Cruising (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 6.6
Released in 1980, Cruising is a thriller, drama, crime and horror film directed by William Friedkin, running about 102 minutes. “Al Pacino is Cruising for a killer.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A serial killer brutally slays and dismembers several gay men in New York's S&M and leather districts. The young police officer Steve Burns is sent undercover onto the streets as a decoy for the murderer. Working almost completely isolated from his department, he has to learn and practice the complex rules and signals of this little society.
Who’s in it. Cruising stars Al Pacino as Steve Burns, Karen Allen as Nancy Gates, Paul Sorvino as Capt. Edelson and Richard Cox as Stuart Richards, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Cruising has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $19.8M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Cruising page.
If you liked it. Fans of Cruising tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Cruising (1980)?
- In US, Cruising is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Cruising worth watching?
- Cruising holds an audience score of 6.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy thriller, drama, crime and horror. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Cruising?
- Cruising stars Al Pacino, Karen Allen, Paul Sorvino, Richard Cox and Don Scardino.
- When was Cruising released?
- Cruising was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.