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North by Northwest

Play trailer 2:02 Poster for North by Northwest 1959 2h 16m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 119 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.
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North by Northwest

North by Northwest

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Gripping, suspenseful, and visually iconic, this late-period Hitchcock classic laid the groundwork for countless action thrillers to follow.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 08/29/2022
The plotting is tightly wound and the thrills are executed with devilish panache. Go to Full Review Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/06/2022
Though not as cleverly original as Strangers on a Train, or as cleverly sexy as Notorious, this is one of Hitchcock’s most entertaining American thrillers. Go to Full Review Barbara L. Wilson Philadelphia Inquirer 06/09/2021
Alfred Hitchcock's new thriller, North by Northwest, is one of those no holds barred films. For better than two hours, he lets the Technicolor melodrama ramble across the VistaVision screen while gleefully setting traps for his hero. Go to Full Review Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 07/23/2025
5/5
Made just a year after "Vertigo" and a year before "Psycho," it's a breezy and dashing thriller with very little of the typecast weird and grotesque symbolism that sometimes alienates Hitchcock films from centrist audiences. Go to Full Review Chris Barsanti PopMatters 01/08/2025
The last time Alfred Hitchcock delivered a big success of a film with stars on the marquee and an A-lister behind the typewriter. Go to Full Review Harry Solomons Loud and Clear Reviews 01/08/2025
4.5/5
One of Hitchcock’s crowning achievements, North By Northwest remains as fun as ever and serves as the finest example of a genre it helped to create. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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JW Mar 18 loved seeing the classics in theaters again See more John B 02/28/2025 Amazing to see on the big screen! See more Jo Ann S 12/11/2024 One of Hitchcock's best!! Great story, suspense, drama, romance! See more Joan 09/22/2024 Classic Hitchcock and Cary Grant! Suspenseful and we'll written and directed! Not to be missed on the big screen! See more Marco A 05/23/2021 My favorite Hitchcock movie and one of my all time favorites overall. Just pure fun and enjoyment, perfect balance of thrills/adventure/comedy/romance with great dialogues. A film that had the style of Bond before Bond, but that would have been one of the top Bond films all time as well. See more Thurman I @TripIII Jun 28 It’ s not just the take of an “Everyman” but also the take of who every man wants to be…. Swaddled in the comfort of late ‘50’s upper middle class and New York urbanity,.. stripped to the bare essentials of self survival… this the best action - suspense movie of them all… See more Read all reviews
North by Northwest

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Cast & Crew

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Cary Grant

Roger O. Thornhill

Eva Marie Saint

Eve Kendall

James Mason

Phillip Vandamm

Leo G. Carroll

The Professor

Martin Landau

Leonard

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North by Northwest

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North by Northwest

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Movie Info

Synopsis This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.
Director
Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter
Ernest Lehman
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 17, 1959, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 17, 2009
Runtime
2h 16m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)