Jackie Brown

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Jackie Brown

R

Released Dec 25, 1997

2h 35m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

When flight attendant Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) is busted smuggling money for her arms dealer boss, Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton) and detective Mark Dargus (Michael Bowen) want her help to bring down Robbie. Facing jail time for her silence or death for her cooperation, Brown decides instead to double-cross both parties and make off with the smuggled money. Meanwhile, she enlists the help of bondsman Max Cherry (Robert Forster), a man who loves her.

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Critics Consensus

Although somewhat lackadaisical in pace, Jackie Brown proves to be an effective star-vehicle for Pam Grier while offering the usual Tarantino wit and charm.

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Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

Forget Tarantino’s baggage. Jackie Brown is a vulnerable movie from a mainstream American filmmaker of any generation, especially at a time when stars are required more than ever to behave as if they don’t age.

Jan 23, 2025

Full Review

Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

... A beautifully modulated portrait of the limits and the last resorts of middle age.

Dec 4, 2023

Full Review

Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Maybe posterity will crown Jackie Brown as his best film and maybe not. Either way it shows that mainstream plotting and noir romance are yet more movie styles that Tarantino can fabricate: brilliantly.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 15, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The intricacies are enough that it’s largely impossible to follow along with knowledge of how it might all fall apart (hence all the flashbacks), sapping a bit of the suspense and creativity.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 23, 2025

Full Review

Aaron Neuwirth

Why So Blu

A more reflective film, with deeper characterizations coming from an older cast willing to sit with a moment. It’s also incredibly entertaining, funny, well-crafted, and detailed, making any revisit worthwhile.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 22, 2025

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Even though this film pushes past two-and-a-half hours, the forward direction of the plot keeps things moving with minimal repeat. This movie exudes coolness on every level.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 4, 2023

Full Review

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marvin n

talk talk talk ................

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/25

Full Review

Eric W.

It’s Quentin Tarantino, folks. He’s a genius.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Jeremiah C.

One of Tarantino’s more underrated works, this story is not just an ode to blaxploitation films. It takes the best of those films and ratifies them with superb plot and dialogue writing. Anyone who thinks Tarantino doesn’t love and admire black artistry has never seen the care and reverence with which he constructed this art.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

Isa B

This film is yet another example of Quentin Tarantino's excellent writing. This film was obviously well casted as everyone was amazing in their respective roles. Pam Grier delivered a knockout as Jackie Brown. Samuel L. Jackson plays one scary dude as Ordell Robbie. Louis is one of my absolute favorite roles in the career of Robert De Niro. He is so unassuming, so understated. He is a calm old hood whose best days are behind him, just trying to make something work. Robert Forster gives a great performance as Max Cherry. I saw an interview with Quentin where he said that Robert De Niro really wanted to play Max, but he had already promised it to Robert Forster. I am so glad they played the roles that they did. Forster was perfect as the dry, no nonsense bailbondsman, and that gave De Niro the opportunity to play a role that was quite different from anything we've seen him play previously. Michael Keaton, Bridget Fonda, Michael Bowen, Chris Tucker, and Tony "Tiny" Lister were all terrific as well. I love that the story is open ended. Does Jackie send Max a postcard? Does Max reunite with Jackie in Spain? Well, that is up to you, the viewer. In my ending, Max does indeed go over to Spain to meet up with his partner and they, at the very least, enjoy a vacation together. I highly recommend this picture as it is one of my favorites. 94/100

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/06/25

Full Review

Will G

I actually prefer this to pulp fiction, seen it must be in double figures now. Plus it's got pam grier.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/28/25

Full Review

Brett A

Boring, boring, boring. Movie never seemed to get going.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

Full Review

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Quentin Tarantino

Director

Pam Grier

Jackie Brown

Samuel L. Jackson

Ordell Robbie

Robert Forster

Max Cherry

Bridget Fonda

Melanie Ralston

Michael Keaton

Ray Nicolette

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - A Gun Pressed Up Against My Dick

2:09

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - Fitting Room Exchange

1:37

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - Ray's Interrogation

2:12

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - The Delfonics

2:13

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - Melanie Provokes Louis

1:58

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - I'm Home, I'm High

2:10

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - You Shot Melanie?

2:11

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - I'll Send You a Postcard

2:08

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - Three Minutes Later

2:12

Jackie Brown: Official Clip - One Dirty Ass Trunk

2:00

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Synopsis

When flight attendant Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) is busted smuggling money for her arms dealer boss, Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson), agent Ray Nicolette (Michael Keaton) and detective Mark Dargus (Michael Bowen) want her help to bring down Robbie. Facing jail time for her silence or death for her cooperation, Brown decides instead to double-cross both parties and make off with the smuggled money. Meanwhile, she enlists the help of bondsman Max Cherry (Robert Forster), a man who loves her.

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Screenwriter: Elmore Leonard, Quentin Tarantino
Distributor: Miramax Films, Buena Vista International [us]
Production Co: Mighty Mighty Afrodite Productions, A Band Apart, Lawrence Bender Productions, Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 17, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $39.6M
Runtime: 2h 35m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, Surround
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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