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Vertigo

Play trailer Poster for Vertigo PG Released May 9, 1958 2h 8m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 96 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
Hitchcock's romantic story of obsession, manipulation and fear. A detective is forced to retire after his fear of heights causes the death of a fellow officer and the girl he was hired to follow. He sees a double of the girl, causing him to transform her image onto the dead girl's body. This leads into a cycle of madness and lies.
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Vertigo

Vertigo

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Critics Consensus

An unpredictable scary thriller that doubles as a mournful meditation on love, loss, and human comfort.

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Critics Reviews

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Adam Kempenaar Filmspotting Once it switches over to us getting inside her head... I started seeing it more as Judy's story than Scottie's. Rated: 4.5/5 Feb 9, 2024 Full Review Jack Moffitt The Hollywood Reporter Alfred Hitchcock tops his own fabulous record for suspense with Vertigo, a super-tale of murder, madness and mysticism that stars James Stewart and Kim Novak. May 13, 2022 Full Review Deborah Ross The Spectator The storytelling isn't up to much. It drags and drags. May 18, 2020 Full Review Chris Barsanti PopMatters Viewed by many at the time as a departure for Alfred Hitchcock, 'Vertigo' can be seen as a return to form ... redolent of spookier works like 'Rebecca' or 'Spellbound,' with a psychoanalytic frame instead of gothic romanticism. Jan 8, 2025 Full Review Joseph Tomastik Loud and Clear Reviews It may take a while to work up to its thriller elements, but it 100% earns its right to be called a thriller, and one of the best, most understated, and ingenious of all time at that. Rated: 5/5 Oct 5, 2024 Full Review Tom Hutchinson Radio Times This remains one of the most painful depictions of romantic fatalism in all of cinema. Rated: 5/5 Sep 6, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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darlene r That ending! Didnt expect that. Otherwise loved the acting and the location shots. Very interesting story Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/15/24 Full Review Insomniac X Ponderous mystery-melodrama just can't seem to get off the ground. San Francisco locations and a majestic score by Bernard Herrmann are not enough to overcome a lackluster plot and questionable acting. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/25 Full Review Birithivy Y Vertigo - 10/10. Considering the studio is considering a remake with RDJ, I decided to rewatch Vertigo after ages. And damn does this movie hold up oh so well. First off, I don't think people talk about this movie's cinematography as much as they should. The colours are vibrant and so distinct, and Hitchcock has made his cinematographer capture California in such a beautiful airy glow. This movie delves into a man's obsession. It's interesting, because Hitchcock worries more about how it happens than the effects of it. Its slowly taking over Stewart's character, and we see as the movie runs along, the poor man being stricken with a love that ends up taking over his life. Its not a fast paced thriller, but one that grows more tense and more interesting with every minute passing. An all time classic, that DOESN'T need to be remade! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Kevin P A thrilling psychological thriller from Alfred Hitchcock that hooks you with its engaging noir mysteries unraveling with so many legitimately surprising dark twists and turns and some intriguing commentary on mental health that feel mostly ahead of its time. The thoughtful visual cues of the color red and green were cleverly implemented along with a mesmerizing score by Bernard Hermann and some excellent performances by Jimmy Stewart and the rest of the cast (Midge’s characterization and performance felt refreshingly realistic for a female character that isn’t an outright love interest and can casually command the room). There are some beautifully visually stunning art sequences with the vertigo dreams as well as a really hypnotic dream-like feel to the whole movie with the alleged possession scene. The ending was a bit rushed with some questionable conclusions about gender roles and could’ve used one last epilogue, but everything else is expertly crafted as easily one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best works. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/26/25 Full Review Nol P Take any great movie of the past. Vertigo as just 1 single example. There has been almost zero movies since 2019 that are even close to as good as any classics of the past! Most movies are only time fillers now and most of which I want my time back! Joker and Top Gun Maverick are only 2 more recent entries I can come up with that achieved a rare 10 out of 10 score! I have yet to see Oppenheimer still as per so super long (but on my short list to see still) and Barbie received a super solid 8.5! Agree? You must! The amount of sequels and lack of new ideas is only PATHETIC! Vertigo is yet another timeless classic from the great mind of Alfred Hitchcock! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/25 Full Review Andy F A stunning film, almost flawless. Expect a slow burner and relish every moment. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/28/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Vertigo

Vertigo: Official Clip - Visiting the Past Vertigo: Official Clip - Visiting the Past 3:13 Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Becomes Madeleine Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Becomes Madeleine 2:13 Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Jumps Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Jumps 2:03 Vertigo: Official Clip - Don't Let Me Go Vertigo: Official Clip - Don't Let Me Go 2:03 Vertigo: Official Clip - Officer Down Vertigo: Official Clip - Officer Down 1:36 Vertigo: Official Clip - Scottie's Nightmare Vertigo: Official Clip - Scottie's Nightmare 1:28 Vertigo: Official Clip - The Bell Tower Vertigo: Official Clip - The Bell Tower 2:22 Vertigo: Official Clip - Uncanny Resemblance Vertigo: Official Clip - Uncanny Resemblance 1:56 Vertigo: Official Clip - Wandering Together Vertigo: Official Clip - Wandering Together 2:18 Vertigo: Official Clip - Saving Madeleine Vertigo: Official Clip - Saving Madeleine 2:12 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Hitchcock's romantic story of obsession, manipulation and fear. A detective is forced to retire after his fear of heights causes the death of a fellow officer and the girl he was hired to follow. He sees a double of the girl, causing him to transform her image onto the dead girl's body. This leads into a cycle of madness and lies.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter
Pierre Boileau, Thomas Narcejac, Samuel A. Taylor, Alec Coppel
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 9, 1958, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 4, 1996
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 2, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.8M
Runtime
2h 8m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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