Wait Until Dark

Released Oct 26, 1967

1h 48m

Mystery & Thriller

List

96%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

91%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

After a flight back home, Sam Hendrix (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) returns with a doll he innocently acquired along the way. As it turns out, the doll is actually stuffed with heroin, and a group of criminals led by the ruthless Roat (Alan Arkin) has followed Hendrix back to his place to retrieve it. When Hendrix leaves for business, the crooks make their move -- and find his blind wife, Susy (Audrey Hepburn), alone in the apartment. Soon, a life-threatening game begins between Susy and the thugs.

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Critics Consensus

Nail-bitingly tense and brilliantly acted, Wait Until Dark is a compact thriller that makes the most of its fiendishly clever premise.

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Pamela S

Excellent nail-biting suspense. I saw this as a kid when it first came out, and I still watch it each time it pops up on TCM. The cast is a great mix of seasoned actors; Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Audrey Hepburn, (she plays the main character in the movie, and outperforms everyone), Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, more. No gore, just great suspense. Yes, I know how it's going to end each time I watch it, but I still look forward to it each time! I'm also an Aubrey Hepburn fan and love most of her movies, with this one showing her great acting talent.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

Alec B

Hepburn makes this thing work. Arkin is a compelling villain to be sure but without her incomparable screen presence the audience would not be invested.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Thomas R

Felt like a Made for Tv movie. Alan Arkin was not believable as a villain. His acting didn't live up to his Catch -22 or "The In-Laws" performances.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

Chase C

It was ok. Pretty slow and dumb character choices

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

Joel H

Wait Until Dark is a classic thriller. The cast is one of the main reasons this movie works so well. No one watching this film wants any harm to come to the beloved Audrey Hepburn and, on top of that, her character is blind, so she becomes even more vulnerable. And Alan Arkin plays the part of a cold and ruthless killer so well, you squirm whenever he's on the screen. Suspense is a constant presence as the story slowly unfolds, and the protagonists & antagonists figure things out and try to outsmart each other. This is one of the best Hitchcockian films that Alfred Hitchcock had nothing to do with.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

Hannah R

This movie has been one of my favorites for a while. I recently rewatched it and didn't enjoy it as much as usual. It has a slow build-up and a predictable plot, however, it is a classic that I will always enjoy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/24/23

Full Review

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Terence Young

Director

Audrey Hepburn

Susy Hendrix

Alan Arkin

Roat

Richard Crenna

Mike Talman

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Sam Hendrix

Jack Weston

Carlino

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This 1967 thriller draws its effectiveness less from the intelligence of the direction (by Terence Young) than from the unbridled sadism of the concept.

Jun 18, 2019

Full Review

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

Wait Until Dark, Frederick Knott's gimmicky stage play about a blind woman terrorized by crooks, was brought to the screen in 1967 and was accompanied by an even more outlandish gimmick.

Aug 11, 2003

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The action is kept fluid and the suspense tight.

Rated: 3.5/4

Dec 30, 2022

Full Review

James Clayton

Birmingham Post

It starts slowly but gathers pace with a compelling momentum that builds to a climax of great tension. Fine entertainment, but if you have a nervous disposition, keep away.

Mar 4, 2022

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fairly timeless thriller that still ranks as one of the very best examples of the genre...

Rated: 4/4

Oct 20, 2020

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

While the conclusion is shocking (fulfilling the title as well as Susy's attempts to level the playing field), it's Arkin's performance that really leaves an impression.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 27, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

After a flight back home, Sam Hendrix (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) returns with a doll he innocently acquired along the way. As it turns out, the doll is actually stuffed with heroin, and a group of criminals led by the ruthless Roat (Alan Arkin) has followed Hendrix back to his place to retrieve it. When Hendrix leaves for business, the crooks make their move -- and find his blind wife, Susy (Audrey Hepburn), alone in the apartment. Soon, a life-threatening game begins between Susy and the thugs.

Director: Terence Young
Screenwriter: Frederick Knott, Robert Howard-Carrington, Jane Howard-Carrington
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 26, 1967, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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