The Falcon and the Snowman

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The Falcon and the Snowman

R

1985

2h 11m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After his father (Pat Hingle) finds him a job at the CIA, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) discovers the less reputable side of the American government through handling classified documents. As he grows increasingly disillusioned, Boyce decides to sell the information to the Russians in an act of defiance. A drug-addicted friend of Boyce's, Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), becomes involved in the plot and acts as a middleman between Boyce and the Soviets, but the erratic Lee fails to cover his tracks.

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Critics Consensus

Stranger than fiction and improbably entertaining, The Falcon and the Snowman shows how easily idealism can be twisted into treason.

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Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

Thank heavens these spies come in from the cold -- it's frozen their brains.

Jan 4, 2018

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Chris Peachment

Time Out

Hutton succumbs firstly to a thin role, and secondly to the film's lack of any strong viewpoint about its leading men. As usual Schlesinger is more than half in love with what he might be satirising.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It is not a thriller in any routine sense of the word. It's just the meticulously observant record of how naivet, inexperience, misplaced idealism and greed led to one of the most peculiar cases of treason in American history.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

... brilliantly shows how the protagonists’ equally idealistic, yet differing sense of self can lead them to be heroes and villains in the same instance...

Rated: 4/5

Jan 29, 2024

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Andy Adams

Japan Times

The Falcon and the Snowman is a tense, fast-paced film with fine performances by Hutton and Penn.

Feb 10, 2023

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Not exactly a fun watch, but a fascinating one for sure.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 23, 2020

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Frans B

Scary that it is based on true events and even more so because it probably happened / happens often? Beware a small minded human with too much information and little sense. John Schlesinger did good here in directing and bringing this to screen. Overall ambiance is intriguing and riveting. Great story and well written. Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn delivers in usual capabilities, well, whole cast excels in character. Great cinematography. Lots of drama and twists to keep us entertained, highly recommended

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/25

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Chris F.

Absolutely awesome!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 2 hours and 11 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $14,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

Jon G

A great movie based on a true story. Great performances by Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

Chief B

Such a great movie. And it's what's really happened supposedly. I can't remember a movie that I can compare with this one in it's style and atmosphere. Hutton is great in it as the falcon walking around with falcons and eagles on his arm feeding pigeons to them being an idealist and a free soul in a way. Wearing jacket with the Indian print on it. Penn is also great and plays the sleaze ball who brings everybody in trouble pretty good. I don't wanna sound cliche but I think it's underrated and am glad rotten gave this the score it deserves.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Michael R

Exciting 80s movie that still holds up very well. Hutton is fantastic, and so is Penn when he used to care about being a serious actor.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

Full Review

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John Schlesinger

Director

Timothy Hutton

Christopher Boyce

Sean Penn

Daulton Lee

David Suchet

Alex

Lori Singer

Lana

Pat Hingle

Mr. Boyce

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - I Am a Tourist

1:57

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - The Falcon is Free

2:09

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Surprise Inspection

2:11

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - It's Not Over

2:03

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Paranoid Meltdown

1:20

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - We Were Altar Boys Together

1:36

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Time to Diversify

2:08

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Predatory Behavior

2:09

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - A Partnership

1:58

The Falcon and the Snowman: Official Clip - Courier Undependable

2:00

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Synopsis

After his father (Pat Hingle) finds him a job at the CIA, Christopher Boyce (Timothy Hutton) discovers the less reputable side of the American government through handling classified documents. As he grows increasingly disillusioned, Boyce decides to sell the information to the Russians in an act of defiance. A drug-addicted friend of Boyce's, Daulton Lee (Sean Penn), becomes involved in the plot and acts as a middleman between Boyce and the Soviets, but the erratic Lee fails to cover his tracks.

Director: John Schlesinger
Producer: John Schlesinger, Gabriel Katzka
Screenwriter: Steven Zaillian, Robert Lindsey
Distributor: Globo Video [br], Roadshow Home Video [au], Orion Pictures
Production Co: Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 25, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $14.9M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround

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