Sharky's Machine
“Nobody leans on Sharky's Machine.”
Synopsis
Police officer Tom Sharky gets busted back to working vice, where he happens upon a scandalous conspiracy involving a local politician. Sharky's new 'machine' gathers evidence while Sharky falls in love with a woman he has never met.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Original TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2026-09-18
Top Cast
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Burt Reynolds
Tom Sharky
Rachel Ward
Domino
Henry Silva
Billy Score
Brian Keith
Papa
Vittorio Gassman
Victor Scorelli
Charles Durning
Lt. Friscoe
Earl Holliman
Donald Hotchkins
Bernie Casey
Arch
Richard Libertini
Nosh
Darryl Hickman
Smiley
Joseph Mascolo
Joe Tipps
Tony King
Kitten Holmes
John Fiedler
Barrett
Carol Locatell
Mabel
Suzee Pai
Siakwan
Glynn Rubin
Pregnant Woman
Val Avery
Manny
Aarika Wells
Tiffany
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 18, 1981
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$17.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$35.6M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.03x
+$18.1M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Burt Reynolds
- Screenplay & Story
- Gerald Di Pego
- Original Score
- Al Capps
- Original Title
- Sharky's Machine
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 2m
- Production Budget
- $17.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $35.6M
- Production Studios
- Deliverance Productions, Orion Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Burt Reynolds
Gerald Di Pego, William Diehl
Al Capps
William A. Fraker
Dennis Virkler, William D. Gordean
Hank Moonjean
Department Leadership Roster
Burt Reynolds
Director
Gerald Di Pego
Screenplay
Hank Moonjean
Producer
Walter Scott Herndon
Production Design
Dennis Virkler
Editor
William A. Fraker
Director of Photography
Norman Salling
Costume Design
William D. Gordean
Editor
Al Capps
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Sharky's Machine.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Sharky's Machine.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sharky's Machine
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Sharky's Machine about?
Police officer Tom Sharky gets busted back to working vice, where he happens upon a scandalous conspiracy involving a local politician. Sharky's new 'machine' gathers evidence while Sharky falls in love with a woman he has never met.
Who directed Sharky's Machine?
Sharky's Machine was directed by Burt Reynolds.
Who stars in Sharky's Machine?
The principal cast of Sharky's Machine includes Burt Reynolds, Rachel Ward, Henry Silva, Brian Keith, Vittorio Gassman.
When was Sharky's Machine released and how long is it?
Sharky's Machine was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 2h 2m.
What was the box office and production budget of Sharky's Machine?
Sharky's Machine had a reported production budget of $17.5M and grossed $35.6M at the worldwide box office (2.03 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for Sharky's Machine?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Sharky's Machine was composed by Al Capps.
Is Sharky's Machine based on a book or true story?
Sharky's Machine is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "William Diehl".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Sharky's Machine?
Sharky's Machine holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).