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IMDbPro

Black Sunday

  • 19771977
  • RR
  • 2h 23m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
Black Sunday (1977)
Black Sunday is the powerful story of a Black September terrorist group attempting to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium with 80,000 people and the president of the United States in attendance.
Play trailer3:55
1 Video
78 Photos
AdventureCrimeDrama
Black Sunday is the powerful story of a Black September terrorist group attempting to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium with 80,000 people and the president of th... Read allBlack Sunday is the powerful story of a Black September terrorist group attempting to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium with 80,000 people and the president of the United States in attendance.Black Sunday is the powerful story of a Black September terrorist group attempting to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium with 80,000 people and the president of the United States in attendance.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
    • Ernest Lehman(screenplay by)
    • Kenneth Ross(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Shaw
    • Bruce Dern
    • Marthe Keller
    • John Frankenheimer
  • Writers
    • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
    • Ernest Lehman(screenplay by)
    • Kenneth Ross(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Robert Shaw
    • Bruce Dern
    • Marthe Keller
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 104User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:55
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos78

    Robert Shaw and Fritz Weaver in Black Sunday (1977)
    Robert Shaw and Fritz Weaver in Black Sunday (1977)
    Black Sunday (1977)
    Black Sunday (1977)
    Black Sunday (1977)
    Marthe Keller in Black Sunday (1977)
    Black Sunday (1977)
    Bruce Dern and Tom McFadden in Black Sunday (1977)
    Steven Keats in Black Sunday (1977)
    Bruce Dern and Marthe Keller in Black Sunday (1977)
    Black Sunday (1977)
    Robert Shaw and Fritz Weaver in Black Sunday (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Shaw
    Robert Shaw
    • Kabakov
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Lander
    Marthe Keller
    Marthe Keller
    • Dahlia
    Fritz Weaver
    Fritz Weaver
    • Sam Corley
    Steven Keats
    Steven Keats
    • Robert Moshevsky
    Bekim Fehmiu
    Bekim Fehmiu
    • Mohammed Fasil
    Michael V. Gazzo
    Michael V. Gazzo
    • Muzi
    William Daniels
    William Daniels
    • Pugh
    Walter Gotell
    Walter Gotell
    • Col. Riat
    Victor Campos
    Victor Campos
    • Nageeb
    Joseph Robbie
    • Joseph Robbie
    Robert J. Wussler
    • Robert Wussler
    • (as Robert Wussler)
    Pat Summerall
    Pat Summerall
    • Pat Summerall
    Tom Brookshier
    Tom Brookshier
    • Tom Brookshier
    Walter Brooke
    Walter Brooke
    • Fowler
    James Jeter
    James Jeter
    • Watchman
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • Freighter Captain
    Tom McFadden
    • Farley
      • John Frankenheimer
    • Writers
      • Thomas Harris(based on the novel by)
      • Ernest Lehman(screenplay by)
      • Kenneth Ross(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This was one of Paramount's highest ever pre-release scoring films from test screenings. Paramount was positioning it to be the blockbuster picture of 1977, many industry insiders predicted the film would be as big a box-office hit as Jaws (1975). However, the film did not perform as well as expected and instead Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) became the biggest blockbuster movie of 1977.
    • Goofs
      When the blimp takes off from its base in South Florida en-route to the SuperBowl, you can see mountains in the distance. South Florida's terrain is flat.
    • Quotes

      Joseph Robbie: Cancel the Super Bowl? That's like canceling Christmas!

    • Connections
      Edited into The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      The Star Spangled Banner
      (1814)

      Music by John Stafford Smith (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Francis Scott Key (uncredited)

      Sung by Tom Sullivan

      Accompanied by Up With People

    User reviews104

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Top notch excitement
    "Black Sunday" is a flat out exciting motion picture about the planning and execution of a terrorist attack during the Super Bowl. Robert Shaw plays the head of an agency trying to prevent the attack. Bruce Dern is at his creepy best as a brainwashed Vietnam vet enlisted by the lovely Marthe Keller to help carry out the sinister plan. Dern is a blimp pilot and the perfect person to help detonate a contraption that will send thousands of deadly needles into the unsuspecting crowd. Dern was born to play parts like this and it's a reminder of how terrific an actor he is and how sad it is that he doesn't work as much as he used to.

    The final 40 minutes is intercut between the game (actually shot during the real Cowboys-Steelers Super Bowl game of 76) and the unfolding of the final stages of the plot. It's tense and exciting as Shaw and cohorts commandeer helicopters to try to catch the blimp heading to the big game to unleash its deadly attack.

    Kudos to director John Frankheimer for keeping the pacing on this 2 hour 25 minute thriller moving. The editing is first rate and the music score by John Williams is one of his best though it is never mentioned when his name comes up.

    If you like a good thriller that is never boring and will keep you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend "Black Sunday."
    helpful•40
    4
    • jrs-8
    • May 15, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 1, 1977 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Orange Bowl - 1501 N.W. 3rd Street, Miami, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Robert Evans Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 23 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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