The Asphalt Jungle

Released May 23, 1950

1 hr. 52 min.

Crime

Drama

List

98%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

87%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Recently released from prison, Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) concocts a plan to steal $1 million in jewels. Dix gathers a team of small-time crooks, including a safecracker (Anthony Caruso) and a lawyer (Louis Calhern), and the heist is a success until a stray bullet kills one of the men. As they scramble to pick up the pieces after the theft, the men let their greed get the best of them while entangling themselves in webs of deceit, treachery and murder.

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Critics Consensus

The Asphalt Jungle is an expertly told crime story with attention paid to the crime and characters in equal measure.

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Brian C

OUTSTANDING FILM. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PLOT GIVEN BY RT IS COMPLETELY WRONG!! DIX IS A MARGINAL FIGURE IN THE CONCOCTION OF THE CRIME. A MERE THUG. SHAME ON RT!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/24

Full Review

alan g

Great crime film noir. Great acting. Tense plot. No likable characters but great plot and directing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/26/24

Full Review

Nathan A

The acting in the movie is done to prove a point as the movie reflects not only the time when it was released but also the time it can be viewed. The film in preventing the perpetual nature of crime as the theme into the movie. In learning not only from what can be observed into this film but many others in a society that does not use its own distinct/unique language for communication is that any country that decides to use another country's language in common sense such as the USA from Britain that it must invent words and have a dictionary of their own. The movie in reflection sequence is correct incorrect then correct in observing the perpetual nature of light for the country which means to never undo this collective framework of understanding that has countenance by God.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/18/24

Full Review

Jeff S

Gritty, moralistic tale with a fabulous cast.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/29/24

Full Review

Alec B

I appreciate that almost no one here is all that likable (except for maybe Monroe) and this truly was the perfect role for Sterling Hayden.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Fantastic noir, definitely a top 10 list, Highly influenced the “Heist” film genre, Wonderful talent cast, early appearance of Marylin Monroe, Love Doc’s reason for being caught

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/21/23

Full Review

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John Huston

Director

Sterling Hayden

Dix Handley

Sam Jaffe

Doc Erwin Riedenschneider

Marilyn Monroe

Angela Phinlay

Louis Calhern

Alonzo D. Emmerich

Jean Hagen

Doll Conovan

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Armed with a beautifully constructed screen play, John Huston has fashioned an exciting picture that avoids all the pitfalls of most crime movies.

Apr 1, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The Asphalt Jungle is a study in crime, hard-hitting in its expose of the underworld. Ironic realism is striven for and achieved in the writing, production and direction.

Nov 3, 2008

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 5/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

John Huston’s trend-setting 1950 heist flick...

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... essentially launched the heist film as a genre of its own and set the blueprint that all subsequent heist dramas built upon.

Nov 18, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This film noir beauty largely set the template for Rafifi, The Killing, and all of the other classic heist flicks that would follow in its wake.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 8, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Recently released from prison, Dix Handley (Sterling Hayden) concocts a plan to steal $1 million in jewels. Dix gathers a team of small-time crooks, including a safecracker (Anthony Caruso) and a lawyer (Louis Calhern), and the heist is a success until a stray bullet kills one of the men. As they scramble to pick up the pieces after the theft, the men let their greed get the best of them while entangling themselves in webs of deceit, treachery and murder.

Director: John Huston
Distributor: Criterion Collection, Warner Home Vídeo, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 23, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2008

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