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The Asphalt Jungle

Play trailer Poster for The Asphalt Jungle Released May 23, 1950 1h 52m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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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The Asphalt Jungle

The Asphalt Jungle

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 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 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 Read all reviews
The Asphalt Jungle

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Movie Info

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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