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Traffic

Traffic

2000
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 27m
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. (USA Films)

Directed by:

Steven Soderbergh

Screenwriter:

Stephen Gaghan, Simon Moore

Starring:

Benjamin Bratt, Luis Guzmán, Salma Hayek, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Albert Finney, Benicio Del Toro, Tomas Milian, James Brolin, Topher Grace

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime

Countries:

Germany, USA

Languages:

English, Spanish
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Traffic

2000
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 27m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 59.16% from 6482 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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tripleshTripleSH
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
84th
A powerful movie about the drug trade in America and abroad. Also, some great performances from the core actors, and a surprising breakthrough for Erika Christensen.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 08 Mar 2008
77
54th
Objective qualities aside, I have a hard time understanding how this movie was the recipient of numerous awards and acclaim. Yes, the acting and techinical aspects of the film are undoubtedly well done, the movie overall still lacks a certain punch and is all too reminiscent of those message movies Hollywood knows and loves so much. It's certainly not poor in any way, it's actually a good movie, just hard to call great by any means and certainly not classic.
Rated 08 Mar 2008
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 09 Jun 2009
4
37th
Well acted and the cinematography and story construction help make it engaging for the most part. Unfortunately the film's urge to maintain even-handedness keeps this from saying anything other than "hey guys, drugs and prohibition sure are complex issues huh?", except without even scratching the surface. Overall not very satisfying.
Rated 09 Jun 2009
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
95th
A cool look at the drug traffic industry and how the "drug war" is fought. It's masterfully done and despite being quite long (and dealing with some pretty boring subject matter), it stays fresh throughout. In addition, I think it's very sad that the speech Topher Grace makes rings true.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 12 Jul 2008
70
61st
With brilliant actings he does with the atypical salad of scenes a play of color that differentiates well the histories.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 01 Sep 2012
92
94th
Several complex stories focused on drugs and corruption converge from different angles. Benecio Del Toro was the prefect choice to play the honest mexican policemen fighting in the drug war. Catherine Zeta-Jones, starts as the innocent wife of a drug lord, but is steadily corrupted. Erika Christensen and Don Cheadle were also very good. Many memorable moments. Great cast, and good production. A few good action scenes but mostly full of dramatic acting.
Rated 01 Sep 2012
lifeandalllifeandall
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
65th
Great cast and I love the intertwining story line.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
filliganFilligan
Rated 21 Jan 2011
73
28th
Traffic is one of the most truthful films about the "war" on drugs, for which I give it credit. Soderbergh gives some of his best work here as a director, but the material itself, while never boring, isn't very engaging either. A solid effort.
Rated 21 Jan 2011
jebJeb
Rated 16 Jun 2009
87
74th
An honest and conscientiously ethical remonstrance of our country's drug problems and smuggling. It isn't virtuous and doesn't deviate from the truth, which you have to venerate. The camerawork and acting is superb, Needs no advancements or enhancements.
Rated 16 Jun 2009
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
97th
Easily the best "drug" film ever made, seemlessly interweaves several stories while still developing the characters well and keeping the momentum of the film. How did Gladiator win Best Picture over this?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
robotjazzrobotjazz
Rated 17 May 2007
38
16th
So long and so boring and so pointless and so dumb.
Rated 17 May 2007
bojanglesBojangles
Rated 26 Mar 2009
80
91st
Seems to put its characters into one of two categories with respect to North America's drug problem: those that view it as a battle, and have no real intent of ending the greater war; and those forced to treat it as a problem that actually needs to be solved. Shall we defeat our enemies, or save our loved ones? Nice movie. A real and honest representation of our time and place.
Rated 26 Mar 2009
calabriaCalabria
Rated 06 Apr 2019
75
33rd
The 2000s fittingly kicked off with one of the most gorgeous women ever in a film full of instagram filters.
Rated 06 Apr 2019
grimsoothgrimsooth
Rated 14 Aug 2007
76
83rd
How the world works in the drug war era.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
twincinematwincinema
Rated 05 Jul 2020
60
35th
I liked when it went from the bright yellow hues of Mexico to the darker blues of America. It let my eyes rest for a little bit. This is a film that you can almost feel every minute of its 147-minute runtime.
Rated 05 Jul 2020
funkyastroFunkyAstro
Rated 09 Dec 2012
50
49th
Mexico is corrupt, the USA is mad, some slut becomes a junk whore and every other drug movie cliche you can possibly think of happens. But don't worry, it's wrapped up for you in a nice little package with a pretty pink ribbon so that you don't have to put forth any effort into thinking or formulating your own opinions. There. I just saved you two and a half hours of your time.
Rated 09 Dec 2012
djrossdjross
Rated 09 Jun 2009
45
34th
A bit like a dramatised lecture, where unfortunately the naturalism of the dialogue is sacrificed for the benefit of speechifying and "the message". And the content of the lecture is not that interesting either.
Rated 09 Jun 2009
paulofilmopaulofilmo
Rated 16 Feb 2010
46
7th
The documentary style is a cliche. I've seen all the actors in a million other films - disbelief never suspended. And the acting wasn't very good. Didactic - was bored well within the 90 minutes watched. There's so much great art, and yet you want to preach to me about drug trafficking. I can't believe Bergman liked this.
Rated 16 Feb 2010
tails32xtails32x
Rated 24 Dec 2006
80
78th
The directing makes it a very interesting visual experience
Rated 24 Dec 2006
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
45th
What's all the fuss about? A solid film, but it certainly doesn't knock my socks off.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
smacfarlsmacfarl
Rated 18 May 2009
84
40th
Could have been interesting if we didn't have to overdue the black, Hispanic, and suburban white stereotypes. If this had been done by David Simon it would have been amazing.
Rated 18 May 2009
mr_filmMr. Film
Rated 28 Jul 2010
88
67th
Very smart and complex drug drama, who should have beaten Gladiator
Rated 28 Jul 2010
bookhouseboybookhouseboy
Rated 14 Aug 2010
74
92nd
#00s(e)#, reviews, story, (casting)
Rated 14 Aug 2010
hashiHashi
Rated 07 Jun 2010
80
34th
Good.
Rated 07 Jun 2010
dunbardunbar
Rated 08 Sep 2010
82
80th
A pretty engrossing look at drug trade from all sides and its morality. This film is nicely written; the various storylines tying together give it the punch needed to keep you watching.
Rated 08 Sep 2010
annexeannexe
Rated 25 Mar 2007
91
88th
Being from the Cincinnati area, this movie hits a little closer (regionally) to me, but they way Soderbergh and company expose the moral complexity of the war on drugs makes this a great film in my opinion. There are no easy answers.
Rated 25 Mar 2007
vengefulkbmVengefulKBM
Rated 18 Mar 2017
85
85th
Soderbergh is a compelling director, and this movie's varied, all-star cast helps make it one of Soderbergh's most compelling movies. This is one of those rare "movies with a message" that actually works and doesn't really come off as preachy. It just makes you think (and, as a bonus, is beautifully shot).
Rated 18 Mar 2017
adurraAdurra
Rated 20 Nov 2009
78
78th
Bom
Rated 20 Nov 2009
csidlecsidle
Rated 09 Jul 2012
85
85th
Apparently, the soundtrack (not the musical score) for this film was recorded in mono in order to add to the documentary feel. Well, it works - what a brilliant execution of an amazing screenplay by Soderbergh. His application of colour veers on the extreme but on a whole, his unique approach serves a fresh and extremely well-paced film. The cast are all superb, too; Benicio del Toro and Don Cheadle standing out.
Rated 09 Jul 2012
coltmcncoltmcn
Rated 17 Mar 2008
74
63rd
Good insight.
Rated 17 Mar 2008
authormanAuthorman
Rated 17 Feb 2010
80
60th
Scenes are blue when there are white people and yellow when there are Mexican people.
Rated 17 Feb 2010
vince_leoVince Leo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
94th
TRAFFIC may make us feel dismal about the future, and it should. It's intent is not for us to shrug and throw up our hands in despair and write off the situation, but serves as a wake-up call. It calls for parents to wake up in their responsibilities to their children, in communities and school's to teach drug education, and in us as a country to persevere through seemingly insurmountable odds to make sure it doesn't hit us directly.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
sorksork
Rated 02 Jun 2008
58
47th
Good but too self-important.
Rated 02 Jun 2008
the_pirateThe Pirate
Rated 07 Apr 2013
67
25th
Not nearly as good as I'd hoped. This movie just doesn't have a good feel to it. The camera moves around too much, the three storylines are too stretched and at times the movie as a whole feels unbalanced. It goes from looking like a news story to looking like a documentary, to looking like a student film. I get that that was intentional, but it ruined the cohesion of the film for me. Parts of it really deliver, but in the end I was left pretty unsatisfied as a viewer.
Rated 07 Apr 2013
waddayanutswaddayanuts
Rated 25 Oct 2010
50
6th
Watched it right after The Wire. It's not fair to compare a 2,5 hour film to a 60 hour series but Traffic really seemed flat, untrue and pointless.
Rated 25 Oct 2010
majorkerinamajorkerina
Rated 23 Apr 2017
46
4th
Interesting for the intersecting storylines but not for me.
Rated 23 Apr 2017
easydiffeasydiff
Rated 20 Apr 2009
44
38th
I couldn't watch this movie, it just bored me tears, the skip-silver processing was annoying and overused, and the story was too rote to captivate.
Rated 20 Apr 2009
zarkonZarkon
Rated 27 Feb 2009
85
73rd
It's like Crash, but with a lighter dosage of hammering their point into your head.
Rated 27 Feb 2009
shmendrekShmendrek
Rated 26 Jan 2008
3
61st
It's an extremely well-crafted film and a compelling bit of storytelling, but it left me feeling a bit unaffected. Still worth watching.
Rated 26 Jan 2008
mspraguemsprague
Rated 06 Jul 2018
70
60th
Hard to watch drama about the drug situation as it was then in the US and the impact it had on all those it touched.
Rated 06 Jul 2018
dmbbearcatdmbbearcat
Rated 06 Jun 2011
89
85th
Soderburgh is a lot better at interweaving storylines than most directors could dream of being.
Rated 06 Jun 2011
troothTrooth
Rated 03 Feb 2014
54
22nd
I do believe some things happened in this movie... Important things maybe? I don't know. Very seriously dramatic drug-related dramatic crime drama.
Rated 03 Feb 2014
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 21 Feb 2016
13
69th
Star Rating: ★★★1/2
Rated 21 Feb 2016
woozybWoozyB
Rated 11 Jun 2007
80
60th
Good, but not as good as Syriana.
Rated 11 Jun 2007
kavkav
Rated 11 Jul 2008
30
7th
What?!
Rated 11 Jul 2008
jacobkoshjacobkosh
Rated 03 Aug 2007
78
42nd
Well-made and worthy but emotionally unrewarding.
Rated 03 Aug 2007
jessicaJessica
Rated 17 Mar 2008
85
58th
Interesting concept; hard to follow
Rated 17 Mar 2008
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
30
30th
good, but sort of forgettable.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
mikeportlyMikePortly
Rated 12 Feb 2013
95
95th
From suburbia to the cartels of Tijuana, this movie shows just how far the arms of the drug trade reach. Was Traffic prophetic in its lines about futility in the War on Drugs or was it just publicizing it much better than real life actually could? If art imitates life then Soderbergh's film nailed it considering it depicts in a sense how life goes on through family...and baseball.
Rated 12 Feb 2013
scilentScilent
Rated 24 Jul 2010
88
71st
One of the best drug movies.
Rated 24 Jul 2010
achayanAchayan
Rated 09 Jul 2012
83
69th
Well paced, great dialogue and plot development. I enjoyed the inner conflict that the characters did not seem to show.
Rated 09 Jul 2012
teckgeckoteckgecko
Rated 08 Apr 2013
72
55th
The overall story & structure is ok, but much of it feels contrived due to most major characters doing completely unbelievable things at various points. Soderbergh's punctuating the inter-relatedness of their stories by showing these characters pass by unaware of each other on the streets is just silly. The different colors of film are more distracting than helpful. Topher Grace is annoying as usual.
Rated 08 Apr 2013
redeyedtissRedeyedtiss
Rated 11 Feb 2014
82
71st
Not as depressing as Requiem, but certainly a realist perspective on life in the drug world.
Rated 11 Feb 2014
nataskaosnataskaos
Rated 06 May 2007
85
78th
Don Cheadle doesn't get nearly as many mentions as he should. amazing actor.
Rated 06 May 2007
davidjohnsonDavidJohnson
Rated 29 Feb 2012
81
66th
All of the interlocking stories are interesting, but for me the Michael Douglas one was the most interesting. I never really got why people liked Benicio Del Toro before this movie, but I kind of get it now. He was great. Don Cheadle was also excellent. It did at times get a bit confusing with the subtitles and all the characters to keep track of, but it was a solid movie. I liked the use of colors too, lot's of white and blue shades.
Rated 29 Feb 2012
chemical404chemical404
Rated 18 Aug 2010
65
71st
Cast is more than impressive, and visual style is very different (in a good way) from what you would expect in such a big Hollywood film. Story isn't very interesting. I couldn't buy into some of the drama or stereotypes portrayed. I believe the message of the film is that the war on drugs is never over, not much after two and a half hours.
Rated 18 Aug 2010
pmanPman
Rated 04 Jan 2010
80
65th
Excellent cast and gripping story! This is good stuff without the fluff.
Rated 04 Jan 2010
mistersplicemistersplice
Rated 21 Apr 2012
70
64th
7- recommended, good
Rated 21 Apr 2012
actionbergActionberg
Rated 09 Sep 2008
75
59th
Some yarns were more interesting than others, but in the end the stories came together nicely. Benicio del Toro and his story are standouts.
Rated 09 Sep 2008
pigletPiglet
Rated 10 Jun 2009
72
68th
Shows the effects of drugs to all who come in contact with it. Nicely done.
Rated 10 Jun 2009
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 27 Jun 2012
70
19th
The cast looks nice on paper, but the acting is above average at best. Dennis Quaid has, what, ten lines? Not that I was itching for more Dennis Quaid...The style, especially the changing colors between locations, is kind of silly and even a bit amateurish, especially when Soderbergh doesn't even follow his own guidelines! I enjoyed sections of it, esp the Cheadle/Guzman team, but as a whole, it's lame. By the way, the three storylines don't intertwine, so stop saying you loved the intertwining.
Rated 27 Jun 2012
zapperlifeZapperLife
Rated 24 May 2011
63
71st
Revisited (2)
Rated 24 May 2011
bbbdBBBD
Rated 09 Jul 2007
80
63rd
Just a good movie. Not exactly something you can't wait to see again after watching it, but it's entertaining.
Rated 09 Jul 2007
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 15 Dec 2011
82
85th
This is a great film that takes an in depth look into the culture of drugs. The cast is excellent with to many good performances to mention. The script is great from the beginning right to the end. I highly recommend this drama.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
thmertensth_mertens
Rated 12 Jan 2007
82
85th
Great acting, great camera work, great story line, great message, ...
Rated 12 Jan 2007
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 28 Jan 2010
82
52nd
Tells a good complex tale and contains some harrowing scenes, particularly of the Over-the-Rhine area of Cincinnati (my home town)--even if it is a little preachy and self-important. Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro are very fine, and Catherine Zeta-Jones gives one of her best performances.
Rated 28 Jan 2010
badseedbadseed
Rated 11 Apr 2010
82
51st
not bad, considering they had to pack an entire tv series into a film, watch the series if you can to learn a real thing or two about drug trafficking
Rated 11 Apr 2010
gr8googlyGr8Googly
Rated 20 Jun 2008
84
83rd
Intense performances from Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro put this movie square into the pantheon of the modern tale-within-a-tale storytelling so prevalent today.
Rated 20 Jun 2008
sorefinedSoRefined
Rated 30 Aug 2008
90
88th
Converging storylines that cross geographical and socio-economic lines do well to explain how deeply the business of illegal drugs runs.
Rated 30 Aug 2008
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 18 May 2008
75
48th
Liked this at the time, but I have a feeling I'd find it overdone now.
Rated 18 May 2008
jarmannJarmann
Rated 08 Nov 2007
40
10th
Blah-blah Hollywood drama that contains the usual garbage everybody wants except me.
Rated 08 Nov 2007
fartfart
Rated 29 Aug 2007
78
55th
Soderberg does well in trying out some Inarritu style story.
Rated 29 Aug 2007
dustydDustyd
Rated 15 Sep 2007
85
94th
Some of the characters don't amount to much, but this is still one hell of a drama.
Rated 15 Sep 2007
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 26 Jun 2008
76
88th
Nice
Rated 26 Jun 2008
joshstew06JoshStew06
Rated 14 Aug 2007
91
88th
Arguably Soderbergh's best movie, and an oustanding drama following many intersecting characters and stories. The ensemble is first rate.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
citysqwirlcitysqwirl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
87
89th
Quite engrossing and smart, but also a little too unremittingly bleak.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 06 Mar 2014
80
78th
Soderbergh does an excellent job of weaving a giant cast and expansive story into a relatively easy to follow narrative. About as watchable as a movie that's roughly 2 and a half hours can be.
Rated 06 Mar 2014
bencgauldbencgauld
Rated 12 Jun 2023
88
80th
An ammbitious epic about the human cost of the rug trade spanning multiple story lines across US and Mexico. For the vast majority of the movie, the pacing and variety of the characters is done seamlessly and the more pointed political moments of dialogue are poignant rather than preachy. Probably could have left a few lines in the bag though.
Rated 12 Jun 2023
timon88Timon88
Rated 28 Jul 2019
76
75th
Enjoyable flick. The screenplay makes its points WAY to unsubtly for my taste, and while well-constructed, has the kind of broad writing that tactily encourages over-acting (Tomas Milian was particularly unable to resist the temptation). Which reminds me what an underrated actor Michael Douglas really is. Oscar-bait (the gritty version), and it should have successful--this is an infinitely better movie than what DID win that year.
Rated 28 Jul 2019
amerigoamerigo
Rated 25 Aug 2007
60
8th
The movie feels like a disjointed documentary.
Rated 25 Aug 2007
stflyst_fly
Rated 21 Aug 2007
88
90th
Excellent
Rated 21 Aug 2007
matthias99Matthias99
Rated 12 Jul 2007
90
66th
A really good drama about the modern drug trade.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
cinesexualcinesexual
Rated 25 Oct 2010
50
20th
Despite a decent supporting cast I was bored silly most of the time. Anyone who thinks this is a serious treatment of the drug trade is the same sort of American who thinks they know Mexico after a couple visits to Tijuana. The main point of the movie is delivered with smarm, just like Soderbergh's Oscar acceptance speech) rather than compassion and the entire 140+ minutes gurgles and hand-wrings fitfully over its plot machinations with little drama and even fewer original ideas.
Rated 25 Oct 2010
achewoodACHEWOOD
Rated 14 Feb 2009
82
57th
good movie but not memorable
Rated 14 Feb 2009
duandskuduandsku
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
33rd
One in a long, long line of overrated films by Steven Soderbergh after Out of Sight, this is still mostly successful as a human drama and a thorough look at most sides of the drug war. Contains some surprising performances, but remains most notable for me as the introduction of the potentially great Topher Grace as a dramatic actor.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 12 Sep 2022
77
70th
Only Steven Soderbergh could buy a new camera, win 4 Oscars with it, and THEN learn how to white-balance it.
Rated 12 Sep 2022
danyondanyon
Rated 10 Jul 2014
80
77th
Impressive film, manages so many stories and characters but never feels stretched. Perfomances are great, subject matter both relevant and handled well. Benicio del toro was a stand out.
Rated 10 Jul 2014
bolivarbolivar
Rated 09 Sep 2009
85
96th
the ultimate drug war movie.
Rated 09 Sep 2009
gpietrasgpietras
Rated 11 May 2009
8
93rd
A great ensemble cast, and all of the stories operate at a high level throughout the movie. Soderbergh does a great job of juggling everything and distinguishing each story.
Rated 11 May 2009
sandysandy
Rated 14 Oct 2007
45
14th
I thought it was to hectic
Rated 14 Oct 2007
pigeon_armyPigeon Army
Rated 08 Apr 2011
70
38th
A triptych of drug wars with two very strong stories and one unforgivably weak one. Michael Douglas and Benicio Del Toro both anchor their subplots with a battered optimism, fighting an unwinnable war that's taking a toll on everyone around them. The Ayala subplot is less successful, with Helena doing a complete 180 halfway through and Quaid snivelling in the background in one of his worst performances. Soderbergh's direction is great, though his use of colour filters smacks of racism.
Rated 08 Apr 2011
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
65
30th
Amusing
Rated 26 Jan 2009
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
75
89th
Great film.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 07 Feb 2022
75
65th
FBI/PDshootoutlol+judgegreatstudentdaughterbecomingjunkie+wifewasntinonit/hastopaycriminals+mexicohasbiggerbudgetforthislol+catchdaughterhighinbathroom+givesthevanfedslemonadelool+herageeasiertogetdrugsthanalcohol+daughterfucksblackguyfordrugs+whitepeoplewouldselltooiftheycould:P+wifefixeditlol
Rated 07 Feb 2022
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 09 May 2021
70
56th
Never really takes a stance on the central issue besides "things are kinda violent" but hindsight is 20/20 I guess. Also I get the contrasting yellow/blue effect but funny to think Soderbergh probably single-handedly upped the Yellowness of Mexico forever.
Rated 09 May 2021
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 12 Aug 2012
80
69th
The script is naive and didactic ("if you do recreational drugs you will end up a prostitute in the ghetto"), and Douglas is awful. But Soderbergh directs the shit out of it, so I enjoyed it more than not. Del Toro's character also has interestingly opaque motivations.
Rated 12 Aug 2012
jweddlejweddle
Rated 10 Jun 2007
10
6th
I thought I would like this movie, but I couldn't stay awake. I have attempted to watch this movie about four times and all four times I fell asleep
Rated 10 Jun 2007
kgbelliveaukgbelliveau
Rated 17 Dec 2009
97
95th
Perhaps the best drug war related film to date. An elite film, not just a good film but can easily stand amung the best of the best. The acting was as good as acting these days gets. An eye opening film.
Rated 17 Dec 2009
mertz109mertz109
Rated 20 Jul 2009
76
10th
Thoroughly unimpressed.
Rated 20 Jul 2009
josauucejosauuce
Rated 14 Aug 2007
94
88th
i love stephen soderbergh. everything about this film rocks. benicio is one of my favorite actors. erica is amazing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007

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