Witness

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1:17

Witness

R

Released Feb 8, 1985

1h 52m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

An eight-year-old Amish boy witnesses a drug-related murder in a Philadelphia train station. The Philadelphia police captain discovers that the murderers are cops trying to squelch a corruption investigation.

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Critics Consensus

A wonderfully entertaining thriller within an unusual setting, with Harrison Ford delivering a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance.

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Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

Witness takes serious stock of the gap in experience and attitude between its protagonist and his caretakers to see what shared essence can be found between them.

Oct 31, 2023

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

... striking thriller.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 6, 2020

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Nick Roddick

Sight & Sound

The film allows us, in the company of Book, to take a sort of holiday from our normal concerns, to visit other values en touriste , drawing the strengths from a strange and alien tradition without really immersing ourselves in it.

Mar 24, 2020

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Harrison Ford delivers one of the best performances in his career in Witness.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 10, 2025

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Harrison Ford is just terrific in Peter Weir's Witness, a simple, spiritually nourishing story of cops and corruption that takes an unexpected turn into something more profound…the kind of appealing, accessible film that’s long fallen out of fashion…

Rated: 5/5

Feb 9, 2025

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John Ferguson

Radio Times

It's Weir's delicacy of touch that impresses the most. He ably juggles the various elements of the story and makes the violence seem even more shocking when it's played out on the fields of Amish denial.

Rated: 5/5

Mar 7, 2024

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W. W. W

Ford's performance is so so, McGillis is much better, whereas Godunov is beautiful.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

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John G

An award-winning thriller with a lot of heart. Deeply engaging, well acted.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 52 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $65,300,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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Rami A

No finer performance has been delivered by Harrison Ford than in this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/25

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James P

Aside from Blade Runner, Indy, Han Solo & Jack Ryan this is up there with one of Ford's best films/roles. Only topped by the majestic The Fugitive.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/13/25

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Aileen D

I think this is one of Harrison Ford’s best movies, along with The Fugitive and Working Girl, not necessarily the Raider and Hans Solo movies he’s best known for. Somehow the differences between two cultures - the Amish farms in the countryside and the city life of a Philadelphia cop - come together in this exciting murder mystery and tale of a romance between a radiant Kelly McGilis and the handsome, charming Harrison Ford. The Vangelis music is another highlight as well as the supporting characters. It’s a movie to enjoy periodically for all the qualities mentioned.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

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Peter Weir

Director

Harrison Ford

Det. Capt. John Book

Kelly McGillis

Rachel Lapp

Alexander Godunov

Daniel Hochleitner

Josef Sommer

Chief Paul Schaeffer

Lukas Haas

Samuel Lapp

Witness: Official Clip - Rachel's Choice

1:57

Witness: Official Clip - Right of Way

2:02

Witness: Official Clip - Murder Witness

2:12

Witness: Official Clip - A Lesson on Guns

1:49

Witness: Official Clip - I'm Not a Child

1:19

Witness: Official Clip - It's Over

2:13

Witness: Official Clip - Ingrained

2:12

Witness: Official Clip - Time For Milking

1:38

Witness: Official Clip - Positive Identification

1:49

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Witness: Trailer 1

1:17

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Synopsis

An eight-year-old Amish boy witnesses a drug-related murder in a Philadelphia train station. The Philadelphia police captain discovers that the murderers are cops trying to squelch a corruption investigation.

Director: Peter Weir
Producer: Edward S. Feldman
Screenwriter: Pamela Wallace, Earl W. Wallace, William Kelley
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 8, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $65.3M
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Surround

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