Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- morally uneasy
- suspenseful
- classic crime night
- 1970s cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found John Wayne compelling and the film competently cast, but regarded its slow pacing, perfunctory drama, and uneven supporting characters as limiting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
McQ investigates his friend's killing and discovers police involvement in the handling of confiscated drugs.
Lon McQ follows a snaky trail of clues while facing antagonists and corrupt elements inside law enforcement.
The film positions Wayne's independent police lieutenant as a western-style loner in a contemporary crime setting.
The film emphasizes the MAC-10 submachine gun, pursuit driving, gunfire, and urban law-enforcement action.
Films like McQ, and why
Magnum Force
Both are 1970s police corruption thrillers built around a morally independent detective confronting compromised law enforcement.
Dirty Harry
Shares the gritty urban crime investigation, lone-cop protagonist, and institutional corruption of a contemporary police action film.
The French Connection
Both combine detective mystery, maverick law enforcement, and hard-edged 1970s crime-action conventions.
Chinatown
A comparable modern noir featuring a solitary investigator, shadowy conspiracies, and a tense pursuit through an American city.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Sturges
- Release Date
- 1974-02-06
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (111)
Cast
- John Wayne
- Eddie Albert
- Diana Muldaur
- Colleen Dewhurst
- Clu Gulager
- David Huddleston
- Julian Christopher
- Al Lettieri
- Julie Adams
- Roger E. Mosley
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 McQ about?
- A maverick Seattle police lieutenant hunts his best friend's killer while exposing a drug conspiracy inside his own department.
- What is McQ like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of McQ as slow, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is McQ violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in McQ as moderate.
- What did critics think of McQ?
- Critics generally found John Wayne compelling and the film competently cast, but regarded its slow pacing, perfunctory drama, and uneven supporting characters as limiting.
- Which films are like McQ?
- Films with a similar feel include Magnum Force, Dirty Harry, The French Connection, and Chinatown.
- How long is McQ?
- McQ runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch McQ?
- In United States, McQ is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
