The Offence (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1973, The Offence is a drama and crime film directed by Sidney Lumet, running about 112 minutes. “After 20 years, what detective-sergeant Johnson has seen and done is destroying him.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A burned-out British police detective finally snaps while interrogating a suspected child molester.
Who’s in it. The Offence stars Sean Connery as Detective Sergeant Johnson, Trevor Howard as Lieutenant Cartwright, Detective Superintendant, Vivien Merchant as Maureen Johnson and Ian Bannen as Kenneth Baxter, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Offence has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Offence page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Offence tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Offence (1973)?
- In US, The Offence is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Offence worth watching?
- The Offence holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Offence?
- The Offence stars Sean Connery, Trevor Howard, Vivien Merchant, Ian Bannen and Peter Bowles.
- When was The Offence released?
- The Offence was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.