North by Northwest

In Theaters Sun May 19

2 hr. 16 min.

Mystery & Thriller

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List

97%

115 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.

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In Theaters Sun May 19

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Critics Consensus

Gripping, suspenseful, and visually iconic, this late-period Hitchcock classic laid the groundwork for countless action thrillers to follow.

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Cary Grant

Roger O. Thornhill

Eva Marie Saint

Eve Kendall

James Mason

Phillip Vandamm

Leo G. Carroll

The Professor

Martin Landau

Leonard

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Dennis N

Classic film that cannot be compared to many others in the same genre.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

Jeff M

Here's another spellbinder by Hitchcock with a lot of intrigue, a lot of double crossing and more action than most of his other films that I've seen so far. In fact, I would go so far as to categorize it as an action/suspense movie - perhaps something like THE FUGITIVE (1993). This one doesn't quite reach the heights of masterpiece for me, but Hitch does an amazing job of keeping a potentially confusing plot clear and concise. It's fun to see Martin Landau as one of Mason's henchman - of course, he would go on to win an Oscar 35 years after this movie was released. Grant is as suave and debonair as always, and Saint is a perfect femme fatale. The action scenes in the cornfield and especially atop Mount Rushmore are among the best ever made, the latter actually giving me a touch of vertigo (pun intended). Hitchcock was famous for saying he liked to play his audience like a piano - and if he doesn't necessarily hit all 88 keys here, he at least gives us a few good octaves!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Alexsander F

O filme é muito bom, como diria Fellini "antes de tudo, um filme é um quadro, uma obra de arte". E Hitchcock da aulas sobre cinema com esse filme.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/23

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Chris r

Just saw this movie at film forum in NYC. And omg was it so good. The plot, the dialog perfect combination of comedy action and romance. This just a solid masterpiece of a film. Think of it as Cary grant is 007 but with more humor and charisma. I seriously love this film and recommend it to everyone. Even if you don't like Hitchcock.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/23

Full Review

Jeff B

My 2nd favorite Hitchcock film (Rear Window is #1). Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint are the perfect movie paring. The film locations and cinematography are fantastic. A great spy thriller from 1959, I still watch this one yearly. I dare you not to fall in love with Eva - I'm afraid that is a mission you will find impossible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Lucas C

North by Northwest is my third favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie. Cary Grant is great as Roger Thornhill and Eva Marie Saint is amazing. I really enjoy the music in this movie. Its another masterpiece and I highly recommend it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/23

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North by Northwest: Trailer 1

2:02

North by Northwest (1959) Presented by TCM: Fathom Events Trailer

0:30

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

The plotting is tightly wound and the thrills are executed with devilish panache.

Aug 29, 2022

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Though not as cleverly original as Strangers on a Train, or as cleverly sexy as Notorious, this is one of Hitchcock’s most entertaining American thrillers.

Jul 6, 2022

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Barbara L. Wilson

Philadelphia Inquirer

Alfred Hitchcock's new thriller, North by Northwest, is one of those no holds barred films. For better than two hours, he lets the Technicolor melodrama ramble across the VistaVision screen while gleefully setting traps for his hero.

Jun 9, 2021

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

An effortless two hours and sixteen minutes of classic set-pieces, unlikely traps and amusingly off-the-cuff escapes, all starring the handsomest tan ever to step onto a film set.

Rated: 4/4

Feb 11, 2024

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A splashy adventure...a precursor for the kind of jet-setting, debonair intrigue that would become ubiquitous...

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s lighter, flashier, and more stylish than some of Hitch’s other classics, but those are the things that make it a unique but fitting part of Hitchcock’s wonderful filmography.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Synopsis

This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Ernest Lehman
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 17, 1959, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 17, 2009
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.66:1)

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