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Sorcerer

Play trailer Poster for Sorcerer PG 1977 2h 1m Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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84% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In the small South American town of Porvenir, four men on the run from the law are offered $10,000 and legal citizenship if they will transport a shipment of dangerously unstable nitroglycerin to an oil well 200 miles away. Led by Jackie Scanlon, the men set off on a hazardous journey, during which they must contend with dangerously rocky roads, unstable bridges, and attacks from local guerillas. The four fight for their lives as they struggle to complete their dangerous quest.

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Sorcerer

Sorcerer

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Critics Consensus

Sorcerer, which obstinately motors along on its unpredictable speed, features ambitious sequences of insane white-knuckle tension.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed New York Daily News 10/26/2021
I don't know if there's an audience for this kind of grueling, depressing experience, but Sorcerer might bring back the kind of moviegoer who used to cheer Humphrey Bogart. It's tough and unyielding as a pair of brass knuckles. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times 02/28/2021
For moviegoers who are convinced that more is more, "Sorcerer" is a big, fat, satisfyingly shapeless spectacle. For the rest of us it's a walnut of a movie-a good little melodrama surrounded by thick pulp. Go to Full Review Peter Keough Boston Globe 02/28/2021
The director at his most brilliant and original. Go to Full Review Michael J. Casey Boulder Weekly Jul 11
5/5
Bleak as hell but so expertly made it’s hard not to sit in awe. Go to Full Review Rudie Obias Battleship Pretension Jul 9
Overall, Sorcerer is William Friedkin’s masterwork, as a storyteller and filmmaker. Go to Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk Jul 4
4/4
a masterful evocation of human desperation and the most intense and compelling depiction of mankind battling the elements to his own destruction not directed by Werner Herzog Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark B. @Pubsworld Mar 30 Too many instances of laughable writing, have-baked characters we don’t care about and ridiculous situations. The bridge crossing was worth two stars by itself, however. See more Max M. @Househuntermax Feb 28 I love this movie so much. Why they didn’t name it ‘The wages of fear’ I will never know but maybe if they did it would have more of a following. Unfortunately,that and being released on the same weekend as Star Wars, kind of tanked Freidkins career for a while after making the exorcist and the French connection. Who knows how good his fourth movie could’ve been if this one had done better at the box office.? Anyways, this movie is freaking great! Super tense, a pretty straightforward story that still throws in some twists. The fact that it’s shot on location and the actors did a lot of their own driving and some stunts makes it worth watching alone. But the individual set pieces like the bridge crossing and the tree you can see how hard everyone worked to get this movie made. Another must see for 70s movies fans. See more Kenneth T. @ktiranno Feb 21 Tense. Well made and thrilling. Highly underrated. Freidken is at the top of his game. Too bad it opened at the same as a little movie called Star Wars. See more Stephen K @Ethnreehtsn Feb 8 A lot of work went into this film. Hard work. It certainly does a good job showing a showing the squalor of a dirt poor country being exploited by Big Oil. But unfortunately for me, there’s almost no tension in the main plot with no main character with whom I could identify or feel any connection. Maybe it’s the way it was edited. Or maybe it’s just me. See more tm11999 M @tm11999 Feb 6 great film. chief brody gets the job done, then.....you can watch this. See more michael C. @MichaelC2 Jan 24 Sorcerer is a masterpiece. Very suspenseful. The music is very cool as well. Loved it. Too bad it got buried by the juggernaut that was Star Wars that came out about the same time. See more Read all reviews
Sorcerer

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Cast & Crew

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William Friedkin

Director

Roy Scheider

Jackie Scanlon

Bruno Cremer

Victor Manzon

Francisco Rabal

Nilo

Amidou

Kassem

Ramon Bieri

Corlette

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Sorcerer

Sorcerer (1977) Sorcerer (1977) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the small South American town of Porvenir, four men on the run from the law are offered $10,000 and legal citizenship if they will transport a shipment of dangerously unstable nitroglycerin to an oil well 200 miles away. Led by Jackie Scanlon, the men set off on a hazardous journey, during which they must contend with dangerously rocky roads, unstable bridges, and attacks from local guerillas. The four fight for their lives as they struggle to complete their dangerous quest.
Director
William Friedkin
Producer
William Friedkin
Screenwriter
Walon Green
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Film Properties International N.V., Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 24, 1977, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 5, 2014
Runtime
2h 1m
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