Overview
A meticulously planned heist spirals into chaos as betrayal lurks around every corner.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- bleak
- realist
- classic cinema night
- film noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard John Huston’s tightly constructed noir as a tense, technically accomplished, unusually realistic crime ensemble.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The gang includes struggling laborers, alienated loners, and family men whose criminal enterprise is treated with social realism.
Harold Rosson’s black-and-white cinematography shapes the film’s classic noir atmosphere and postwar realism.
Doc’s meticulously planned jewelry heist works operationally, but bad luck and betrayals undermine its aftermath.
Doc recruits safe cracker Louis Ciavelli, driver Gus Minissi, and gunman Dix Handley for complementary roles.
Films like The Asphalt Jungle, and why
The Killing
Shared film noir atmosphere, criminal ensemble, heist mechanics, and morally compromised underworld figures.
Rififi
Shared fatalistic crime plotting, professional criminals, betrayal, and stark black-and-white noir style.
White Heat
Shared postwar noir realism, doomed criminal ambition, and tension generated by competing loyalties.
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Shared heist structure, criminal camaraderie, and bleak consequences for characters pursuing a major score.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Huston
- Release Date
- 1950-05-12
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (552)
Cast
- Sterling Hayden
- Louis Calhern
- Jean Hagen
- James Whitmore
- Sam Jaffe
- John McIntire
- Marc Lawrence
- Barry Kelley
- Anthony Caruso
- Teresa Celli
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Asphalt Jungle about?
- A meticulous jewel heist exposes the fragile loyalties and doomed ambitions of a postwar criminal underworld.
- What is The Asphalt Jungle like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Asphalt Jungle as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Asphalt Jungle violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Asphalt Jungle as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Asphalt Jungle?
- Critics broadly regard John Huston’s tightly constructed noir as a tense, technically accomplished, unusually realistic crime ensemble.
- Which films are like The Asphalt Jungle?
- Films with a similar feel include The Killing, Rififi, White Heat, and The Friends of Eddie Coyle.
- How long is The Asphalt Jungle?
- The Asphalt Jungle runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Asphalt Jungle?
- In United States, The Asphalt Jungle is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
