Blow Out

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Blow Out

R

1981

1h 48m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

59 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri (John Travolta) stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally (Nancy Allen) from the car, but the other passenger is already dead -- a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

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Critics Consensus

With a story inspired by Antonioni's Blow Up and a style informed by the high-gloss suspense of Hitchcock, DePalma's Blow Out is raw, politically informed, and littered with film references.

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Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

It’s the death of the ‘60s and ‘70s that haunts Blow Out and has arguably inflated its reputation among those incapable of recognizing anything good in, say, The Fury.

Sep 9, 2022

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

A horror movie, a paranoid political drama and a serial killer flick all at once.

Rated: 5/5

May 21, 2021

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Bruce McCabe

Boston Globe

It's a Xerox of a movie that's nowhere near as indelible as the originals it purports to emulate.

Apr 27, 2018

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Nothing is what it seems in a paranoid mystery that's overflowing with De Palma's trademark high style and cinematic technique right up until the knockout, downbeat ending.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 2, 2025

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Noah Berlatsky

Splice Today

In Blow Out, the beauty of the movie, as perhaps the beauty of life, is in its failures.

Feb 27, 2025

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

Blow Out is among the top movies about moviemaking because it uses sound so cleverly and as the driving force to investigating what happened and the danger the lurks for his snooping.

Feb 14, 2023

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Alejandro E

From director De Palma's best period, in which he exemplified his affinity with Hitchcock; suspense is provided by effective doses of paranoia and a climax that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's also worth watching for John Travolta, before he fell into the clutches of Dianetics.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/11/25

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Rami A

"Blow Out" is easily director Brian De Palma's masterpiece. Here is a film that showcases all of his talents combined. It's got it all from excellent writing, camera work, editing, music, cinematography, pacing, and most importantly, the performances of John Trovolta and Nancy Allen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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To F

Está sencilla, pero llena de intriga. Las actuaciones son fascinantes, un joven Travolta que le queda perfecto el papel y que se siente la tensión en cada paso que da.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/09/25

Full Review

Alain E

It starts well and progresses with measure. Once it starts approaching the conclusion the story comes off the rails and loses any connection to reality. Travolta’s character drives his vehicle at top speed in the middle of a parade without hitting anyone. Then, after he wakes up from his concussion, he can immediately pick up the wire from the girl he was following. Unfortunately, he arrives too late to save her, but on time to kill the bad guy. He finally though, gets on tape a good scream to use in the soundtrack of the B movie he is working on. Happy sad end! Good cinematography and appropriate music.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

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Benjamin H

Masterfully directed by Brian De Palma and led by two amazing performances by John Travolta and Nancy Allen, Blow Out is a stylistic, suspenseful and visually arresting masterpiece that oozes Hitchcockian and provides a story and characters that are both compelling and faceted.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/17/25

Full Review

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Brian De Palma

Director

John Travolta

Jack Terry

Nancy Allen

Sally

John Lithgow

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Dennis Franz

Manny Karp

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Synopsis

While recording sound effects for a slasher flick, Jack Terri (John Travolta) stumbles upon a real-life horror: a car careening off a bridge and into a river. Jack jumps into the water and fishes out Sally (Nancy Allen) from the car, but the other passenger is already dead -- a governor intending to run for president. As Jack does some investigating of his tapes, and starts a perilous romance with Sally, he enters a tangled web of conspiracy that might leave him dead.

Director: Brian De Palma
Producer: George Litto
Screenwriter: Brian De Palma
Production Co: Filmways Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 24, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2017
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround

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