Watch trailer for Traffic

Traffic

2000, Crime/Drama, 2h 27m

223 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

Soderbergh successfully pulls off the highly ambitious Traffic, a movie with three different stories and a very large cast. The issues of ethics are gray rather than black-and-white, with no clear-cut good guys. Terrific acting all around. Read critic reviews

Road to Perdition poster image

Road to Perdition

American History X poster image

American History X

House of Flying Daggers poster image

House of Flying Daggers

Layer Cake poster image

Goodfellas poster image

Rent/buy

Subscription

Subscription

Watch Traffic with a subscription on Peacock, Amazon Prime Video, rent on Vudu, or buy on Vudu.

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Traffic videos

Traffic: Official Clip - A Drug Bust Shootout

Traffic: Official Clip - A Drug Bust Shootout

CLIP 2:56

Traffic: Official Clip - Your Whole Life Is Pointless

Traffic: Official Clip - Your Whole Life Is Pointless

CLIP 2:53

Traffic: Official Clip - Hi, Daddy

Traffic: Official Clip - Hi, Daddy

CLIP 1:48

Traffic: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt

Traffic: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt

CLIP 2:58

Traffic: Official Clip - Drug Economics

Traffic: Official Clip - Drug Economics

CLIP 1:53

Traffic: Official Clip - A Desert Killing

Traffic: Official Clip - A Desert Killing

CLIP 2:30

Traffic: Official Clip - Conspiring to Conspire

Traffic: Official Clip - Conspiring to Conspire

CLIP 2:13

Traffic: Official Clip - Planting a Bug

Traffic: Official Clip - Planting a Bug

CLIP 2:59

Traffic: Official Clip - General Salazar Pulls Rank

Traffic: Official Clip - General Salazar Pulls Rank

CLIP 2:42

Traffic: Official Clip - Addicts Don't Vote

Traffic: Official Clip - Addicts Don't Vote

CLIP 1:30

View All Videos

Traffic Photos

"Traffic photo 1"

"Traffic photo 2"

"Traffic photo 3"

"Traffic photo 4"

"Traffic photo 5"

"Traffic photo 6"

"Traffic photo 7"

"Traffic photo 8"

"Traffic photo 9"

"Traffic photo 10"

"Traffic photo 11"

"Traffic photo 12"

"Traffic photo 13"

"Traffic photo 14"

"Traffic photo 15"

"Traffic photo 16"

See all photos

Movie Info

A contemporary thriller set in the world of drug trafficking. Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as seen through a series of interrelated stories, some of which are highly personal and some of which are filled with intrigue and danger.

Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Pervasive Drug Content|Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Laura Bickford, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick
Writer: Simon Moore, Stephen Gaghan
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2001 wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $124.1M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Distributor: Criterion Collection, USA Films
Production Co: Compulsion Inc., Bedford Falls Productions, USA Films, Initial Entertainment Group
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas

Robert Wakefield

Don Cheadle

Montel Gordon

Benicio del Toro

Benicio del Toro

Javier Rodriguez

Luis Guzmán

Ray Castro

Dennis Quaid

Arnie Metzger

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Helena Ayala

News & Interviews for Traffic

Benicio Del Toro’s 10 Best Movies

Benicio Del Toro’s 10 Best Movies

New Certified Fresh Movies and TV to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

New Certified Fresh Movies and TV to Stream on Netflix and Amazon Prime This Week

Video Exclusive: Benicio del Toro talks <em>Che</em> and <em>Wolf Man</em>

Video Exclusive: Benicio del Toro talks Che and Wolf Man

View All

Critic Reviews for Traffic

All Critics (223) | Top Critics (66) | Fresh (208) | Rotten (15)

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Stephen Holden New York Times

Full Review… Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic

Full Review… Todd McCarthy Variety

Full Review… Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times

Full Review… David Ansen Newsweek

Full Review… Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Full Review… Eleanor O'Sullivan Asbury Park Press (NJ)

Full Review… Leah Rozen People Magazine

Full Review… Joanna Connors Cleveland Plain Dealer

Full Review… Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Full Review… Steve Persall Tampa Bay Times

View All Critic Reviews (223)

Audience Reviews for Traffic

Aug 28, 2016

The sprawling nature of Gaghan's screenplay means that some characters are inevitably going to get lost in the shuffle but Soderbergh does his damnedest to make it work and for certain stretches the film comes together in remarkable ways (i.e the changing color plates, anytime Del Toro is onscreen).

Super Reviewer
Aug 25, 2016

Traffic was directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars too many people to list here. There are three distinct storylines, intersecting at times and all dealing with the war on drugs. Soderbergh has, in my opinion, put out a LOT of solid material, and Traffic stands out as one of his finest movies and one where his creative touch is used perfectly. The three storylines are easily kept separate thanks to the different type of film used in the cameras (each storyline is either gritty, blue-hued, or normal), making its 2+ hour run time easy to digest. The cinematography is excellent as well - Soderbergh would commonly hold the camera, getting up close and personal to his actors. Speaking of the actors, everybody in this ensemble cast is terrific. From Michael Douglas to Benicio del Toro to Catherine Zeta-Jones, the whole gang puts on a show. While the storylines are dark and few characters are actually good people, the movie keeps your attention and interest thanks to excellent editing. If you enjoy crime dramas or Steven Soderbergh, you have to see this 2000 hit. Traffic is a very entertaining and enjoyable(?) watch. Final grade: A -Ben

Super Reviewer
Apr 29, 2016

Excellent acting and a well-crafted script make Traffic a worthwhile watch, even if in retrospect the film's early-2000s-feel and film editing makes it feel dated.

Super Reviewer
Feb 19, 2016

Traffic did fairly well on the themes of drug abuse, and all the blurred lines separating good from bad, corrupt from principled, and love for family from call of duty when the former goes against the latter. I just didn't find it that compelling.

Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews