The Day of the Jackal

Name: The Day of the Jackal
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 30, 1973
Duration: 143 min
Rating: 80
Cast: Edward Fox

1973

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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The Day Of The Jackal

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 30, 1973 | PG

Starring: Edward Fox

Summary: A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France.

Director: Fred Zinnemann

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: PG

Runtime: 143 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Fred Zinnemann’s The Day of the Jackal is one hell of an exciting movie. I wasn’t prepared for how good it really is: it’s not just a suspense classic, but a beautifully executed example of filmmaking. It’s put together like a fine watch. The screenplay meticulously assembles an incredible array of material, and then Zinnemann choreographs it so that the story--complicated as it is--unfolds in almost documentary starkness. Read full review

100

Don Drucker

Terrific escapist entertainment...It's a polished and exciting thriller, mercifully unburdened with heavy political/philosophical digressions. Read full review

100

Staff (Not Credited)

Fox is superb as the coldly impassionate killer, and Lonsdale is properly plodding yet magnificently analytical as the detective tracking him down. A taut, suspenseful, and fascinating political thriller. Read full review

Ian Nathan

There is true beauty in the realism at the heart of what could come across a fanciful movie plot, with its documentarian coolness of execution, the crisp rhythms of Zinnemann’s direction, we feels we are staring through a window into the shadowy recesses of history. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The major asset of the film is that it succeeds in maintaining interest and suspense despite obvious viewer foreknowledge of the outcome. Read full review

Time Out London Staff (Not Credited)

Low on documentary conviction and political context, but an intriguing exercise in concealing the obvious. Read full review

Vincent Canby

The details are minutely observed and, to me, just a bit boring. Read full review

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User Reviews

alejandro970

Jun 23, 2019

Based on book written by Frederick Forsyth, is an effective thriller about the desperate manhunt for stop the efforts of a nameless chameleon hitman, which target is the current (60s) President of France. The plot takes all times required but the dose of suspense is adequate till last minute.

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