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Trailer

Chinatown

1974Movie2 h 10 minR

CrimeMystery
90
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic928.7Rotten Tomatoes98%93%

A gripping, nerve-racking crime movie about crime and mystery, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

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Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

You get tough. You get tender. You get close to each other. Maybe you even get close to the truth.

Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.

Feels like

  • Neo-Noir Masterpiece
  • Complex Mystery Plot
  • Cynical Tone
  • Iconic Dialogue
  • Political Corruption
  • Tragic Ending
  • Period Atmosphere
  • Psychological Thriller
  • Flawed Protagonist
  • Dark Secrets

Cast

24 of 34

Crew

Directed by
Roman Polanski
Written by
Roman Polanski, Robert Towne
Produced by
Robert Evans
Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Everyone

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

Facts

June 20, 1974 · 2 h 10 min · R

Released
June 20, 1974
Runtime
2 h 10 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Original language
English
Also spoken
Spanish, cn
Made in
United States
Budget
$6 million
Box office
$30 million
Available in
83 countries

Tropes

Your Mom, He Knows Too Much, Luke, I Am Your Father +9

  • Your Mom
  • He Knows Too Much
  • Luke, I Am Your Father
  • Poor Communication Kills
  • Parental Incest
  • Cut Himself Shaving
  • The Bad Guy Wins
  • Dead Man Honking
  • Binocular Shot
  • Wham Line
  • Genre Deconstruction
  • Stopped Clock

12 of 106 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Chinatown?"

Questions about Chinatown

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Chinatown?

MGM+KanopyHoopla

In the United States, Chinatown streams on MGM+, and it is free with ads on Kanopy and Hoopla. You can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV Free, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 34 other countries.

Is Chinatown worth watching?

90
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 90 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 98%, and Metacritic 92).

Is there a sequel to Chinatown?

  1. Chinatown (1974)
  2. The Two Jakes (1990)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by The Two Jakes (1990).

Will I feel good after watching Chinatown?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is Chinatown good for date night?

Partner WatchAdultsFriends NightPublic Viewing SafeSolo Watch

It suits a quiet night in as a couple: romance is 6 of 10, but the viewing guide doesn't list it for date night.

Was Chinatown a box office hit?

Budget$6 million
Box office$30 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $6 million to make and earned $30 million worldwide, 5.0 times its budget.

What tropes does Chinatown use?

Your MomHe Knows Too MuchLuke, I Am Your FatherPoor Communication KillsParental IncestCut Himself ShavingThe Bad Guy WinsDead Man HonkingBinocular ShotWham LineGenre DeconstructionStopped Clockand 94 more

TV Tropes lists 106 tropes for it, including Your Mom, He Knows Too Much, and Luke, I Am Your Father.