Dirty Harry

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2:52

Dirty Harry

R

1971

1h 43m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) attempts to track down a psychopathic rooftop killer before a kidnapped girl dies. When he is found Harry abuses the murderer's civil rights putting him back on the streets. Once he is released he hijacks a school bus and Harry must go after him again. The only way to stop this vicious killer is in cold blood.

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Critics Consensus

As tough and taciturn as its no-nonsense hero, Dirty Harry delivers a deceptively layered message without sacrificing an ounce of its solid action impact.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

Its star’s growling charisma demands to be enjoyed.

Aug 22, 2022

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Siegel shouldn't have had to shout so much to make himself heard, nor should Eastwood, otherwise excellent, be quite so determined to maintain a star's steely dignity. But a lot still manages to get through about violence and the loner's path.

May 31, 2022

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

Dirty Harry is a film meant to wring the already well wrung and mangled conscience of the liberal. Which it succeeds in doing with engrossing efficiency.

May 31, 2022

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…Dirty Harry was, and still is a powerful movie as a one-off…amidst the 70’s lens flare and urban machine-gun action, Harry is doing his best in a world gone mad, and that’s a tune that almost anyone can whistle, regardless of their politics...

Rated: 5/5

May 19, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

In real life he would be up on charges, and justifiably so. In the movies he’s just the kind of cowboy these mean streets call for.

Aug 19, 2023

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Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Excellent thriller of the tough cop variety.

May 31, 2022

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William

Outstanding Clint Eastwood movie. Jump started his movie career in America!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/21

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Mania I.

The original movie that started it all and propelled Clint Eastwood into superstar status. Loosely based on the zodiac killers detective Harry Callahan ask the truck down this killer before it's too late. Is this movie is full of action and great location shots. Beautifully photographed extremely well directed and Eastwood has star charisma written all over him in this movie. Some of it is a bit cliche but it is interesting to note that the part of detective Callahan was originally going to be Frank Sinatra. I think they made a good casting choice by putting in Clinton the role. Four more uneven sequels followed. Definitely a '70s classic movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/28/25

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James P

Probably the best and most iconic Eastwood movie

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/23/25

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Jian B

Badass. Scorpio piss me off though. His actors acting is immaculate though, and of course, Clint Eastwood's too

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/29/25

Full Review

Art E

I always thought the core of this film—what offers its nuance—was the scene with Chico’s wife. He hide while having the sun at his back, while she stares into the sun. Callahan is the vulnerable one and knows it, hence the steely cold bravado. Without his wife, he’s lost. In pain, Callahan delivers a relentless justice. None of the Dirty Harry sequals offer ghi kind of nuance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Most powerful handgun in the world...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

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Don Siegel

Director

Clint Eastwood

Harry Callahan

Harry Guardino

Bressler

Reni Santoni

Chico

John Larch

Police Chief

Andrew Robinson

Scorpio Killer

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Dirty Harry: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) attempts to track down a psychopathic rooftop killer before a kidnapped girl dies. When he is found Harry abuses the murderer's civil rights putting him back on the streets. Once he is released he hijacks a school bus and Harry must go after him again. The only way to stop this vicious killer is in cold blood.

Director: Don Siegel
Producer: Don Siegel
Screenwriter: Harry Julian Fink, Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Malpaso Company, Warner Brothers
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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