Overview
Four desperate men must unite to survive a treacherous journey through the South American wilderness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- oppressive
- visceral
- cynical
- intense movie night
- new hollywood deep dive
What critics said
Critics broadly recognized the film's extraordinary set pieces and atmospheric ambition while finding its character development and storytelling emotionally remote.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The central journey depends on transporting leaking nitroglycerin over a rocky mountain road.
The gangster, banker, hit man, and terrorist must suppress their differences to complete the mission.
The South American jungle, burning refinery, trucks, and unstable dynamite create an oppressive human-made environment.
The principal men are fugitives living under altered identities in an isolated village.
Films like Sorcerer, and why
The Wages of Fear
shared high-stakes thriller structure, hazardous transport mission, moral cynicism, and oppressive atmosphere
Deliverance
shared New Hollywood survival thriller intensity, masculine fatalism, and dangerous journey through hostile terrain
The French Connection
shared international crime ensemble, existential tension, and grimy, volatile suspense
Sorcerer's direct influence: The French Connection
shared morally compromised protagonists, escalating peril, and psychologically punishing action filmmaking
Movie Details
- Director
- William Friedkin
- Release Date
- 1977-06-24
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (705)
Cast
- Roy Scheider
- Bruno Cremer
- Francisco Rabal
- Amidou
- Ramon Bieri
- Peter Capell
- Karl John
- Friedrich von Ledebur
- Chico Martínez
- Joe Spinell
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Sorcerer about?
- Four fugitives gamble their lives on a treacherous mountain drive carrying leaking nitroglycerin toward a blazing refinery.
- What is Sorcerer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sorcerer as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Sorcerer violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Sorcerer as moderate.
- What did critics think of Sorcerer?
- Critics broadly recognized the film's extraordinary set pieces and atmospheric ambition while finding its character development and storytelling emotionally remote.
- Which films are like Sorcerer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wages of Fear, Deliverance, The French Connection, and Sorcerer's direct influence: The French Connection.
- How long is Sorcerer?
- Sorcerer runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sorcerer?
- In United States, Sorcerer is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
