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The Day of the Jackal
The Day of the Jackal
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The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal

1973
Suspense/Thriller
2h 23m
A professional assassin codenamed "Jackal" plots to kill Charles de Gaulle, the President of France. (imdb)

Directed by:

Fred Zinnemann

Screenwriter:

Kenneth Ross, Frederick Forsyth

Starring:

Jean Martin, Michel Auclair, Derek Jacobi, Delphine Seyrig, Edward Fox, Michael Lonsdale, Cyril Cusack, Terence Alexander, Alan Badel, Tony Britton, Denis Carey, Raymond Gérôme

Franchise:

The Day of the Jackal

Genre:

Suspense/Thriller

Countries:

France, UK

Languages:

English, French, Italian
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The Day of the Jackal

1973
Suspense/Thriller
2h 23m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 69.09% from 1068 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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derbarneyDer_Barney
Rated 03 Feb 2009
85
79th
They don't make 'em like this any more. This movie is probably too slow for today's audience, but has some beautifully staged shots and lots of twists and little sequences that keep giving it momentum right up to the quick and violent climax. It has that typical Forsyth feel, with its taut plot, elaborate plans, pan-European travel etc., but spares us the complexity of a Forsyth novel. A very enjoyable thriller if you can spare the time and don't mind the fact that its setting is quite outdated.
Rated 03 Feb 2009
jebJeb
Rated 13 Oct 2008
86
73rd
This is one of the most under-appreciated gems in modern cinema. A cool, slick and intelligent thriller with my favorite ending to a film ever.
Rated 13 Oct 2008
redactedredacted
Rated 21 Sep 2015
90
92nd
Multi-national manhunt set within 1970's France. We get to see inside the workings of the French ministry, the English & French police processes, the OAS & how to plot an assassination, no bells and whistles, no soundtrack for that matter, just to the point application and demonstration. Smart, rigid & tense.
Rated 21 Sep 2015
terrymacterrymac
Rated 27 Nov 2017
84
92nd
A meticulously-made thriller about people doing things meticulously. Great casting, especially Fox. Nicely suspenseful, and even though I wasn't a huge fan of the ending, as a whole this is superior film-making. Recommended.
Rated 27 Nov 2017
kasperlKasperL
Rated 03 Aug 2010
80
86th
The pacing is one long slow-burn but I was hooked throughout by both the detail of the procedural of the agencies trying to catch Fox's cool character as well as his own meticulousness. Very good.
Rated 03 Aug 2010
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 13 Dec 2009
90
94th
Excellently executed thriller that builds up the tension slowly but surely. It contains strong performances and an attention to detail, both visual and plot wise, that keep you riveted all the way through.
Rated 13 Dec 2009
mspraguemsprague
Rated 03 Jul 2021
85
91st
Solid film from start to finish. Excellent.
Rated 03 Jul 2021
macswellMacSwell
Rated 10 Apr 2015
75
72nd
Fox is aloof and stylish as hell as the eponymous Jackal, and completely makes the movie his own with a memorable performance. The slow-burning cat-and-mouse pursuit manages to remain tense throughout thanks to some smart twists and turns, and it's shot splendidly in a number of great European locations. The ubiquitous English accents can make it a little difficult to follow which minor characters are which, but this doesn't drastically diminish the entertainment.
Rated 10 Apr 2015
spleenspleen
Rated 15 Dec 2013
80
69th
Not enough modern thrillers will take a break, fifteen minutes prior to the big ending, to allow our protagonist to paint his car.
Rated 15 Dec 2013
mwgerbmwgerb
Rated 31 Jul 2013
67
81st
Excellent thriller that builds all the way to the ending; I love movies like this, that rely mostly on suspense and a powerful payoff at the finale. And this certainly had a strong ending, even if it could have been stronger (a bit of an anti-climax, and him flying comically against the wall didn't help). I'll take this sort of 70s filmmaking any day.
Rated 31 Jul 2013
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 22 Jun 2013
75
84th
Workmanlike but good filmmaking from Zinnemann. The novel/script does brilliantly to avoid most expected trappings of the political thriller genre. It's never extravagant or shocking. The violence is mild and there are no death-defying stunts or incredible coincidences, no tricks played on the audience, but the result is rivetingly believable.
Rated 22 Jun 2013
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 09 Sep 2012
8
82nd
Felt like it could've been better but it was still a decently paced thriller that has a unique cat and mouse dynamic going for it. I was never bored yet Zinnemann isn't that great so you wonder what someone more competent would do. The acting isn't bad and never takes you out of the film either. I had mixed feelings on the ending, on one hand it was anti climatic, on the other it was a great ending that worked well in the context of the film
Rated 09 Sep 2012
rufamRufam
Rated 15 Dec 2011
65
42nd
A skillfully made and, despite its deliberate pace, generally compelling thriller that effectively builds the momentum until the somewhat conventional conclusion.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
mchaleMcHale
Rated 28 Dec 2010
60
16th
Ran well, but ended poorly.
Rated 28 Dec 2010
frostyFrosty
Rated 08 Nov 2009
85
93rd
Veeeery cool. The slow pace suits the tension but length is a pet peeve of mine and I feel this film is slightly worse for being so long - hard to know what to cut though. Hows this or a versus movie - Jef Costello vs The Jackal? I doubt the human mind could survive exposure to such levels of cool...
Rated 08 Nov 2009
paulofilmopaulofilmo
Rated 27 May 2009
74
90th
I've changed my mind. This is fabulous.
Rated 27 May 2009
jacoiiiJacoIII
Rated 14 May 2009
45
85th
Deliciously slow and deliberate pacing. I'm not sure how this film is so overlooked in modern cinema. Does almost everything right.
Rated 14 May 2009
thesleepwalkthesleepwalk
Rated 29 Dec 2008
82
75th
M: 75/100 S 89/100 Mike: Slowly built cat-and-mouse assassination movie. Slow with some unnecessary wandering, but good tension and great ending. Sophia: I really enjoyed this movie's slow building tension (which just doesn't exist anymore), and it has one of the top five endings of all time.
Rated 29 Dec 2008
joojooJooJoo
Rated 18 Oct 2008
6
95th
It can seem to unfold slowly, but it's the scope of the narrative and attention to detail that makes this work so well. A remarkably well done and modern suspense film from an old master of 'em.
Rated 18 Oct 2008
stainStain
Rated 14 Apr 2007
80
68th
A cool intellectual thriller that's not about large guns or anything like that but about people. That is, the depth and humanity of these characters, good and bad, stay with you long after the film ends
Rated 14 Apr 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 24 Feb 2007
80
95th
Excellent film.
Rated 24 Feb 2007
storm57storm57
Rated 08 Sep 2024
85
23rd
Intricate plot which is kind of fascinating but none of the characters are engaging. Ultimately, soulless and mechanical.
Rated 08 Sep 2024
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 18 Feb 2024
60
69th
Very realistic cat-and-mouse spy thriller, before the "shaky cam kung fu fights" became popular. Reminded me of "Three Days of the Condor", which I assume was made to capitalize on "Jackal"s success.
Rated 18 Feb 2024
jalanbjalanb
Rated 21 May 2023
97
98th
Read book, wait decade, watch movie, wait decade, read book, wait decade, watch youtube essay on cinematographers, wait decade, watch movie. [Wasn't expecting Cyril Cusack] "Beautiful piece of work this ", I know", "It's really excellent", "Yes". [Wasn't expecting boobies] "Do not fail, just go and find this Jackal will you?" "Is this some sort of bloody joke?"". Watermelon! Bang! Boobies? "Get me The Foreign Office, Luv, Extension 905", Tres Francais. Tres de Gaulle, tres en fin.
Rated 21 May 2023
honestthiefHonest_Thief
Rated 20 Jul 2022
4
63rd
this was like seeing proto-Michael Mann, only with more titties
Rated 20 Jul 2022
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 29 Oct 2021
80
79th
Part travelogue, part procedural (from both the assassin and the police sides), this thriller isn't nail-biting, but you can feel the tension building throughout. I loved the Macgyver-esque capabilities of the killer, and the ponderous bureaucracy that somehow manages to find some answers.
Rated 29 Oct 2021
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 12 Oct 2021
6
35th
Too much time is wasted on tedious dialogue, mostly from the incompetent french forces sitting despondently in a poorly lit meeting room and sucking at their job in trying to catch the Jackal. Then again, its not like there were surveillance camera's or the internet back in the day, so I'll forgive it slightly. But it just takes forever for anything particularly exciting to happen that you wish they'd had gone for a more "less talk, more action" approach. Had high expectations for this but alas.
Rated 12 Oct 2021
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 23 Apr 2021
88
93rd
Nearly as good as the book, which is high praise. Bit weird how many French people are British, otherwise a thumping good watch.
Rated 23 Apr 2021
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 28 Dec 2020
4
74th
A finely tuned, ticking time bomb of a film.
Rated 28 Dec 2020
picklemanPickle_Man
Rated 30 Jan 2020
80
55th
Not the most excitingly plotted thriller I've seen - slow and methodical - but good lord is it magnificently photographed.
Rated 30 Jan 2020
philamentalphilamental
Rated 01 May 2018
70
58th
Although quite dated by today's standards, and it was quite jarring to see so many characters of different nationalities played by actors with thick English accents, Day of the Jackal otherwise succeeds as political thriller which slowly drags you in until you're fully invested in the outcome. Also worth acknowledging the cinematography around the various European locations which really help the immersion and geography of the chase.
Rated 01 May 2018
kafkalamakkafkalamak
Rated 11 Aug 2017
80
71st
4000.
Rated 11 Aug 2017
moncliviemonclivie
Rated 14 Jun 2017
70
43rd
-15 for the ending and all the moments of contrived genius and luck of secret service.
Rated 14 Jun 2017
comepeliculacomepelicula
Rated 23 May 2016
50
37th
I liked the remake better, sue me. This is a decent movie that very slowly builds the tension, too slowly for my taste. I missed clever plot twists which are common in this kind of movies, also I found the edition odd and the antagonist (the government) weak. On the good side the final act is very thrilling, has some nice performances and subtle subplots which are enjoyable.
Rated 23 May 2016
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 16 Jul 2015
94
95th
Superb, tense film, in documentary style, about an assassination plot. Keep your eyes open for the allusion to the events of November 1963 in Dallas.
Rated 16 Jul 2015
eastondEastonD
Rated 18 Dec 2013
87
79th
Nice efficient lean filmmaking,
Rated 18 Dec 2013
thehynesthehynes
Rated 13 Nov 2013
80
96th
I'm saving up enough money to get this re-made properly.This time though De Gaulle will die.Emilia Fox will blow his brains out.If Tarantino can machine gun Adolf Hitler in the face I can have De Gaulle's head explode like a watermelon.
Rated 13 Nov 2013
dergolgoDerGolgo
Rated 14 Jul 2013
91
92nd
Pretty damn perfect. The man who is a deadly missile, on track to it's target, and those who are desperate to stop him.
Rated 14 Jul 2013
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 06 May 2013
75
62nd
A good film that loses some points because of it's slow pace. I didn't see it as completely necessary and it could have been better had the film been more thrilling.
Rated 06 May 2013
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 27 Jan 2013
66
24th
This one did not keep my attention, it was well made, but there was too much dead script. It calls itself a thriller, but I was not thrilled.
Rated 27 Jan 2013
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 13 Mar 2012
95
91st
Spellbinding thriller which slowly, gradually notches up the tension to a fever-pitch final third. Zinneman's direction is extraordinary, and Fox is chilling in the lead (echoes of Malkovich in IN THE LINE OF FIRE!) Well chosen supporting cast uniformly excellent (especially young Timothy West and Derek Jacobi).
Rated 13 Mar 2012
stradivariusStradivarius
Rated 27 Dec 2011
83
79th
The film's back and forth style takes away a little of the tension, but its still a great cat-and-mouse game that never strays too far from being a solidly believable scenario. A few scenes feel too rushed, but I give them credit for trying to get as much of the great source material as possible in there.
Rated 27 Dec 2011
xacviantxacviant
Rated 25 Nov 2011
84
66th
A slick what-if thriller in which rogue French Army officers hire a mysterious hitman, "the Jackal", to assassinate de Gaulle. The Jackal's preparations, and the efforts of the authorities to stop him, are shown in careful detail. As such, it's a little slow at times, but engrossing; Edward Fox is fine as the Jackal, as are Michael Lonsdale as the chief investigator, and Cyril Cusack as a mild-mannered gunsmith. Intelligent script by Kenneth Ross; Zinneman's direction is fine, if anonymous.
Rated 25 Nov 2011
tonydaltonydal
Rated 16 Jul 2011
75
57th
A bit on the stately side (OK, kinda slow) with a rather pointless erotic interlude in the middle, but generally intriguing. Unfortunately contains some unexplained/unmotivated actions (why did the Jackal continue with the plot after the beans were spilled?--how did the detective know it was the Jackal in the finale?). A nice little twist at the very end. Btw why was George Plimpton trying to assassinate General deGaulle anyway? (I think he was taking that whole role-playing thing too seriously)
Rated 16 Jul 2011
mrcarmadyMrCarmady
Rated 01 Jun 2011
88
70th
Extremely underrated. This is so good that even though it is obvious that De Gaulle won't be killed (though perhaps post-Basterds audiences might not be so sure), the ending is still one of the most suspenseful I've ever come across.
Rated 01 Jun 2011
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 03 Apr 2011
65
29th
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I preferred The Jackal to this. As others have noted, this one was definitely on a slow burn but the tension, for me, was never really that high and the climax was very short (that's what she said). The villain is decent, but unlike The Jackal, there aren't any protagonists to cling onto really.
Rated 03 Apr 2011
mini_tMini-T
Rated 06 Oct 2010
89
86th
I really like the style of those old and classic movies. Just plain old suspense, without any special effects.
Rated 06 Oct 2010
cobber55Cobber55
Rated 16 Jul 2010
75
69th
Good story and still very watchable today. Better than the remake.
Rated 16 Jul 2010
frederFreder
Rated 08 Jul 2009
50
36th
Sturdy and steady thriller with a couple of good moments and Edward Fox doing a fine job in a role that should have gone to Michael Caine.
Rated 08 Jul 2009
fantacbobFantacBob
Rated 11 Jun 2009
60
39th
A British assassin is employed to kill Charles de Gaulle. Good in it's day but rather dated now.
Rated 11 Jun 2009
rthornhillrthornhill
Rated 15 Apr 2009
92
81st
a really good cat and mouse assassination flick with fox as a very believable hitman.....
Rated 15 Apr 2009
crocgatorCrocGator
Rated 03 Mar 2009
90
91st
You don't need CGI saturation, hip-hop and product placement for a tense thriller. Essential viewing.
Rated 03 Mar 2009
teeceeteecee
Rated 18 Oct 2008
41
58th
Klassisk opbygning - passende til en søndag eftermiddag med regnvejr
Rated 18 Oct 2008
dukeDuke
Rated 19 Aug 2008
85
75th
Magnifique.
Rated 19 Aug 2008
q31Q31
Rated 17 Mar 2008
90
49th
Often tense, occassionally a bit slow-moving, but quite good overall.
Rated 17 Mar 2008
bellamyrbellamyr
Rated 13 Jan 2008
80
60th
Thrilling and a real twist a minute who'll do it
Rated 13 Jan 2008
duaneneitzelDuaneNeitzel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
67th
love the ending
Rated 14 Aug 2007

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