Prizzi's Honor

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Prizzi's Honor

R

1985

2h 9m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

For Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), life in the Prizzi family is good as long as he honors the wishes of the Godfather (William Hickey). Partanna is respected for ruthlessly carrying out murder contracts, but his wise-talking Brooklyn existence is turned on its head when he falls for a beautiful hit woman (Kathleen Turner) from the West Coast. He follows her back to California, balancing work commitments and his love interest until a new contract makes things difficult.

Critics Consensus

Disturbing and sardonic, Prizzi's Honor excels at black comedy because director John Huston and his game ensemble take the farce deadly seriously.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

If John Huston’s name were not on Prizzi’s Honor, I'd have thought a fresh new talent had burst on the scene, and he’d certainly be the hottest new director in Hollywood.

Sep 13, 2023

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Variety Staff

Variety

John Huston's Prizzi's Honor packs love, sex, and murder -- and dark comedy -- into a labyrinthine tale.

Feb 5, 2008

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

As usual, Turner works hard and manages to lend some conviction to a shoddily written part, but she can't connect with Nicholson, whose obscure hamminess leaves him isolated on some other planet.

Feb 5, 2008

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Chase Burns

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

Huston also directed this movie, and the Academy just loves this family legacy stuff. Beyond that, I find the movie to be pretty dull.

Dec 8, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Since first catching the film during its original run, repeated viewings have always yielded the same reaction: sheer joy at the intricate plotting and delightful performances, yet pronounced disappointment in a problematic climax that leaves a bad taste.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 11, 2021

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Eleanor O'Sullivan

Asbury Park Press (NJ)

Prizzi's Honor, a tongue-in-cheek flipside of crime melodramas, delivers a powerfully funny punch.

Aug 16, 2021

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Alain E

It has definitely stood the test of time. Plus it serves as a memorial of the beauty that Kathleen Turner possessed. Sure, she has not aged well, but many of us in this age group never looked that good. Plus her acting,expressing resolve and vulnerability by subtle changes in her facial expression. Anjelica Huston, directed by her own father, does a subpar entrance that made me wonder if the intent was to portray her as a lesbian. Later on though, especially when wearing a hat, she is very good and definitely heterosexual. Nicholson is his usual good self. In the end, the movie promotes solid family values, the Sicilian variation.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

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Isaiah Y

Good John Huston film with worthwhile performances from Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/14/25

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Stephen C

Funny in 2 hours and 9 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $26,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

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AD 3

Started incredibly boring and weird, I turned it off

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

Full Review

Tom F

Disappointed in the ending. Amusing tough guy accent by Jersey guy Nicholson.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

randall f

Just watched after many years. Definitely one of the better movies of the mid 80s. Great acting and story-you dont see much of either anymore

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/20/24

Full Review

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John Huston

Director

Jack Nicholson

Charley Partanna

Kathleen Turner

Irene Walker

Anjelica Huston

Maerose Prizzi

Robert Loggia

Eduardo Prizzi

William Hickey

Don Corrado Prizi

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Synopsis

For Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), life in the Prizzi family is good as long as he honors the wishes of the Godfather (William Hickey). Partanna is respected for ruthlessly carrying out murder contracts, but his wise-talking Brooklyn existence is turned on its head when he falls for a beautiful hit woman (Kathleen Turner) from the West Coast. He follows her back to California, balancing work commitments and his love interest until a new contract makes things difficult.

Director: John Huston
Producer: John Foreman
Screenwriter: Richard Condon, Janet Roach
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 1985, Wide
Release Date (DVD): Sep 16, 2003
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.6M
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Surround

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