The Black Dahlia

Play trailer

The Black Dahlia

R

Released Sep 15, 2006

2h 1m

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

32%

Tomatometer

191 Reviews

27%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Two cops in 1940s Los Angeles investigate the murder of a Hollywood starlet (Mia Kirshner), and one (Aaron Eckhart) puts his marriage in jeopardy by obsessing over the crime, while the other (Josh Hartnett) becomes involved with a woman (Hilary Swank) from a prominent family, who happens to have an unsavory tie to the victim.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Though this ambitious noir crime-drama captures the atmosphere of its era, it suffers from subpar performances, a convoluted story, and the inevitable comparisons to other, more successful films of its genre.

Read Critics Reviews

Brian Tallerico

UGO

You have to wonder just how vibrant the film would have been during the Reagan or Clinton administration, when De Palma was in his prime.

Mar 24, 2007

Full Review

Keith Uhlich

Reverse Shot

Ghost World: Keith Uhlich on The Black Dahlia for Reverse Shot's Brian de Palma symposium.

Nov 11, 2006

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Forty-five minutes in, I was already glancing at my watch and wondering why the only lively actress in this film was playing the dead girl. Go figure.

Rated: 1.5/5

Sep 30, 2006

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

De Palma pours some of his aesthetic adjustments on it, but unfortunately its narrative often loses track of police intrigue and remains situated in common places in its uchronia about The Black Dahlia's nefarious murder case. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Nov 17, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Until it derails while heading into its final turn, The Black Dahlia represents Brian De Palma's most assured moviemaking in at least a decade.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 13, 2023

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

De Palma has managed to turn a two-hour movie about a substantial, significant, unusually gruesome real-life mystery into something of a bore.

Rated: 5/10

Nov 15, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Donald W

Hard to watch a meandering movie looking for a plot. Reminded of many similar but far superior movies while watching. Depalma has never impressed. Only it gets worse over the years

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Heidi A

Lukewarm, mess of storytelling, boring and lacking in engaging material. i doggedly persisted til the end, but shouldnt have bothered.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

An enjoyable neo noir film that has a lovely cast and has enough plot twists that keeps you engaged throughout its run time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Alec B

The cinematography is undeniably beautiful, but there are about three different incoherent movies stuffed into this mess.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Jeff N

Never even finished the movie. The worst story telling I've ever experienced. Can I have the hour and a half of my life back?

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Geo3 F

For a crime movie based on a true story, I expected more, as at times the film drags on which makes it boring to watch. However, as it concludes, the plot begins to make sense as it feels all over the place throughout it. Overall, a fine film that borrows ideas from sin city and crime thrillers but is executed poorly.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Brian De Palma

Director

Josh Hartnett

Officer Dwight Bleichert

Scarlett Johansson

Kay Lake

Aaron Eckhart

Sgt. Leland Blanchard

Hilary Swank

Madeleine Sprague

Mia Kirshner

Elizabeth Short

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - Gangland Shootout

1:35

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - A Red Hot Night at the Red Arrow Inn

2:28

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - Assassin Attack

2:00

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - All-Women Night Club

2:33

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - You'll Never Shoot Me

3:13

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - Murder and Madness

3:19

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - The Ice Cream Girl's Film

2:56

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - Grief and Love

2:32

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - The Boxing Match

3:11

The Black Dahlia: Official Clip - The Cruelest Joke

1:43

View more videos

Lucky Number Slevin

52%

87%

Lucky Number Slevin

Watchlist

Gone Baby Gone

94%

86%

Gone Baby Gone

Watchlist

Hollywoodland

68%

48%

Hollywoodland

Watchlist

Suspect Zero

17%

38%

Suspect Zero

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Suspect Zero

Lonely Hearts

48%

49%

Lonely Hearts

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Box Office Guru Preview: Wide Open Race For #1 Spot This Weekend

Box Office Guru Preview: Jodie’s Got A Gun!

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Audiences Ride with Wild Hogs at #1

View more photos

Synopsis

Two cops in 1940s Los Angeles investigate the murder of a Hollywood starlet (Mia Kirshner), and one (Aaron Eckhart) puts his marriage in jeopardy by obsessing over the crime, while the other (Josh Hartnett) becomes involved with a woman (Hilary Swank) from a prominent family, who happens to have an unsavory tie to the victim.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: Art Linson, Moshe Diamant, Rudy Cohen
Screenwriter: Josh Friedman
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Signature Pictures
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Some Grisly Images|Strong Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 20, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.5M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

Most Popular at Home Now