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Trailer

North by Northwest

1959Movie2 h 17 minG

Thriller
91
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.2Metacritic988.4Rotten Tomatoes97%94%

A nerve-racking, pulse-pounding thriller movie about mystery and crime, with standout direction and cinematography.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something quiet and calm

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for tears or big ideas.

Movies with

Story

It's a deadly game of "tag" and Cary Grant is "it"!

Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.

Feels like

  • Classic Hitchcock Suspense
  • Elegant Spy Thriller
  • Iconic Set Pieces
  • Witty Dialogue & Banter
  • Cross-Country Chase
  • Mid-Century Glamour
  • Paranoia & Mistaken Identity
  • Masterful Pacing
  • Golden Age Hollywood

Cast

24 of 74

Crew

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock
Written by
Ernest Lehman
Produced by
Alfred Hitchcock
Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 6, 1959 · 2 h 17 min · G

Released
August 6, 1959
Runtime
2 h 17 min
Age rating
G
Content
Violence
Genres
Thriller, Adventure
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$4 million
Box office
$13 million
Available in
91 countries

Tropes

Five-Second Foreshadowing, Shout-Out, Overly Narrow Superlative +9

  • Five-Second Foreshadowing
  • Shout-Out
  • Overly Narrow Superlative
  • Gambit Pileup
  • Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
  • The Stool Pigeon
  • Undying Loyalty
  • Unwitting Pawn
  • What Happened to the Mouse?
  • Big Damn Kiss
  • Action Survivor
  • Have a Gay Old Time

12 of 189 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream North by Northwest?"

Questions about North by Northwest

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream North by Northwest?

YouTube TVPlexTubi TV

In the United States, North by Northwest streams on YouTube TV, and it is free with ads on Plex and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It also streams in 42 other countries.

Is North by Northwest worth watching?

91
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 91 (IMDb 8.2, Rotten Tomatoes 97%, and Metacritic 98). Critics rate it higher (98 out of 100) than audiences (87).

Is North by Northwest okay for kids?

GViolence

Yes: it's rated G in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will North by Northwest make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly sharp wit (8 of 10) and absurd humor (6 of 10).

Is North by Northwest good for date night?

and 5 moreDate NightPartner WatchAdultsFamily Movie NightFriends Night

Yes: romance is 6 of 10, and the viewing guide lists it for date night.

Was North by Northwest a box office hit?

Budget$4 million
Box office$13 million

Yes: it cost about $4 million to make and earned $13 million worldwide, 3.3 times its budget.

What tropes does North by Northwest use?

Five-Second ForeshadowingShout-OutOverly Narrow SuperlativeGambit PileupCome Out, Come Out, Wherever You AreThe Stool PigeonUndying LoyaltyUnwitting PawnWhat Happened to the Mouse?Big Damn KissAction SurvivorHave a Gay Old Timeand 177 more

TV Tropes lists 189 tropes for it, including Five-Second Foreshadowing, Shout-Out, and Overly Narrow Superlative.