Shaft (1971): cast, story & where to watch
1971 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1971, Shaft is an action, thriller and crime film directed by Gordon Parks, running about 100 minutes. “The mob wanted Harlem back. They got shaft...up to here.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Cool black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.
Who’s in it. Shaft stars Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, Moses Gunn as Bumpy Jonas, Charles Cioffi as Vic Androzzi and Christopher St. John as Ben Buford, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Shaft has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $12.1M 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 Shaft page.
If you liked it. Fans of Shaft tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Shaft (1971)?
- In US, Shaft 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 Shaft worth watching?
- Shaft holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Shaft?
- Shaft stars Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Charles Cioffi, Christopher St. John and Gwenn Mitchell.
- When was Shaft released?
- Shaft was released in 1971, with a runtime of about 100 minutes.