnapped his wife with his estranged son in a young Matt Dillon.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

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Elizabeth N

Fabulous! It's still good

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/05/24

Full Review

jon c

When someone becomes a target it's dangerous for everyone. Matt Dillon and Gene Hackman in a conspiracy thriller. Chris Lloyd and his father Walter seem like two completely different people. Chris races cars living life in the fast lane. Walter appears to be a typical businessman. But his wife Donna goes missing after a trip in Europe. They both embark on a mission to track her down but Walter has some old enemies to contend with. He's actually a member of the CIA of all things. It looks like some of his tactics may have to be put to use again. The movie is somewhat of a slow-burner thriller. Some car chases here and there but some scary plot twists. It's more than just the wife/mother disappearing. Chris and Walter have some unexpected bonding moments throughout this whole ordeal, after all they're family. Chris could've stayed behind but chose to be part of this. Could've been trimmed down to an hour and a half instead. Feels like a straight up cable-of-the-week film but Hackman and Dillon work well.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/04/24

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steve d

A terrible script sinks the film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

My favourite Gene Hackman movie and loved Matt Dillon too! Love the car chase scenes and the story! This is one of the top 5 movies of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Arthur Penn

Director

Gene Hackman

Walter Lloyd

Matt Dillon

Chris Lloyd

Gayle Hunnicutt

Donna Lloyd

Herbert Berghof

Schroeder

Josef Sommer

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Synopsis

Chris Lloyd (Matt Dillon) doesn't understand his father at all. Chris has a spontaneous personality and loves racing cars, while his father, Walter (Gene Hackman), is a conservative businessman. When Donna (Gayle Hunnicutt), Walter's wife, goes missing on her European vacation, Walter and Chris fly to Europe to locate her. But what Chris doesn't know is that Walter is a former CIA agent, and that some of his old intelligence contacts are the key to finding Donna.

Director: Arthur Penn
Producer: Richard D. Zanuck, David Brown
Screenwriter: Howard Berk, Don Petersen
Production Co: CBS Entertainment Productions, CBS Theatrical Films, CBS Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 25, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.0M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround

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