Traffic

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Traffic

R

Released Jan 5, 2001

2h 27m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

222 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A contemporary thriller set in the world of drug trafficking. Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as seen through a series of interrelated stories, some of which are highly personal and some of which are filled with intrigue and danger.

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Critics Consensus

Soderbergh successfully pulls off the highly ambitious Traffic, a movie with three different stories and a very large cast. The issues of ethics are gray rather than black-and-white, with no clear-cut good guys. Terrific acting all around.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Soderbergh's film uses a level-headed approach. It watches, it observes, it does not do much editorializing. The hopelessness of anti-drug measures is brought home through practical scenarios, not speeches and messages -- except for a few.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

Steven Soderbergh's great, despairing squall of a film, Traffic, may be the first Hollywood movie since Robert Altman's Nashville to infuse epic cinematic form with jittery new rhythms and a fresh, acid-washed palette.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

Benicio Del Toro... has the film actor's state of grace: he charms while he acts, not by trying to charm.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

It is a legitimately epic film. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Eleanor O'Sullivan

Asbury Park Press (NJ)

Soderbergh's movie is so full of action and event, it's not easy to signal out the most brilliant moments.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

Leah Rozen

People Magazine

[It's] a complex, compelling ensemble drama about the morass that is the drug problem in this country today. Working at the top of his game and with a superior cast, director Steven Soderbergh vividly presents several distinct but interconnected stories.

Sep 8, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

Great Movie. Great cast. When Soderberg hits= he hits. Compelling stories and a great testament to the frivolity of the drug war. Even in 2025= still is relevant. Special shout's out to Cheadle and Benny. Why isn't Benny doing whiskey ads? Clothing ads? He's a debonair Mofo, hahaha.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

Max W

Very nice watch. This seems a little like a predecessor to Sicario which was not afraid to give the audience what it wanted. Of course, not all stories can end with the good guys winning but this was somewhat disheartening.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/16/25

Full Review

Manuel P

The birth of the "latin american lens filter"

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/15/25

Full Review

THE NASHVILLE I

Traffic is a perfect movie. It's not for everyone; but it's music, the quality and balance of the cast, and the clever ideas from it's director, make it a perfect film. Trust in that it's not a slow burn, but it's allure and peaceful wonder sneaks up on you. The perfect example of "Ethereal" filmmaking...and an ESSENTIAL film for any film lovers in this world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/10/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, o elenco deu uma ajudada em algumas cenas, mas não foi o suficiente para ser bom, a história não foi interessante e nem os personagens melhoraram o filme.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

Garrett B

Solid storyline and good performances from the essembled cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/25

Full Review

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Steven Soderbergh

Director

Michael Douglas

Robert Wakefield

Don Cheadle

Montel Gordon

Benicio del Toro

Javier Rodriguez

Luis Guzmán

Ray Castro

Dennis Quaid

Arnie Metzger

Traffic: Official Clip - A Drug Bust Shootout

2:56

Traffic: Official Clip - Your Whole Life Is Pointless

2:53

Traffic: Official Clip - Hi, Daddy

1:48

Traffic: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt

2:58

Traffic: Official Clip - Drug Economics

1:53

Traffic: Official Clip - A Desert Killing

2:30

Traffic: Official Clip - Conspiring to Conspire

2:13

Traffic: Official Clip - Planting a Bug

2:59

Traffic: Official Clip - General Salazar Pulls Rank

2:42

Traffic: Official Clip - Addicts Don't Vote

1:30

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Synopsis

A contemporary thriller set in the world of drug trafficking. Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as seen through a series of interrelated stories, some of which are highly personal and some of which are filled with intrigue and danger.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Laura Bickford, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Simon Moore, Stephen Gaghan
Distributor: Criterion Collection, USA Films
Production Co: Initial Entertainment Group, USA Films, Bedford Falls Productions, Compulsion Inc.
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Pervasive Drug Content|Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $124.1M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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