Chinatown poster

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Chinatown

1974 · Movie · 130 min

Every rating

Platform pages last read 30 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

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75–98 out of 100

Mostly agreed

Lowest is Criticker on 75, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 98.

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A cynical private investigator is hired by a woman to investigate her husband's extramarital affair. What seems like a routine case quickly spirals into a complex web of deceit, corruption, and murder involving the city's water supply and its most powerful figures. The detective finds himself in over his head, struggling to protect his client and uncover a devastating truth.

Details

Released
20 June 1974
Country
United States
Language
English, Cantonese, Spanish
Runtime
130 min
Rated
R
Budget
$6.0M
Box office
$30.0M
Awards
20 wins, 23 nominations

This title elsewhere

Jack Nicholson

Jack Nicholson

J.J. 'Jake' Gittes

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway

Evelyn Cross Mulwray

John Huston

John Huston

Noah Cross

Perry Lopez

Perry Lopez

Lieutenant Lou Escobar

Burt Young

Burt Young

Curly

John Hillerman

John Hillerman

Russ Yelburton

Darrell Zwerling

Darrell Zwerling

Hollis I. Mulwray

Roman Polanski

Roman Polanski

Man with Knife

Awards & nominations

See all 43 →

7 major awards won · 20 wins from 43 nominations across 16 ceremonies

Academy Awards 1974 Best Original Screenplay Robert Towne Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 Best Motion Picture – Drama Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Robert Towne Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 Best Director – Motion Picture Roman Polanski Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1974 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Jack Nicholson Winner
Producers Guild of America Awards 1974 PGA Hall of Fame – Motion Pictures Robert Evans Winner
Writers Guild of America Awards 1974 Best Drama – Written Directly for the Screen Robert Towne Winner
Academy Awards 1974 Best Picture Robert Evans Nominee
Show all 43 awards across 16 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.