GoodWatchSign up

The Public Enemy

1931·Movie
1h 24min·NR
IMDb7.5Metacritic806.9Rotten Tomatoes100%85%

Where to watch

YouTube TV

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Public Enemy fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense and fast-paced

Fast from start to finish.

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace7
  • Violence7

Heart

Nostalgic

Much of it is about family.

  • Nostalgia7
  • Family Dynamics7
  • Pathos6

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Dark Humor2
  • Satire & Parody1

World

Crime, history, and everyday modern life

  • Novelty8
  • World Immersion7
  • Dialogue Centrality7

Craft

Standout direction and performances

  • Direction8
  • Acting8
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Sound Centrality6

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting mood

Find more like it

Gritty movies

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

All his life he took what he wanted...Why not women?

Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.
Classic Gangster FilmProhibition EraRise and Fall NarrativeBrutal Crime DramaIconic PerformanceSocial CommentaryFamily BetrayalUrban GrittyHollywood Golden Age

Crew

Directed by:
William A. Wellman
Written by:
Harvey F. Thew, John Bright, Kubec Glasmon
Produced by:
Darryl F. Zanuck
Composed by:
David Mendoza

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Public Enemy

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Public Enemy legally?

YouTube TV

The Public Enemy is included with a subscription to YouTube TV in the United States. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Public Enemy worth watching?

82
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes. It's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, and Metacritic 80). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Public Enemy rated?

NRViolenceDrug use

It's rated NR in the United States. Content advisories: violence and drug use.

How long is The Public Enemy?

1 h 24 min

The Public Enemy runs 1 h 24 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Public Enemy?

Critics90
Audiences76

Not quite. Critics rate The Public Enemy higher (90) than audiences (76). It may be more rewarding than it is crowd-pleasing.

Was The Public Enemy a box office hit?

Budget$151,000
Box office$557,000

Yes. It cost about $151,000 to make and earned $557,000 worldwide, 3.7 times its budget.

What language is The Public Enemy in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Public Enemy?

67ARATAUAZBEBGBOBRBYBZCACHCLCO+53

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Public Enemy in 67 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Public Enemy use?

Slasher SmileCacophony Cover-UpAmbiguously GayThe Irish MobSickbed SlayingBattle in the RainTragic Hero"Mister Sandman" SequenceVillain ProtagonistMarket-Based TitleRed Oni, Blue OniBookendsand 40 more

TV Tropes lists 52 storytelling tropes for The Public Enemy, including Slasher Smile, Cacophony Cover-Up, Ambiguously Gay.