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Cruising

Cruising

1980
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 42m
A police detective goes undercover in the sleazy and underground gay subculture of New York City to catch a serial killer whom is murdering numerous gay men with S&M tactics. (imdb)
Your probable score
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Cruising

1980
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 42m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 48.49% from 645 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(645)
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Compact view
Rated 11 Jul 2009
73
54th
What was once protested by gay rights groups during its filming is now a document of the times. An interesting look at S&M culture before the discovery of the HIV virus, Pacino is ironically the main weak link in the film. He appears quite uneasy throughout much of the movie and does not seem effective in the role. Despite this, the sound design, music, and overall aesthetics lend a gritty feel to the film that has been highly influential in later horror/crime films such as Seven.
Rated 21 Aug 2019
80
77th
The jockstrap and hankie budget on this must’ve been astronomical. Joe Spinell on the prowl is always unsettling.
Rated 03 Jul 2020
76
57th
At the time of release, "Cruising" was opposed by gay activists as an unfair depiction of gay culture as violent perverse sickos, and today's gay activists would probably lean even harsher into their criticisms. But "Cruising" centers its focus on a particular subculture, your Rob Halford, leather and handcuffs type and in it, they are the victims, and the protagonist is attempting to stop violence toward them. I don't think it's as mean spirited as some, and honestly, it's not bad either.
Rated 27 Feb 2009
58
18th
A spectacular failure. Pacino is really acting, Friedkin's direction is fine, but the film's story is so silly, offensive, and poorly developed. The random scene involving the nude black cowboy slap is indicative of this whole movie's mindblowingly insane attitude.
Rated 26 Mar 2011
87
94th
Gritty, 'NYC-as-hell' erotic thriller, misunderstood by knee-jerk political correctness. This is not so much about gay culture (I WISH gay clubs played punk music and looked this fucking hot and dark) but about men and masculinity in general, almost like a queer 'Fight Club'. It is only ruined by a lame ending that would work if they had the balls to have Pacino get 'nasty' rather than just walk around as a sexless voyeur. Still all the leather, switchblades and sleazy vibes are pretty hot.
Rated 24 Jan 2023
67
52nd
I gave this one point for every twelve mustaches.
Rated 03 Jun 2011
48
36th
Friedkin is a great director, Pacino a highly capable actor. They were both staples of the New Hollywood phenomenon during the 1970s, and they approach Cruising with that gritty naturalist vibe of films like The French Connection and Serpico. The reason it doesn't entirely work is that Cruising is already a 1980s movie. A bit corny. At times silly. Often, the script seems to want to escape Friedkin and leap into the hands of Walter Hill. To be fun, for lack of seriousness. Maybe even a comedy.
Rated 19 Oct 2011
3
38th
Conflicting. A somewhat perfunctory, if interesting, thriller/mystery, that could be said to some extent to be homophobic - but, damn if Friedkin's evocation of late 70s NY isn't gritty as all hell, and as a complete sucker for that milieu, I can't help but like it more than most. Also, I can't imagine we'll see a mainstream movie featuring a major star, with such an unflinching portrayal of a radical sexual subculture, any time soon. They all but show a dude getting fisted in a bar.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
82
78th
Completely absurd and inaccurate: There's not a single Blondie song on the soundtrack.
Rated 20 Aug 2010
4
35th
At a certain point you have to start viewing this as a comedy instead of some intense murder mystery that they were obviously gunning for. It's filled with so many ridiculous scenes that it's hard not to laugh. Gay people have never been portrayed as more barbaric, sex crazed or just plain weird before or since, I understand the protesting. Could've deleted Karen Allen from the movie and it would've been the same film but we have to remind the audience that Pacino = straight and not gay! rofl
Rated 12 Nov 2014
77
72nd
Rough around the edges and pretty much all over but really manages to immerse you into its world and into the inner conflicts of the protagonist through its brooding atmosphere. Morally questionable but entertaining, historically interesting, ruggedly stylish and strangely mesmerizing.
Rated 21 Jun 2020
65
42nd
A trashy 80's slasher that is slightly dressed up. This film proves ACAB.
Rated 30 May 2011
50
33rd
"Cruising" is a pretty mediocre, mildly enjoyable thriller. It's interesting mainly as a glance into the 80's gay s&m scene. Not a fascinating or exciting one, though, probably because of Pacino being so stiff and straight. Or maybe it's Friedkin's direction that is too stiff and straight...
Rated 21 Dec 2011
85
59th
I think this is pretty good. I think Friedkin maybe should've played this in a more De Palma, tongue-in-cheek manner. The masses could probably accept it easier that way.
Rated 28 Jun 2012
8
75th
Very good and dark movie from Friedkin. Sort of an American Giallo film that utilizes color extraordinarily. The story is confusing, but the images are astonishing.
Rated 04 Feb 2013
3
31st
Watch as Al Pacino looks confused and uninterested cruising the underground gay scene, watch as he gets felt up, tied down, and slapped by some huge black guy in a cowboy hat, then watch as the ending comes along and wonder why this ever got made.
Rated 07 Feb 2014
52
41st
Al Pachino in distress. Mentaly. Very odd ball for William Friedkin.
Rated 10 Jul 2014
37
48th
Failed thriller that hints at something great, but fortunately also filled with lovely sleaze and some hilariously wtf bits. Probably a terrible idea, but I almost feel like De Palma might have been able to do something interesting with this.
Rated 23 Sep 2014
8
76th
Cruising is definitely one of William Friedkin's most controversial films and it's certainly a tough watch. Al Pacino unusually comes across as unsure and uncomfortable with his performance, but then I suppose he's arguably succeeded in the role. Regardless he undoubtedly gives one of his boldest and most demanding performances. The tone is like nothing else I've experienced but it's recognisably William Freidkin's craft. And after several viewings the question marks still leave me guessing.
Rated 13 Jul 2015
80
72nd
COUPLE OF SPOILERS: Apart from few minor discrepancies like (a nude inspector coming in to slap pacino? or the over dramatic depiction of open gay sex in clubs), I believe this to be a very good movie- the boldness depicted on the screen, the story, the acting,a slow but intense and dark nature of the film-nd all of this in the 80s-wow!
Rated 29 Dec 2016
60
28th
Great for its nasty atmosphere, but it fails in the third act by being completely incomprehensible and overly ambiguous.
Rated 06 Apr 2017
89
59th
Cruising is an excellent experience. A throwback to a supposedly more innocent time, before the AIDS epidemic. There's plenty about this movie that's wrong, but still more that's just oh so right.
Rated 05 Nov 2017
60
48th
(Viewed on 9/1/11): Friedkin's foray into underground gay culture undoubtedly seems exploitative, regardless of his claims, and the 'killer queen' stereotype is paraded here quite blatantly, with no thought for consequence. At the same time, there is something morbidly compelling about this murky netherworld of black leather and denim that Friedkin presents us with, and the aura of sexual confusion he captures in hell's kitchen is genuinely provocative. Pacino also does well in an atypical role.
Rated 04 Dec 2017
60
40th
might be the repressed homosexual in me, but the sheer amount of sleaze here was strangely satisfying. so was seeing lots of faces which would become famous later on. sadly, narrative-wise it stumbles too often to be a rewarding experience, especially towards the end. that "interrogation-scene" could become a new favorite, though.
Rated 08 Feb 2018
68
41st
Friedkin is a master of atmosphere. In particular, he excels in depicting gritty settings that we hope we never set foot in, which makes the backlash that this film received completely understandable. Now, three decades later, a fresh look at the film still uncovers a wonderful looking film, even if it has some glaring flaws. Pacino manages to underplay (who would have guessed) an inept detective so woodenly that any attempt to make him more than this by the film's end isn't earned.
Rated 13 Jun 2018
77
55th
A rather good thriller that keeps itself, and its cast, focused on the fairly ordinary plot, but the unusual setting (even for today) really does freshen up this regular crime story with some idiosyncratic plotting.
Rated 06 Oct 2018
75
65th
Oozes late 70s New York seediness.
Rated 17 Nov 2018
74
63rd
If you can get past the first half hour or so, which is ridiculous and borderline bad, then you will stumble into a pretty decent film
Rated 28 Jan 2019
70
58th
Raw and engaging. A little digging will also shed lights on the more confusing parts. Specifically, an adviser to the movie on behalf of the NYPD said they would do absurd things, like have a guy in only a jock strap slap people, so if the interrogated filed a complaint, no one would take it seriously
Rated 29 Mar 2020
50
18th
I don't have a problem with a story of gay serial killers, but I expect them to make some sense.
Rated 14 Apr 2021
57
59th
This lands in "interesting failure" territory, if only for being a 1980 mainstream film that depicts fisting. Also pretty much every bare ass made me realize how crucial squat routines have been for the gay community (hell, everyone) for the last 20 years.
Rated 16 Aug 2021
33
11th
a shitty movie were practically nothing happens, apart from so much homophobia
Rated 19 Dec 2022
60
42nd
More movies need an inexplicable appearance from a huge man wearing a cowboy hat, jockstrap, and nothing else who enters the middle of the film, slaps the main character, and then leaves without a word
Rated 02 Jan 2007
75
54th
Há 40 anos Parceiros da Noite estreava nos EUA. O filme favorito do Foucault. (brincadeirinha) Gosto imensamente do final ambíguo, mas ao mesmo tempo é meio incômodo ver a psicanálise selvagem que entremeia o filme dizendo que todo assassino de homossexuais é um homossexual que não se aceita - a gente sabe que é mais do que isso. BlurayRip RARBG.
Rated 22 Feb 2007
40
19th
Passes the time.
Rated 12 Feb 2008
79
58th
My all-time favorite "Al Pacino gets slapped by a huge gay cowboy" film, it's an interesting thriller with a shockingly ambiguous ending. Some of the acting is mediocre (especially the beginning) but the movie really picks up once Pacino hits the screen.
Rated 23 Nov 2008
70
50th
after i watched the regisseurs comment to this film, i understood it :P
Rated 18 Mar 2009
64
66th
Okay Movie
Rated 02 Feb 2010
40
1st
Abysmal. One of the worst major films ever made.
Rated 26 Mar 2010
42
6th
Friedkin is a very cool director but boy, did he drop the ball on this one. An abysmal, boring, ugly, non-exciting crime thriller that is everything but thrilling. I know Friedkin is very proud of the film but this did nothing for me, it just plods along very slowly with Pacino looking confused and sleepwalking in every shot. If S&M is your thing, well, that's your own fault. Worst scene, Pacino doing the crazy gay dance, unbelievable. Proceed at your own risk.
Rated 28 Aug 2010
80
54th
Al Pacino is always great.
Rated 10 Oct 2011
60
28th
60.000
Rated 30 Dec 2011
75
33rd
Perplexing and odd, but undeniably watchable with a great atmosphere; Friedkin's trademark snappy editing & colour timing make it an enjoyable film.
Rated 28 Jan 2012
82
71st
This has some of the most intense scenes I've seen in a long time. Al Pacino's performance is typical here; it's powerful yet never over-the-top and he fits the role perfectly. And the more and more I think about the ending, the more devastating I believe it to be. Fits well with Friedkin's other movie To Live And Die In L.A. as a double bill, one after the other. A lot of similar themes and they're both great films.
Rated 15 Jun 2012
52
24th
Lindsay/Beame/Koch-era NYC ranks among the greatest film settings in history. Friedkin puts it to good use in this film, with some stunning shots of Morningside Park and the West Village. With that said, I found the acting mediocre and the story listless, going for long stretches with little escalation. The film clearly focuses on the gradual transformation of Pacino's character, but I walked away with only the loosest understanding of the logic, even on a subconscious level, of how it happened.
Rated 05 Sep 2012
80
81st
Watching this at a late night hour was a good choice. It's the atmosphere of the dark city that really got to me in this great thriller. Pacino shows his darker side in this fantastic role. A truly pleasant surprise.
Rated 16 Oct 2012
86
87th
From a contemporary viewpoint, it's hard to see the homophobia when the main character says, "I didn't take this job to shitcan some guy just because he was gay." Is this a realistic portrayal of a segment of gay NYC? I don't know. If not, then it's sure not one of NYCPD, either. Regardless of either, this is a taut, fascinating, if sometimes weird, police murder mystery.
Rated 19 Nov 2012
40
3rd
Had this down as a 60 to begin with but it's been less than a month since I saw it and I don't remember anything about it.
Rated 11 Feb 2013
85
60th
A flawed but very interesting movie. The storytelling is sometimes unorthodox, and often shocking (not surprising from the director of The Exorcist). Al Pacino hits a perfect subtle balance and gives another great performance.
Rated 16 Oct 2013
60
22nd
59.500
Rated 22 May 2018
42
24th
Starts off promising, but gets increasingly hard to watch and follow and keep an interest in. 38th film of 2018.
Rated 20 Nov 2020
62
30th
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Rated 08 May 2021
58
13th
Interesting time capsule elements but disjointed storytelling. It chooses titillation over development the whole way through the eyeroll ending.
Rated 15 Aug 2021
26
19th
Even if this weren't homophobic as fuck, it would still be trash lmao.
Rated 31 May 2023
60
22nd
Nice look at a underground subculture of grimy 70s New York but a b uncharacteristically weak Pacino, some tonal inconsistency and a weak climax keep it from amounting to much
Rated 28 Jun 2023
39
18th
Grimy and sleazy to the extreme for a mainstream movie, and definitely not in a good way. There's some poor acting here and there, and an uninspired script everywhere. Cruising is not for me, or anyone really.
Rated 08 Nov 2023
60
23rd
In his best films, William Friedkin has a tendency to stay far outside of his character's heads and focus on the details of the environment and what people do in it. I think that approach fundamentally fails him here because he's making a film that should be entirely about what's going on in Pacino's head. Instead we get a film that seems almost entirely devoted to showing us a detailed picture of a particular subculture, but it's almost entirely unclear to what end.
Rated 19 Feb 2024
70
63rd
Pretty well-made, but generic. The setting and atmosphere are strong, but doesn't deliver a strong story, and Pacino's character remains underdeveloped.
Rated 27 Feb 2024
82
78th
2024'de #IzlediğimFilmler ; 52. Cruising (1980) Geçen yıl İstanbul Film Festivalinde @WilliamFriedkin seçkisinde izlediğimiz zamanında herkesi provoke etmiş nefis gerilimi. İzlemesi hiç de kolay değil. Katil portresi ve perdeye getirilişi muhteşem. 8/10

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