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The French Connection

Play trailer 2:46 Poster for The French Connection R Released Oct 7, 1971 1h 44m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
New York Detective Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) and his partner (Roy Scheider) chase a French heroin smuggler.
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The French Connection

The French Connection

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Critics Consensus

Realistic, fast-paced and uncommonly smart, The French Connection is bolstered by stellar performances by Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider, not to mention William Friedkin's thrilling production.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) Gritty, downbeat and, in Hackman’s “Popeye” Doyle, fronted by one of the most unlikely heroes that cinema had seen, this was one of the great films of Hollywood’s most creatively uncompromising period. Jan 27, 2024 Full Review Ben Kern Minneapolis Star Tribune [The film] is neither a documentary nor a grim slice of life but simply entertainment -- violent and bloody, yes, but still the kind of action and suspense stuff that kept the pulp fiction magazine alive for years and still intrigues most of us. May 16, 2023 Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker It's not what I want not because it fails but because of what it is. It is, I think, what we once feared mass entertainment might become: jolts for jocks. Jul 29, 2022 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Rightly remembered for a pivotal car chase... Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 22, 2025 Full Review David Elliott Chicago Daily News The French Connection gives us suspense mixed with violence, and the cocktail is so volatile that you don't really care if the film is nothing more than two hours of fun in the dark. Oct 3, 2023 Full Review Joseph Robinson Fish Jelly Films (YouTube) Filled with heart pounding sequences, The French Connection satisfies as a gritty crime drama. Rated: 4/5 Aug 13, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C A successful movie in just 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!! Starring Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle, a City of New York police officer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/09/25 Full Review Audience Member I've heard a lot about this film but I found it a bit underwhelming and a tad boring at times. There is the famous chase scene and the ending was good but overall I found it a little bit one dimensional and much preferred The Conversation as a film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 04/18/25 Full Review Landon J For better or worse, this plays like something 15 years it's junior. Pioneering for the genre, never dull (for it's ilk), and very impressive technically. Subgenere fans should check this out and see where the entire industry almost certainly drew inspiration from. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/12/25 Full Review M B Gripping masterpiece! You could not recreate this with all the money in the world! Hackman and Scheider are incredible! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/08/25 Full Review Nano N Classic! Love the vintage gritty NYC streets and contrazting French scenes. Hackman living the part of Popeye, rogue cop. Gene Hackman in great physical shape, attracting young broads when he isnt chasing a suspect on foot for block after stairway after city block. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/27/25 Full Review Yash B On a technical level, "The French Connection" is expertly made. The way the movie crafted chase sequences and shootouts is really impressive. I can see why a movie that is this old still holds up in that regard. That being said, I feel like this movie is so thin on plot, story, and characters, and it never really engaged me in the way it should have. There are intense moments but I wish the movie gave me more to latch onto. Overall, I think it is an okay movie with many good qualities, but it doesn't really stand as one of the great Best Picture winners for me personally. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/22/25 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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William Friedkin

Director

Gene Hackman

Det. Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle

Fernando Rey

Alain Charnier

Roy Scheider

Det. Buddy "Cloudy"'Russo

Tony Lo Bianco

Salvatore "Sal" Boca

Marcel Bozzuffi

Pierre Nicoli, Hit Man

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The French Connection

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The French Connection

A scene from the film THE FRENCH CONNECTION. A scene from the film THE FRENCH CONNECTION. A scene from the film THE FRENCH CONNECTION. A scene from the film THE FRENCH CONNECTION. The French Connection (1971) The French Connection (1971) The French Connection (1971) The French Connection (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis New York Detective Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman) and his partner (Roy Scheider) chase a French heroin smuggler.
Director
William Friedkin
Producer
Philip D'Antoni
Screenwriter
Ernest Tidyman
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 7, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Runtime
1h 44m
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