Night Moves

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Night Moves

R

Released Jun 11, 1975

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

80 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Hard-nosed private investigator Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman), to distract himself from a rapidly deteriorating marriage, takes a case from an aging B-movie queen (Janet Ward) to locate her runaway daughter, Delly (Melanie Griffith). His search takes him to the Florida Keys, where the girl has been hiding out with her stepfather, Tom (John Crawford), and Tom's lover, Paula (Jennifer Warren). Harry initiates an affair with Paula and soon learns the case is more complex than he first assessed it.

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Critics Consensus

A neo-noir that favors rich psychological depth and mood over suspense, Night Moves is elevated by Arthur Penn's introspective direction and Gene Hackman's brooding performance.

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Dilys Powell

The Times (UK)

Night Moves never lets you escape.

May 29, 2025

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Richard Combs

Sight & Sound

In keeping with the fragmentary, allusive nature of Sharp's script, Penn gives a discontinuous episodic feeling to the film.

May 29, 2025

Full Review

Paul D. Zimmerman

Newsweek

The movie just vanishes, loose ends and all, in the pit of its own black vision.

May 29, 2025

Full Review

Kenneth Robinson

The Spectator

They have made a film with characters who are credible and interesting and a story that is teasing and fascinating. The brutal climax sends the mind searching back over earlier events, to chain together the links of People's reactions to each other.

Jun 5, 2025

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David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

Night Moves is rash and hard-edged, a remorseless gambit that seems to have been carelessly conceived from the beginning.

May 29, 2025

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Steve Hogner

Austin American-Statesman

Penn adds a peculiar European sense that details the minor points of characters in almost microscopic detail. It could have been innovative, but as it stands, it only serves to undercut what action and story are present.

May 28, 2025

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 35 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Clint E

In this neo-noir from 1975, Gene Hackman is reteamed with director Arthur Penn from Bonnie and Clyde. Hackman plays private investigator Harry Moseby, hired by an aging movie star to locate her runaway daughter, played by Melanie Griffith. If you didn’t already know, this film’s controversy derives from Griffith’s age at filming; look it up if you’re curious. The film’s got a fantastic, intricate plot containing many 70s film elements. Personally, I could live without the plotline involving Moseby’s shaky marriage and his wife’s (Susan Clark) infidelity. Besides Hackman’s, the character and performance most intriguing to me is Jennifer Warren’s Paula, a laid-back happily amoral embodiment of the Florida Keys lifestyle. She’s the most unusual character, one I’d like to know more about. They’re all great noir characters, including Griffith’s character’s faded star mother, all worthy descendants of noir creators Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain. There’s a sleazy connection between the runaway girl, an ex-stepfather, Hollywood stuntmen, and mechanic/ movie crew member Quentin (newcomer James Woods). Finally, the rationale for all the sinister plotting and murder is kind of anticlimactic, really…relics smuggled from the Yucatan? That’s the best you’ve got? The intricate plot and excellent characters deserve better. Recommended to all neo-noir and Gene Hackman (RIP) fans.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

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Revolver 0

Good movie with nice amount of tattas

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/25

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Brad S. R

A wickedly intriguing thriller.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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Mary C

Absolutely creepy. No plot, just several attempts to illicit sexual sensation's while looking at a 16 year old girl. Good job Hollywood for getting away with sexually soliciting a minor ....yuk Lots of problems with this and I am a very sexually healthy woman.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

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CodyZamboni Z

Solid mystery, Lots of smart dialogue and insight, Twisty plot, Sobering ending, Movie's plot and direction meanders alot, which I think is the point.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

Full Review

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Arthur Penn

Director

Gene Hackman

Harry Moseby

Jennifer Warren

Paula

Melanie Griffith

Delly Grastner

Susan Clark

Ellen Moseby

Edward Binns

Joey Ziegler

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Synopsis

Hard-nosed private investigator Harry Moseby (Gene Hackman), to distract himself from a rapidly deteriorating marriage, takes a case from an aging B-movie queen (Janet Ward) to locate her runaway daughter, Delly (Melanie Griffith). His search takes him to the Florida Keys, where the girl has been hiding out with her stepfather, Tom (John Crawford), and Tom's lover, Paula (Jennifer Warren). Harry initiates an affair with Paula and soon learns the case is more complex than he first assessed it.

Director: Arthur Penn
Producer: Robert M. Sherman
Screenwriter: Alan Sharp
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 11, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 39m

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