The Parallax View

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The Parallax View

R,

1974,

1h 42m,

Mystery & Thriller/

Drama

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Watchlist

86%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

43 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels. Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.

Critics Consensus

The Parallax View blends deft direction from Alan J. Pakula and a charismatic Warren Beatty performance to create a paranoid political thriller that stands with the genre's best.

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Kat Sachs

Chicago Reader

Aug 28, 2025

If you’re not sucked in by the The Parallax View’s absurd-but-apparently-true conspiracy, then you will be by Gordon Willis’s hauntingly atmospheric cinematography.

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Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

Mar 5, 2024

The point of this sort of movie seems to be to arouse outrage without offending anyone.

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Molly Haskell

Village Voice

Apr 20, 2022

The Parallax View is a movie of splendid bits and pieces disappointingly strung together.

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Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Sep 3, 2024

4/5

“The Parallax View” is a gripping thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating each new twist and turn in the story.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jun 14, 2024

4/5

Fifty years after its release, The Parallax View holds up as a political thriller depicting the 1970s paranoia.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Jan 24, 2024

5/5

Excellent script by David Giler and Lorenzo Semple Jr, stunning photography by... Gordon Willis, and perfect acting, the story of Beatty's infiltration of the society and his attempt to foil yet another killing is riveting, fascinating and nerve-racking.

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Feb 2, 2019

The best thrilling movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Warren Beatty as Joseph Frady!

Oct 23, 2018

Considering we got to see this movie using an antenna, it was awesome!!!

Draco R

Sep 22, 2018

A beautiful premise, solid middle, but towards the ending the film lost me: I wasn't sure what was the purpose of such a long and obscure scene with ultra low pacing, to make suspense even higher? I think it was pretty unnecessary; on the contrary, I think it even killed the mood so carefully constructed by the 2/3 of the film. The atmosphere is cool but in overall this film doesn't stand near with Pakula's previous 'Klute'.

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Poe W

Dec 24, 2017

As effective as barebones conspiracy films get, only somewhat telegraphing its twists.

Hermione R

Dec 6, 2017

Builds up methodically to a chilling finale.

Kylo S

Aug 10, 2017

Clearly the least of Pakula's so-called "Paranoia Trilogy", with Pakula so dedicated to his modernist visuals and postmodernist editing techniques that some scenes and characters don't make much sense. Still, worth a watch for its vivid evocation of the overweening political paranoia of the early 70s, which feels keenly relevant again 40-odd years later.

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Warren Beatty

Joseph Frady

Paula Prentiss

Lee Carter

William Daniels

Austin Tucker

Hume Cronyn

Bill Rintels

Kelly Thordsen

Sheriff L.D. Wicker

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Synopsis

After a presidential candidate is assassinated, political reporter Joe Frady begins to suspect that the mysterious Parallax Corporation may be involved. As he investigates, others who share his suspicions start turning up dead, including his editor, Bill Rintels. Eventually, Frady uncovers a conspiracy bigger than anyone expected and must race to prevent the corporation's next big hit as this political thriller plays out in an explosive game of cat and mouse.

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Producer: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: David Giler, Lorenzo Semple Jr., Loren Singer
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Doubleday Productions, Harbor Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 14, 1974, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2010
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Mono

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