Dirty Harry

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2:52

Dirty Harry

R

1971

1h 43m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

53 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) attempts to track down a psychopathic rooftop killer before a kidnapped girl dies. When he is found Harry abuses the murderer's civil rights putting him back on the streets. Once he is released he hijacks a school bus and Harry must go after him again. The only way to stop this vicious killer is in cold blood.

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Critics Consensus

As tough and taciturn as its no-nonsense hero, Dirty Harry delivers a deceptively layered message without sacrificing an ounce of its solid action impact.

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Edward Porter

The Times (UK)

Aug 22, 2022

Its star’s growling charisma demands to be enjoyed.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

May 31, 2022

Siegel shouldn't have had to shout so much to make himself heard, nor should Eastwood, otherwise excellent, be quite so determined to maintain a star's steely dignity. But a lot still manages to get through about violence and the loner's path.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

May 31, 2022

Dirty Harry is a film meant to wring the already well wrung and mangled conscience of the liberal. Which it succeeds in doing with engrossing efficiency.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

May 19, 2024

5/5

…Dirty Harry was, and still is a powerful movie as a one-off…amidst the 70’s lens flare and urban machine-gun action, Harry is doing his best in a world gone mad, and that’s a tune that almost anyone can whistle, regardless of their politics...

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Aug 19, 2023

In real life he would be up on charges, and justifiably so. In the movies he’s just the kind of cowboy these mean streets call for.

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Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

May 31, 2022

Excellent thriller of the tough cop variety.

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William

Oct 30, 2021

Outstanding Clint Eastwood movie. Jump started his movie career in America!

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Thomas V

@TomVee Oct 3, 2026

Dirty Harry introduces us to a truly iconic neo-noir antihero in Harry Callahan, played with masterful stoicism by Clint Eastwood. Bruce Surtees’ cinematography adds gritty, low-key lighting, but daytime scenes feel like an old Quinn Martin TV show. To me, seeing it again in 2026, the script is taut but hampered by a dated, one-dimensional moral viewpoint that tosses due process right out the window, and while that didn't bother audiences in 1971, it doesn't play well in the modern era. Lastly, while Eastwood is perfect for the role, Andrew Robinson's is too over-the-top and hammy, diluting his menace with cartoonish emoting.

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Claudio C

@Claudio666 Aug 31, 2026

Dirty Harry (1971) Five or Six Shots? (12,652 – 28 Dec 1999 / 06 Aug 2011 / 30 Aug 2026 – Claudio Carvalho) "Dirty Harry" is a 1971 film by Don Siegel that the viewer does not get tired to see. It is great to see that this film has not aged after fifty-five years. "Dirty Harry" brings real justice and breaks the bureaucratic rules. A great part of honest citizen feels powerless with the unfair justice system in Western countries that usually does not punish those who deserve, and characters like Dirty Harry are worshiped due to their attitude. "Dirty Harry" is the first out of five films of this character played by Clint Eastwood. My vote is nine. Title (Brazil): "Perseguidor Implacável" ("Implacable Persecutor")

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MG_Claymore C

@Claymore Aug 9, 2026

Its a classic and a must see.

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Farah R.

@Farah Jun 24, 2026

I see why Dirty Harry is regarded as a classic. It’s a gripping action-thriller and one of Clint Eastwood’s most iconic roles. Featuring stylish, atmospheric cinematography and a fantastic jazz soundtrack, the film beautifully captures 1970s San Francisco. The movie doesn't shy away from depicting the criminal justice system and gritty violence with brutal realism. With a thrilling pace and unforgettable quotes, Dirty Harry has certainly earned its praise.

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Jason H

@RT50328122 May 7, 2026

The first - and easily best - of the Dirty Harry series.

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Don Siegel

Director

Clint Eastwood

Harry Callahan

Harry Guardino

Bressler

Reni Santoni

Chico

John Larch

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Andrew Robinson

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Synopsis

Cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) attempts to track down a psychopathic rooftop killer before a kidnapped girl dies. When he is found Harry abuses the murderer's civil rights putting him back on the streets. Once he is released he hijacks a school bus and Harry must go after him again. The only way to stop this vicious killer is in cold blood.

Director: Don Siegel
Producer: Don Siegel
Screenwriter: Harry Julian Fink, Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink, Rita M. Fink, Dean Riesner
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Malpaso Company, Warner Brothers
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 1, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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