Vertigo

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Vertigo

PG

Released May 9, 1958

2h 8m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

97 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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

The storytelling isn't up to much. It drags and drags.

May 18, 2020

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Gary Wolcott

Tri-City Herald

Vertigo drones on for two-thirds of the movie before Hitchcock switches gears and moves the film to the level it should have been all along.

Rated: 3.5/5

Apr 23, 2025

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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

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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

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Jay R

Great movie, always a great classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Keith

Loved seeing this classic on the big screen for the first time! So much is lost in the cinematography on a TV.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Joshua Coleman

One of few perfect films ever made. Hitchocks finest!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Kurt B

Hitchcock's Masterpiece!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/02/25

Full Review

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

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J. G.

A classic film. An Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

James Stewart

John "Scottie" Ferguson

Kim Novak

Madeleine Elster

Barbara Bel Geddes

Midge Wood

Tom Helmore

Gavin Elster

Henry Jones

Coroner

Vertigo: Official Clip - Visiting the Past

3:13

Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Becomes Madeleine

2:13

Vertigo: Official Clip - Judy Jumps

2:03

Vertigo: Official Clip - Don't Let Me Go

2:03

Vertigo: Official Clip - Officer Down

1:36

Vertigo: Official Clip - Scottie's Nightmare

1:28

Vertigo: Official Clip - The Bell Tower

2:22

Vertigo: Official Clip - Uncanny Resemblance

1:56

Vertigo: Official Clip - Wandering Together

2:18

Vertigo: Official Clip - Saving Madeleine

2:12

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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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