The Public Enemy (1931): cast, story & where to watch
1931 · Film · ★ 7.2
Released in 1931, The Public Enemy is a drama and crime film directed by William A. Wellman, running about 83 minutes. “All his life he took what he wanted...Why not women?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Two young Chicago hoodlums, Tom Powers and Matt Doyle, rise up from their poverty-stricken slum life to become petty thieves, bootleggers and cold-blooded killers. But with street notoriety and newfound wealth, the duo feels the heat from the cops and rival gangsters both. Despite his ruthless criminal reputation, Tom tries to remain connected to his family, however, gang warfare and the need for revenge eventually pull him away.
Who’s in it. The Public Enemy stars James Cagney as Tom Powers, Jean Harlow as Gwen Allen, Edward Woods as Matt Doyle and Joan Blondell as Mamie, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.2/10, The Public Enemy has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $557K at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max and 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 The Public Enemy page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Public Enemy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Public Enemy (1931)?
- In US, The Public Enemy is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and HBO Max, and 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 The Public Enemy worth watching?
- The Public Enemy holds an audience score of 7.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Public Enemy?
- The Public Enemy stars James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell and Donald Cook.
- When was The Public Enemy released?
- The Public Enemy was released in 1931, with a runtime of about 83 minutes.