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Traffic

  • 20002000
  • RR
  • 2h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
206K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,537
673
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Benicio Del Toro, and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Traffic (2000)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller
A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect a... Read allA conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron's wife attempts to carry on the family business.A conservative judge is appointed by the President to spearhead America's escalating war against drugs, only to discover that his teenage daughter is a crack addict. Two DEA agents protect an informant. A jailed drug baron's wife attempts to carry on the family business.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
206K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,537
673
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • Simon Moore(miniseries Traffik)
    • Stephen Gaghan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Benicio Del Toro
    • Catherine Zeta-Jones
Top credits
  • Director
    • Steven Soderbergh
  • Writers
    • Simon Moore(miniseries Traffik)
    • Stephen Gaghan(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael Douglas
    • Benicio Del Toro
    • Catherine Zeta-Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 913User reviews
    • 179Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 74 wins & 87 nominations total

    Videos1

    What We Never Knew We Wanted to Know About "That '70s Show" and 'Traffic'
    Video 1:22
    What We Never Knew We Wanted to Know About "That '70s Show" and 'Traffic'

    Photos244

    Benicio Del Toro in Traffic (2000)
    Benjamin Bratt in Traffic (2000)
    Catherine Zeta Jones stars as Helena Ayala
    Don Cheadle stars as Montel Gordon
    Benicio Del Toro stars as Javier Rodriguez
    Clifton Collins Jr. stars as Fransisco Flores
    Michael Douglas stars as Robert Wakefield
    Caroline & Seth
    Robert & Barbara
    James Brolin and Albert Finney play presidential counselors
    Luis Guzmán stars as Ray Castro
    Catherine Zeta Jones stars as Helena Ayala

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Robert Wakefieldas Robert Wakefield
    Benicio Del Toro
    Benicio Del Toro
    • Javier Rodriguezas Javier Rodriguez
    Catherine Zeta-Jones
    Catherine Zeta-Jones
    • Helena Ayalaas Helena Ayala
    Jacob Vargas
    Jacob Vargas
    • Manolo Sanchezas Manolo Sanchez
    Andrew Chavez
    • Desert Truck Driveras Desert Truck Driver
    Michael Saucedo
    Michael Saucedo
    • Desert Truck Driveras Desert Truck Driver
    Tomas Milian
    Tomas Milian
    • General Arturo Salazaras General Arturo Salazar
    Jose Yenque
    Jose Yenque
    • Salazar Soldieras Salazar Soldier…
    Emilio Rivera
    Emilio Rivera
    • Salazar Soldier #2as Salazar Soldier #2
    Michael O'Neill
    Michael O'Neill
    • Lawyer Rodmanas Lawyer Rodman
    Russell G. Jones
    Russell G. Jones
    • Clerkas Clerk
    Lorene Hetherington
    • State Capitol Reporter #1as State Capitol Reporter #1
    Eric Collins
    • State Capitol Reporter #2as State Capitol Reporter #2
    Beau Holden
    Beau Holden
    • DEA Agent - CalTransas DEA Agent - CalTrans
    Peter Stader
    • DEA Agent - CalTransas DEA Agent - CalTrans
    James Lew
    James Lew
    • DEA Agent - CalTransas DEA Agent - CalTrans
    Jeremy Fitzgerald
    Jeremy Fitzgerald
    • DEA Agent - CalTransas DEA Agent - CalTrans
    Russell Solberg
    • DEA Agent - CalTransas DEA Agent - CalTrans
    • Director
      • Steven Soderbergh
    • Writers
      • Simon Moore(miniseries Traffik)
      • Stephen Gaghan(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    An intertwined drama about the United States' war on drugs, seen through the eyes of a once conservative judge, now newly-appointed drug czar, his heroin-addicted daughter, two DEA agents, a jailed drug kingpin's wife, and a Mexican cop who begins to question his boss's motives.
    • mexico
    • drug cartel hid the records in the back of a painting
    • judge
    • cocaine
    • interlinked stories
    • 340 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • It's a dirty, dirty war! And no one comes away clean
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for pervasive drug content, strong language, violence and some sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The scene where Michael Douglas takes his trip to the California border crossing to discuss drug interdiction was actually shot at the Tijuana crossing. The video and sound quality is so low in part because it was never supposed to be part of the movie. Douglas started asking, out of character, Rudy M. Camacho about drug trafficking on the border. Camacho was, at the time, the actual Customs chief in charge of the California border crossings. Steven Soderbergh began filming it with a hand-held camera, praying that Camacho wouldn't address the actor as "Mr. Douglas".
    • Goofs
      The accents of the supposedly "Mexican" characters are clearly not Mexican. This is pretty distinctive to any Spanish native.
    • Quotes

      General Ralph Landry: [20:13] You know, when Khruschev was forced out, he sat down and wrote two letters and gave them to his successor. He said - "When you get yourself into a situation you can't get out of, open the first letter, and you'll be safe. When you get yourself into another situation you can't get out of, open the second letter". Well, soon enough, this guy found himself into a tight place, so he opened the first letter. Which said - "Blame everything on me". So he blames the old man, it worked like a charm. He got himself into a second situation he couldn't get out of, he opened the second letter. It said - "Sit down, and write two letters".

      Robert Wakefield: [laughs] Yep.

    • Crazy credits
      There are no opening credits except for the film's title in the lower left corner.
    • Alternate versions
      The Criterion Collection DVD is presented in 1.85:1, whilst the Criterion Blu-ray is presented in 1.78:1. According to the Blu-ray insert, the latter is the director's preferred ratio.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cast Away/What Women Want/Finding Forrester/Traffic/All the Pretty Horses/Before Night Falls (2000)
    • Soundtracks
      Give The Po' Man A Break
      Written by Fatboy Slim (as Norman Cook)
      Performed by Fatboy Slim
      Courtesy of Astralwerks Records

    User reviews913

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A Sodebergh Binge
    Yep, I'm on a full Sodebergh binge. I've been crazy about him ever since "King of The Hill" and he, very rarely, lets me down. I couldn't say that about many people including siblings and lovers. "Traffic" is not a departure for Sodebergh, all of his films are. He is an artist with a golden touch. He can travel through opposing universes with amazing ease. In "Traffic" the universe is uncomfortable, muddy, almost ugly and yet, it fascinates and attracts with the power of a magic magnet. Benicio del Toro and Erika Christensen are the two inhabitants of this peculiar universe that get under your skin and carry with you as if they were part of a personal experience. No, not if. They do, they are, they become part of a personal experience. The film allows you that. It makes you learn without preaching. How many films today manage that?
    helpful•91
    35
    • don_agu
    • Jan 1, 2005

    FAQ5

    • What is the mixture sprayed into Frankie Flowers face while he's held captive?
    • What is it that Gordon attaches to the table in Ayala's house towards the end of the film?
    • What was the deal Helena made with Juan Obregón?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 5, 2001 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Traffik
    • Filming locations
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
    • Production companies
      • Compulsion Inc.
      • Initial Entertainment Group (IEG)
      • Splendid Medien AG
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $48,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $124,115,725
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $184,725
      • Dec 31, 2000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $207,515,725
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 27 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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