Dirty Harry

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2:52

Dirty Harry

R

Released Jan 1, 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

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

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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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Brad S. R

A solid action thriller, despite some very overt fascism in its messaging.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Yash B

"Dirty Harry" is an old-school cop film, for better or for worse. There is a vibe here that feels old-fashioned, and at times I really dug it. I think Clint Eastwood is also a lot of fun to watch and think he made this role his own. I liked some of the tense moments and found myself engaged enough with it. That being said, at times the movie feels very slow moving and I also think a lot of the elements in it haven't necessarily aged all that well. Overall, I think it is an okay movie, that I know many call great, and while I appreciated a lot of things about it, it won't go down as one of my favorites in this genre, despite its influential nature.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Shawn R

One of Clint's best films.. he just can't fail

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

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stephen b

Can see why this was cool at the time especially with some of the film techniques. Looking back, it doesn't age well. Too many parodies of this trope shows the ridiculousness of some of it.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

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Michael R

Vintage Clint Eastwood. Loved seeing San Francisco before it got ruined by the current politicians running the city and state. If you are an overly sensitive, PC person...maybe skip this one. Otherwise, enjoy this classic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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

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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: Warner Brothers, Malpaso Company
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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