Watch trailer for Traffic

Traffic

2000, Crime/Drama, 2h 27m

161 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

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Traffic Videos

Traffic: Official Clip - A Drug Bust Shootout photo 1

Traffic: Official Clip - A Drug Bust Shootout

Traffic: Official Clip - Your Whole Life Is Pointless photo 2

Traffic: Official Clip - Your Whole Life Is Pointless

Traffic: Official Clip - Hi, Daddy photo 3

Traffic: Official Clip - Hi, Daddy

Traffic: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt photo 4

Traffic: Official Clip - Assassination Attempt

Traffic: Official Clip - Drug Economics photo 5

Traffic: Official Clip - Drug Economics

Traffic: Official Clip - A Desert Killing photo 6

Traffic: Official Clip - A Desert Killing

Traffic: Official Clip - Conspiring to Conspire photo 7

Traffic: Official Clip - Conspiring to Conspire

Traffic: Official Clip - Planting a Bug photo 8

Traffic: Official Clip - Planting a Bug

Traffic: Official Clip - General Salazar Pulls Rank photo 9

Traffic: Official Clip - General Salazar Pulls Rank

Traffic: Official Clip - Addicts Don't Vote photo 10

Traffic: Official Clip - Addicts Don't Vote

View all videos

Traffic Photos

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Traffic (2000) photo 17

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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): Jun 15, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA): $124.1M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Distributor: Criterion Collection, USA Films
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

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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

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Critic Reviews for Traffic

All Critics (161) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (148) | Rotten (13)

Full Review… Nell Minow Common Sense Media

Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader

Full Review… Andrew Sarris Observer

Full Review… Geoff Andrew Time Out

Full Review… Rick Groen Globe and Mail

Full Review… Peter Rainer New York Magazine/Vulture

Full Review… Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… Nikhat Kazmi The Times of India

Full Review… B. Ruby Rich The Nation

Full Review… Felicia Feaster Creative Loafing

Full Review… Kevin Carr 7M Pictures

View All Critic Reviews (161)

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

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