The Two Jakes

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The Two Jakes

R

Released Aug 10, 1990

2h 17m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

61%

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31 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Private investigator and war veteran Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by real estate developer Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel) for some run-of-the-mill matrimonial work. After Berman shoots his wife's lover, who happens to be his own business partner, Gittes is drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit involving the oil reserves beneath Los Angeles. While investigating, Gittes hears a voice from his past that causes him to revisit a traumatic case in Chinatown.

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Stephen Amidon

Financial Times

It is a fundamentally strong story, though it lacks the ingenious nuances and twists of Towne's earlier effort.

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Geoff Brown

The Times (UK)

As a thriller, The Two Jakes proves impossible to follow; as an exercise in retro style, it glows with sullen beauty. Forties suits, ties, two-tone shoes: everything is in place, bathed in hard-edged gloom.

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

Guardian

In short, The Two Jakes, combining the best of the old and the best of the new, is one helluva good movie.

Aug 18, 2021

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Although visually sumptuous, Jack Nicholson's direction and acting in "The Two Jakes" results in a largely inert follow-up to "Chinatown."

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 2, 2025

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

But compared to Chinatown and other private investigator movies that have endured down the years, you'd struggle to pick it out of a line-up.

Feb 6, 2024

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Tim Brayton

Alternate Ending

This simply isn't a very well-made thing, and it's not coming from any genuinely inspired place.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 9, 2023

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Wirmer F

a very good movie, if you see it as a stand alone or an installment rather than a sequel. it would have been nice to have the planned, but ultimately cancelled, 3rd installment, all these years later.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/07/25

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Stephen C

Failure in 2 hours and 17 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $9,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/27/25

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Brad S. R

A serviceable, though ultimately unnecessary sequel to a noir classic.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

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E S

boring.....boring........i have to add characters or they won't publish this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

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Nik75 J

It's a good effort with some fine acting by Nicholson. The plot is actually easy to follow if you pay attention and has some interesting twists. It's a good sequel and well worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Alec B

Yeah it pales in comparison to "Chinatown" but everyone involved here seems to know that was inevitable. At its best "The Two Jakes" plays like a lengthy epilogue reflecting on the previous movie's themes and surviving characters.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

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Jack Nicholson

Director

Jack Nicholson

Jake Gittes

Harvey Keitel

Julius 'Jake' Berman

Meg Tilly

Kitty Berman

Madeleine Stowe

Lillian Bodine

Eli Wallach

Cotton Weinberger

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Name of the Game is Oil

2:08

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - How Could You, Kitty?

2:11

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - One Last Smoke

2:11

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Suck It

2:08

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Don't Make Me Do It

2:06

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - Who is Kitty Berman?

2:12

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Wife of the Guy that Jake Berman Shot

1:57

The Two Jakes: Official Clip - The Two Jakes

2:08

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Synopsis

Private investigator and war veteran Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is hired by real estate developer Jake Berman (Harvey Keitel) for some run-of-the-mill matrimonial work. After Berman shoots his wife's lover, who happens to be his own business partner, Gittes is drawn into a web of conspiracy and deceit involving the oil reserves beneath Los Angeles. While investigating, Gittes hears a voice from his past that causes him to revisit a traumatic case in Chinatown.

Director: Jack Nicholson
Producer: Robert Evans, Harold Schneider, Jack Nicholson
Screenwriter: Robert Towne
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, 88 Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 10, 1990, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.4M
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track

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