The Parallax View

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The Parallax View

R

Released Jun 14, 1974

1h 42m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady (Warren Beatty) begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels (Hume Cronyn). Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.

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Critics Consensus

The Parallax View blends deft direction from Alan J. Pakula and a charismatic Warren Beatty performance to create a paranoid political thriller that stands with the genre's best.

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Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

If you’re not sucked in by the The Parallax View’s absurd-but-apparently-true conspiracy, then you will be by Gordon Willis’s hauntingly atmospheric cinematography.

Aug 28, 2025

Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

The point of this sort of movie seems to be to arouse outrage without offending anyone.

Mar 5, 2024

Full Review

Molly Haskell

Village Voice

The Parallax View is a movie of splendid bits and pieces disappointingly strung together.

Apr 20, 2022

Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

“The Parallax View” is a gripping thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each new twist and turn in the story.

Rated: 4/5

Sep 3, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Fifty years after its release, The Parallax View holds up as a political thriller depicting the 1970s paranoia.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 14, 2024

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Excellent script by David Giler and Lorenzo Semple Jr, stunning photography by... Gordon Willis, and perfect acting, the story of Beatty's infiltration of the society and his attempt to foil yet another killing is riveting, fascinating and nerve-racking.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 24, 2024

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mark g

The 1970s produced the greatest political/conspiracy thrillers and this is one of the best. Clever, plausible and taut. Maybe more relevant today than ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/25

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alan g

Too confusing and absurd. Hokeywoods brief obsession with journalists as action heroes. What was up with that? Warren Beatty can't act and sleep walks through the film. He got films because he looked good (?). He only started to become a decent actor after Annette.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/25

Full Review

richard c

Absolutely superb conspiracy thriller from the '70s. Warren Beatty is a reporter for a small town paper who investigates a friends death. They were both there when a senator was assassinated at the space needle. This opening sequence is superb and the ending WOW! The air of paranoia is intense and the music also the cinematography all excellent. All acting is good 👍, superb direction too. One small gripe is why we don't see Warren's reaction after the brain washing? Don't miss

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 42 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

Hector I

What could be more vibrant than a '70s paranoid thriller? Maybe Argento, but then again... We follow the story of a journalist investigating the death of a senator, which leads him to the Parallax Corporation, a company that recruits future killers. All the themes of this genre are there: the great architecture of the 70s, brown tones, studies on predispositions to murder... I really enjoyed going through it with the journalist who discovers he can't trust anyone, who suspects everyone. There are also minor flaws, such as the fact that we don't really understand his involvement in this story, the characters who aren't really introduced and who disappear too quickly, but that's part of the mystery ... The vision of government investigations is quite dark, but resonates a lot with our times I find. It's still a good thriller from this period, especially the end scene, which is really well done.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/28/25

Full Review

Audience Member

quite corny acting, unconvincing stunts. didn't age well. Warren Beatty features quite a 👶-face. sorry, Warren-fans.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/24/25

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Warren Beatty

Joseph Frady

Paula Prentiss

Lee Carter

William Daniels

Austin Tucker

Hume Cronyn

Bill Rintels

Kelly Thordsen

Sheriff L.D. Wicker

The Parallax View: Official Clip - One Way Out

1:15

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Warning Sign

2:00

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Don't Touch Me Unless You Love Me

2:09

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Recruitment Test

2:07

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Hammond's Assassination

1:36

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Boating Accident

2:00

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Reporting the News, Not Creating It

1:53

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Space Needle Assassination

1:41

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Somebody's Trying to Kill Me

1:48

The Parallax View: Official Clip - Cop Car Chase

1:47

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Synopsis

After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady (Warren Beatty) begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels (Hume Cronyn). Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Producer: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: David Giler, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Loren Singer
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Doubleday Productions, Harbor Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 1974, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2010
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Mono

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