Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- stylized
- propulsive
- comic book movie night
- retro movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Dick Tracy as a stylish and technically accomplished comic-book adaptation whose visual inventiveness is limited by artificial characterization and storytelling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The production turns Chester Gould's comic-strip world into a highly graphic live-action city of flat colors and exaggerated villains.
Dick Tracy investigates organized crime while facing Big Boy Caprice and an array of grotesque gangsters in a noir-inflected city.
Tracy attempts to stop Big Boy's effort to control the city's criminal fraternities and protect the community.
The film is distinguished by its vivid, restricted color scheme and brightly clad characters, modeled on the source strip.
Films like Dick Tracy, and why
Batman
shared comic-book crime adventure, heightened villains, bold production design, and pulpy noir atmosphere
The Rocketeer
shared retro comic-strip sensibility, colorful period adventure, earnest heroism, and theatrical visual design
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
shared live-action cartoon energy, stylized period setting, crime capers, and vivid color palette
Movie Details
- Director
- Warren Beatty
- Release Date
- 1990-06-15
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (1092)
Cast
- Warren Beatty
- Al Pacino
- Madonna
- Dustin Hoffman
- James Caan
- Charlie Korsmo
- Glenne Headly
- Mandy Patinkin
- Seymour Cassel
- James Keane
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 Dick Tracy about?
- A principled detective battles a flamboyant gangster and a seductive nightclub singer in a dazzling comic-strip vision of noir-era crime.
- What is Dick Tracy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dick Tracy as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dick Tracy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Dick Tracy as mild.
- What did critics think of Dick Tracy?
- Critics broadly praised Dick Tracy as a stylish and technically accomplished comic-book adaptation whose visual inventiveness is limited by artificial characterization and storytelling.
- Which films are like Dick Tracy?
- Films with a similar feel include Batman, The Rocketeer, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
- How long is Dick Tracy?
- Dick Tracy runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dick Tracy?
- In United States, Dick Tracy is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
