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Blow Out

Play trailer Poster for Blow Out R Released Jul 24, 1981 1h 48m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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Blow Out

Blow Out

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Times (UK) A horror movie, a paranoid political drama and a serial killer flick all at once. Rated: 5/5 May 21, 2021 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com …Blow Out is now considered one of the all-time greats because it’s so deeply, unremittingly dark in what it observes about human nature, and what’s remarkable is how De Palma uses the film-making technique to uncover that weakness in the human soul… Rated: 5/5 Dec 2, 2022 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Brian De Palma has always explored the ear-piercing effects of American violence on the decibel meter, never more overtly and rarely more expertly than he does here. Rated: 4.5/5 Nov 11, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jonathan O Really thrilling conspiracy suspense film with two original cast members from 1976 Carrie returns including some of the crew from Carrie and Dressed to Kill and what Brain De Palma did really fantastic filmmaker he shows the magic of sound and editing and the secrets of cinema and really great cinematography and editing and the writing is good but the last act felt like "oh is that it" either that is really great thriller. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/24 Full Review Fer S Great movie with a so so ending... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/02/24 Full Review Mason M Blow Out is a great twisty thriller, often lit by beautiful blue and red lighting and an amazing performance by John Travolta. It mostly comes together in it's amazing, intense, and heartbreaking finale. It also does a good job showing an often overlooked part of filmmaking, sound design. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/24 Full Review Mark M Great Cast. Interesting Story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/29/24 Full Review Sams K Iconic. John Travolta shows how good he really is here. A mix of strong feelings. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/23/24 Full Review Audience Member Greatest Film Ever Made. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Blow Out

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Cast & Crew

Dressed to Kill 83% 74% Dressed to Kill Watchlist What's the Matter With Helen? 55% 40% What's the Matter With Helen? Watchlist Body Double 79% 65% Body Double Watchlist The Formula 22% 23% The Formula Watchlist Eye of the Needle 85% 75% Eye of the Needle Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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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