Expert chase film, breathless and modern, that sent McQueen to the top of the box office heap.
Bullitt (1968)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:31
Rotten:1
Average Rating:7.8/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 14 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In one of his most memorable roles, Steve McQueen stars as Detective Frank Bullitt, a hard-driving, tough-as-nails San Francisco cop. Bullitt has just received what sounds like a routine... In one of his most memorable roles, Steve McQueen stars as Detective Frank Bullitt, a hard-driving, tough-as-nails San Francisco cop. Bullitt has just received what sounds like a routine assignment: keep a star witness out of sight and out of danger for 48 hours, then deliver him to the courtroom on Monday morning. But before the night is out, the witness will lie dying of shotgun wounds, and Bullitt, a no-glitter, all-guts cop, won't rest until he nabs the gunmen and the elusive underworld kingpin who hired them. From opening shot to closing shootout, Peter Yates's edge-of-the seat thriller is packed with authentic touches, from on-location San Francisco filming and believably crisp dialogue to uncompromisingly detailed police, hospital, and morgue procedures. The most memorable scene is BULLITT's celebrated car chase. McQueen, an expert automobile and motorcycle racer, does his own stunt driving as he propels his high-performance Mustang GT around and over San Francisco's fabled hills at speeds up to 115 miles an hour. The film is based on Robert L. Pike's book, MUTE WITNESS. [More]
Starring: Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Don Gordon
Starring: Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Don Gordon, Robert Duvall, Norman Fell, Simon Oakland
Director: Peter Yates
Director: Peter Yates
Producer: Philip D'Antoni
Composer: Lalo Schifrin
Get This Movie
Reviews for Bullitt
The action sequences are brilliant, done without trickery in real locations (including a great car chase which spawned a thousand imitations) to lend an extraordinary sense of immediacy to the shenanigans and gunfights.
Good scripting and excellent direction by Peter Yates maintain deliberately low-key but mounting suspense.
Surprisingly austere and very much of its time, Bullitt is a lot less fun and a lot more impressive than you might expect.
For all of the talk about its legendary car chase through the streets of San Francisco -- and it is justified -- Bullitt idles far tool long in the slow lane when it should be blowing by the minivans and the carpoolers.
Stlick, stylish and ineffably cool, this was perhaps McQueen's defining role. Also mention goes to the uncreditied star of the film; San Francisco.
It will always be remembered by film buffs as the forerunner of the modern cop thriller.
Even though the story almost makes no sense and the Oscar-winning editing has several illogical cuts, Bullitt is an exquisitely satisfying motion picture, particularly if there is still an adolescent boy lodged somewhere in your psyche.
Apart from the classic chase scene, there many other pleasures to be had in this stylish policier, one that changed considerably the entire vocabulary of Hollywood's action-thrillers.
Apart from the car chase, the gritty, realistic take on police work makes this thriller classic.
If there is any one of his many movie roles that best exemplifies the McQueen persona, it would have to be this one.
Latest News for Bullitt
August 22, 2007:
Steve McQueen Returning to the Big Screen (Sort Of)
He was nicknamed "The King of Cool" during his Hollywood career, and even more than 25 years after his death, Steve McQueen still has enough pull to rate a biopic. Variety is... More...
July 06, 2007:
Brad Pitt to Remake "Bullitt"?
If he does, he better hire a good action director. The original "Bullitt" has one of the best car chases ever. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 77% 77% | The Hangover |
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 24% 24% | G-Force |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 90% 90% | District 9 |
| 86% 86% | 500 Days of Summer |
| 63% 63% | Extract |
| 06% 06% | All About Steve |
| 78% 78% | It Might Get Loud |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



