The Asphalt Jungle

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The Asphalt Jungle

Released May 23, 1950

1h 52m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

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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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

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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

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Paul Arendt

BBC.com

This tale of a jewel theft gone wrong is notable for its gritty procedural detail and an emphasis on the inner lives of the small time crooks, expertly played by Sterling Hayden and Sam Jaffe.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 11, 2006

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

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

Jan 22, 2024

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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

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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

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SATURN V

Seen it more than once... still, in my opinion, one of the best of its kind - in many ways even better than "The big sleep". Characters are more precise cut and dialogue much better. A real masterpiece of Huston.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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John G

Well acted, well developed characters within a believable crime caper. Well directed, spinning a continuously watchable yarn. A classic with all the right pieces in place.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/18/25

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Will G

A great classic Hollywood film. An early movie for Marilyn Monroe. There was a heist that went wrong. It was a noir film with detectives. There was some romance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/06/25

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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

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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

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Morvia 8thsin/ 3

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

05/30/24

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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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
Producer: Arthur Hornblow Jr.
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
Runtime: 1h 52m

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