The Killing

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The Killing

Released May 20, 1956

1h 23m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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47 Reviews

92%

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10,000+ Ratings

Career criminal Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) recruits a sharpshooter (Timothy Carey), a crooked police officer (Ted de Corsia), a bartender (Joe Sawyer) and a betting teller named George (Elisha Cook Jr.), among others, for one last job before he goes straight and marries his fiancee, Fay (Coleen Gray). But when George tells his restless wife, Sherry (Marie Windsor), about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.

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Critics Consensus

An expertly crafted noir with more on its mind than stylishly staged violence, The Killing establishes Stanley Kubrick as a filmmaker of uncommon vision and control.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

This taut crime picture was one of the earliest films in the career of Stanley Kubrick, but something of the director's voice and characteristic preoccupations are already evident here.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 5, 2015

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Glenn Heath Jr.

Slant Magazine

Underneath The Killing's clockwork violence is a pungent layer of irony, something Kubrick would further explore many times later in his career.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 14, 2013

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David Thomson

The New Republic

Faultless and enjoyable.

Jun 24, 2013

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Director Stanley Kubrick’s third feature, “The Killing” barely made a dent at the box office when it was first released in 1956 but is now regarded as one of the greatest and most influential heist films ever made.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 2, 2025

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A crackling film noir.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 31, 2022

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Stanley Kubrick is in full command of this tightly-paced, tense 84-minute crime thriller.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 25, 2022

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Stephen C

1 hour and 23 minutes of crime drama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

Ralph B

The Killing is a movie streamlined and lacks extraneous fluff. SK's genius is earmarked with smooth pacing, type-cast acting, and interesting chronology.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

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Farah R

Stanley Kubrick's noir is well-written and expertly acted. If only it weren't too slow to be enjoyable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

Insomniac X

An intricate and perfectly cast noir heist that inspired Tarantino and others. Slow and persistent buildup and a nonlinear story lead to a riveting second half. Kubrick knows how and when to deploy spectacle to heighten the film's emotional intensity, and his use of visual motif delivers some unforgettable images. Great performances by Sterling Hayden, Elisha Cook Jr., and Marie Windsor.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

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Alain E

Very biased movie, trying to tell us that crime doesn’t pay. The lesson is you should respect the regulations for carry on luggage. Actually the whole thing is very well set up and the voice over works. On Tubi.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/25

Full Review

William B

Great movie. Quite entertaining. One of the best Kubrick's movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/11/24

Full Review

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Stanley Kubrick

Director

Sterling Hayden

Johnny Clay

Coleen Gray

Fay

Vince Edwards

Val Cannon

Jay C. Flippen

Marvin Unger

Marie Windsor

Sherry Peatty

The Killing: Official Clip - Robbing the Robbers

2:35

The Killing: Official Clip - Dead at 4:24

2:12

The Killing: Official Clip - Holding Up the Racetrack Bank

2:12

The Killing: Official Clip - Maurice Creates the Distraction

2:00

The Killing: Official Clip - I Know You Like a Book

1:28

The Killing: Official Clip - Going Over the Plan

2:43

The Killing: Official Clip - Sherry Baby

2:06

The Killing: Official Clip - Worth the Risk

2:13

The Killing: Official Clip - Caught Snooping

1:59

The Killing: Official Clip - Blowin' in the Wind

2:13

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Synopsis

Career criminal Johnny Clay (Sterling Hayden) recruits a sharpshooter (Timothy Carey), a crooked police officer (Ted de Corsia), a bartender (Joe Sawyer) and a betting teller named George (Elisha Cook Jr.), among others, for one last job before he goes straight and marries his fiancee, Fay (Coleen Gray). But when George tells his restless wife, Sherry (Marie Windsor), about the scheme to steal millions from the racetrack where he works, she hatches a plot of her own.

Director: Stanley Kubrick
Producer: James B. Harris
Screenwriter: Stanley Kubrick, Jim Thompson, Lionel White
Distributor: United Artists, Criterion Collection
Production Co: Harris-Kubrick Productions
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 20, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m

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