Shaft (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Series · ★ 7.2
Released in 1973, Shaft is a drama, action & adventure and crime series.
What it’s about. Shaft is a series of TV movies that aired along with Hawkins during 1973-74 television season on The New CBS Tuesday Night Movies. The series was based on three films beginning with Shaft, and starring Richard Roundtree as private detective John Shaft. Because it was aired on over-the-air television, CBS felt that the character needed to be toned down. Now instead of working against the police, he worked with them. The series rotated with Hawkins starring James Stewart as a country lawyer who investigates his cases, similarly to his earlier film Anatomy of a Murder. Contemporary analysts suggested that since the two shows appealed to vastly different audience bases, alternating them only served to confuse fans of both series, giving neither one the time to build up a large viewership.
Who’s in it. Shaft stars Richard Roundtree as John Shaft, Eddie Barth as Lt. Al Rossi, Clu Gulager and Sid Haig as Higget's Bodyguard, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, Shaft has been warmly received by audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Shaft page.
If you liked it. Fans of Shaft tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Shaft (1973)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Shaft change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Shaft worth watching?
- Shaft holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, action & adventure and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Shaft?
- Shaft stars Richard Roundtree, Eddie Barth, Clu Gulager, Sid Haig and David Armstrong.
- When was Shaft released?
- Shaft was released in 1973.