North by Northwest
“It's a deadly game of "tag" and Cary Grant is "it"!”
Synopsis
Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official Trailer 4K Ultra HDOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-10-07
Top Cast
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Cary Grant
Roger Thornhill
Eva Marie Saint
Eve Kendall
James Mason
Phillip Vandamm
Jessie Royce Landis
Clara Thornhill
Leo G. Carroll
Professor
Josephine Hutchinson
Mrs. Townsend
Philip Ober
Lester Townsend
Martin Landau
Leonard
Adam Williams
Valerian
Edward Platt
Victor Larrabee
Robert Ellenstein
Licht
Les Tremayne
Auctioneer
Philip Coolidge
Dr. Cross
Patrick McVey
Sergeant Flamm
Edward Binns
Captain Junket
Ken Lynch
Charley
Nora Marlowe
Anna, the Menacing Housekeeper (uncredited)
Doreen Lang
Maggie - Thornhill's Secretary (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Shanghai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
August 6, 1959
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 16, 2009
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$4M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$13.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.32x
+$9.3M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Alfred Hitchcock
- Screenplay & Story
- Ernest Lehman
- Original Score
- Bernard Herrmann
- Original Title
- North by Northwest
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Production Budget
- $4M
- Worldwide Gross
- $13.3M
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Alfred Hitchcock
Ernest Lehman
Bernard Herrmann
Robert Burks
George Tomasini
Alfred Hitchcock
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Burks
Director of Photography
George Tomasini
Editor
Bernard Herrmann
Original Music Composer
Alfred Hitchcock
Producer
Alfred Hitchcock
Director
Robert F. Boyle
Production Design
Ernest Lehman
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for North by Northwest.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring North by Northwest.
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Frequently Asked Questions About North by Northwest
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is North by Northwest about?
Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
Who directed North by Northwest?
North by Northwest was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Who stars in North by Northwest?
The principal cast of North by Northwest includes Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll.
When was North by Northwest released and how long is it?
North by Northwest was released in 1959 with a total runtime of 2h 17m.
What was the box office and production budget of North by Northwest?
North by Northwest had a reported production budget of $4M and grossed $13.3M at the worldwide box office (3.32 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for North by Northwest?
The original motion picture soundtrack for North by Northwest was composed by Bernard Herrmann.
What is the age rating and content advisory for North by Northwest?
North by Northwest holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).