Bullitt

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Bullitt

PG

Released Oct 17, 1968

1h 53m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

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44 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross (Vic Tayback) with the help of testimony from the criminal's hothead brother Johnny (Pat Renella), who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch of police lieutenant Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen). When a pair of mob hitmen enter the scene, Bullitt follows their trail through a maze of complications and double-crosses. This thriller includes one of the most famous car chases ever filmed.

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Critics Consensus

Steve McQueen is cool as ice in this thrilling police procedural that also happens to contain arguably the greatest movie car chase ever.

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John Mahoney

The Hollywood Reporter

It is simply one of the most exciting and intelligent action films in years, probably the best good-cop film we can expect to encounter.

Oct 17, 2018

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Variety

Good scripting and excellent direction by Peter Yates maintain deliberately low-key but mounting suspense.

Mar 1, 2007

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

There isn't much here, and what there is is awfully easy.

Mar 1, 2007

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

‘…while the 110 mph car chase is one of cinema’s most visceral scenes, the whole package just sings as a study of driven machismo…

Rated: 5/5

Jan 23, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Over 54 years after its release, Bullitt remains one of the best thrillers in cinematic history with much thanks to its historic chase sequence.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 4, 2023

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KC Star Staff

Kansas City Star

Here is lean, mean perfection in the treatment of a screen standard, the detective melodrama. Steve McQueen is in top form as the convention-flouting cop involved in thwarting gangsters.

Mar 2, 2022

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Blu B

How can Steve McQueen burning rubber in a 67' Mustang not be a All Time Classic? McQueen is amazing in this and besides the car chase the best thing in this. He's ice cold and all the close ups of him with a cool demeanor and scowl, it's no wonder he became one of the coolest actors ever. The car chase is amazing and the ending also at the airport is super underrated also. The editing, cinematography, and soundtrack are excellent. This has such a memorable location, amazing action scenes, and an awesome lead. This balances going from gritty to super nice to look at effortlessly. Everyone else is really good but not as memorable as Queen. The pacing is excellent also. This does from slow burn, straight action, to suspense effortlessly. This releis a lot more on suspense than action in certain parts which it succeeds at very well. The plot is good too, but McQueen, solid direction, and the car chase really elevate it. Heat 100% took inspiration from the end of this also. Everyone should give this a try. I can see why this is one of those films that kicked off the hard gritty crime flicks of the 70's and cop flicks of the 80's.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/12/24

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Jithin K

A precursor to Dirty Harry that is famous for its chase scene. The chase scene really shows everything good about this movie. It's extremely realistic even in the most unrealistic trope of Hollywood with the chase scene. The way the cars move, the damages, the thrills, everything feels real and the excitement is more like the adrenaline that contains some of the anxiety within it. The whole movie follows the realism in all the procedures, be it of the ongoing investigation and other police procedurals, or the medical procedures that are a part of it. The film is also successful at making the greyness of both Bullitt and Chalmers have another side to them, all the while making sure which side it is on. But a lot of these '60s films give me a feeling that they departed from the style of the 50s but don't exactly know what its style is for which it had to reach the 70s. Overall, a pretty good Copaganda of its time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/17/24

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Tamara K

The coolest actor in the best car chase ever filmed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/24

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Sams K

The legendary Steve McQueen in an iconic movie. You better watch this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/23/24

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ed m

This hasn't aged well. Slow.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/07/24

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John H

Great story and action with the King of Cool. Great car chase in SF. A classic and Steve McQueen at his best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/09/24

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Peter Yates

Director

Steve McQueen

Detective Lieut. Frank Bullitt

Robert Vaughn

Walter Chalmers

Jacqueline Bisset

Cathy

Don Gordon

Det. Sgt. Delgetti

Robert Duvall

Weissberg (Sunshine Cab driver)

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Synopsis

Senator Walter Chalmers (Robert Vaughn) is aiming to take down mob boss Pete Ross (Vic Tayback) with the help of testimony from the criminal's hothead brother Johnny (Pat Renella), who is in protective custody in San Francisco under the watch of police lieutenant Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen). When a pair of mob hitmen enter the scene, Bullitt follows their trail through a maze of complications and double-crosses. This thriller includes one of the most famous car chases ever filmed.

Director: Peter Yates
Producer: Philip D'Antoni
Screenwriter: Robert L. Pike, Alan R. Trustman, Harry Kleiner
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Bros., Solar Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 17, 1968, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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