Charley Varrick

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Charley Varrick

PG,

1973,

1h 51m,

Crime/

Drama/

Action

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Watchlist

Watchlist

82%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When small-time criminal Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) leads a crew to rob a bank, things don't exactly go according to plan. Not only are there casualties, but also, he and his surviving cohort, Harman Sullivan (Andy Robinson), discover that they've snagged far more cash than they were expecting --and it's money that belongs to the mob. Hunted by both the police and a ruthless killer named Molly (Joe Don Baker), Charley and Harman may not live long enough to enjoy their small fortune.

Critics Consensus

With Walter Matthau adding hangdog soul to Don Siegel's propulsive direction, Charley Varrick is a crime thriller that really scores.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 19, 2023

Charley Varrick doesn't even look good; the color is blah and runny, the compositions are squat and no more than functional, and the director, Don Siegel, slogs along from scene to scene.

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Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Jun 11, 2021

Thanks to Siegel's impeccable direction and to the imaginative script Howard Rodman and Dean Riesner fashioned from John Reese's novel "The Looters," this... becomes a compelling struggle between brains and brawn.

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George McKinnon

Boston Globe

Jun 11, 2021

As in all Siegel films, there is constant violence, but a sharp, clear focus and quick action prevents you from dwelling on plot inconsistencies.

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Oct 5, 2025

B

This appears to be a low-budget movie, where dead people can be seen breathing and actors sometimes trip and stumble. Such scenes would usually be re-shot or otherwise fixed, but somehow this ends up making the movie look more realistic for the most part.

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Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

Jan 15, 2024

Siegel's cutting is as ruthless as his characters, and it’s easy to see an autobiographical aspect to Charley Varrick’s no-nonsense pragmatism.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jul 4, 2023

3/4

...entertaining and thoroughly satisfying...

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Poe S

Jan 20, 2019

Five stars for the plane vs car scene alone...

Kylo P

Dec 1, 2018

A brilliant movie with a plot, you really understand a while after the end. Varrick knows at an early stage, that his partner will be killed, and he plans the change of identities at the dentist, before the killing happens. A very cool and very cruel guy. Anyway, the sympathy is with him.

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Abraham S

Jul 13, 2018

The movie was OK But I get sick of looking at Walter's Ugly Face. How did he ever become a movie star?

Rey S

Jul 8, 2018

Story about bank robbers on the run from the mob and the police. It's okay. Walter Matthau plays his best tough guy. Don Siegel works better with Clint Eastwood.

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Rey W

Mar 19, 2018

While the premise of this movie would make a good comedy caper, this one is played straight - with few survivors. How to commit the perfect heist - by accident. Well worth seeing at least once.

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Luke M

Apr 14, 2017

Gritty and compelling Don Siegel thriller.

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Don Siegel

Director

Walter Matthau

Charley Varrick

Joe Don Baker

Molly

Felicia Farr

Sybil Fort

Andrew Robinson

Harman Sullivan

John Vernon

Maynard Boyle

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Synopsis

When small-time criminal Charley Varrick (Walter Matthau) leads a crew to rob a bank, things don't exactly go according to plan. Not only are there casualties, but also, he and his surviving cohort, Harman Sullivan (Andy Robinson), discover that they've snagged far more cash than they were expecting --and it's money that belongs to the mob. Hunted by both the police and a ruthless killer named Molly (Joe Don Baker), Charley and Harman may not live long enough to enjoy their small fortune.

Director: Don Siegel
Producer: Don Siegel
Screenwriter: Dean Riesner, Howard Rodman
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 1h 51m

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