Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSXSW Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Chinatown

  • 1974
  • PG
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
350K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,291
115
Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
Theatrical Trailer from Paramount
Play trailer3:17
7 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryThriller

A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.

  • Director
    • Roman Polanski
  • Writers
    • Robert Towne
    • Roman Polanski
  • Stars
    • Jack Nicholson
    • Faye Dunaway
    • John Huston
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    350K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,291
    115
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • Robert Towne
      • Roman Polanski
    • Stars
      • Jack Nicholson
      • Faye Dunaway
      • John Huston
    • 652User reviews
    • 144Critic reviews
    • 92Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #161
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 21 wins & 24 nominations total

    Videos7

    Chinatown
    Trailer 3:17
    Watch Chinatown
    Chinatown | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:34
    Watch Chinatown | Anniversary Mashup
    Chinatown
    Clip 0:57
    Watch Chinatown
    Chinatown
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Chinatown
    Chinatown
    Clip 0:49
    Watch Chinatown
    Chinatown
    Clip 0:49
    Watch Chinatown
    Chinatown
    Clip 0:45
    Watch Chinatown

    Photos176

    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974)
    John A. Alonzo, Robert Evans, and Bernie Schwartz in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson and Robert Evans in Chinatown (1974)
    Robert Evans in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson and Robert Evans in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson, Lee de Broux, and Perry Lopez in Chinatown (1974)
    Roy Jenson in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson, Roman Polanski, and Roy Jenson in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Jack Nicholson and John Huston in Chinatown (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • J.J. Gittes
    Faye Dunaway
    Faye Dunaway
    • Evelyn Mulwray
    John Huston
    John Huston
    • Noah Cross
    Perry Lopez
    Perry Lopez
    • Escobar
    John Hillerman
    John Hillerman
    • Yelburton
    Darrell Zwerling
    Darrell Zwerling
    • Hollis Mulwray
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Ida Sessions
    Roy Jenson
    Roy Jenson
    • Mulvihill
    Roman Polanski
    Roman Polanski
    • Man with Knife
    Richard Bakalyan
    Richard Bakalyan
    • Loach
    • (as Dick Bakalyan)
    Joe Mantell
    Joe Mantell
    • Walsh
    Bruce Glover
    Bruce Glover
    • Duffy
    Nandu Hinds
    Nandu Hinds
    • Sophie
    James O'Rear
    • Lawyer
    • (as James O'Reare)
    James Hong
    James Hong
    • Evelyn's Butler
    Beulah Quo
    • Maid
    Jerry Fujikawa
    Jerry Fujikawa
    • Gardener
    Belinda Palmer
    Belinda Palmer
    • Katherine
    • Director
      • Roman Polanski
    • Writers
      • Robert Towne
      • Roman Polanski(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After several takes that never looked quite right, Faye Dunaway got annoyed and told Jack Nicholson to actually slap her. He did and felt very guilty for it, despite it being Dunaway's decision. The shot made it into the movie.
    • Goofs
      As Jake and Evelyn leave the nursing home, several cars from the 1970s can be seen passing on the road outside.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Walsh: Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown.

    • Crazy credits
      The film opens with the 1940's Paramount logo.
    • Alternate versions
      TV versions omit the "screwing like a chinaman" joke told by Jake.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Two Jakes (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      I Can't Get Started
      By Ira Gershwin and Vernon Duke

      Recorded by Bunny Berigan and His Orchestra

      (Courtesy of RCA Records)

    User reviews652

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Very impressive
    So I finally watched one of the most iconic films ever made. The mystery and suspense in Chinatown is fully-blown as a neo-noir film. It perfectly captures the time period in which it takes place, and its central story is very well-written. The performances are fantastic, the highlight being Faye Dunaway, whose only other performance I have seen is Network and she plays both characters with such precise distinction and force. The cinematography, art direction, and music give it the right mood as well, and the ending is quite brilliant, in fact, perfect. Overall, I don't know if I would say I loved it, but this is a film I can see revisiting in the future no doubt about it.
    helpful•9
    0
    • Red_Identity
    • Oct 31, 2011

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Everything New on Prime Video in April

    Everything New on Prime Video in April

    Your guide to all the new movies and shows streaming on Prime Video in the US this month.
    See the list
    Production art
    List

    FAQ27

    • How long is Chinatown?Powered by Alexa
    • Evelyn Mulray's middle initial was C, which she said stands for Cross since she is Noah Cross's daughter. Am I to understand then that her full maiden name was Evelyn Cross Cross?
    • Is "Chinatown" based on a book?
    • What is the meaning of "Chinatown" and the last lines of the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 28, 1974 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Kitajska četrt
    • Filming locations
      • Big Tujunga Wash at Foothill Blvd., Sunland, Los Angeles, California, USA(dry river bed)
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Penthouse Video
      • Long Road Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $29,200,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $29,229,859
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 10 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Chinatown (1974) in Brazil?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    List
    Staff Picks: What to Watch in April
    See our picks
    Production art
    List
    New and Upcoming Sci-Fi & Fantasy
    See the list
    Production art
    List
    What We're Watching: Time Travel and Anime
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.