The Laughing Policeman
“This movie is so real it makes every other movie in this town look like a movie.”
Synopsis
When a gunman opens fire on a crowded city bus in San Francisco, Detective Dave Evans is killed, along with the man he'd been following in relation to a murder. Evans' partner, Sgt. Jake Martin, becomes obsessed with solving the case.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Laughing Policeman (1973) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-10-30
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Walter Matthau
Sgt. Jake Martin SFPD
Bruce Dern
Insp. Leo Larsen SFPD
Louis Gossett Jr.
Insp. James Larrimore SFPD
Albert Paulsen
Henry Camerero
Anthony Zerbe
Lt. Nat Steiner SFPD
Val Avery
Insp. John Pappas SFPD
Cathy Lee Crosby
Kay Butler
Mario Gallo
Bobby Mow, Snitch
Joanna Cassidy
Monica, Beth's Roomate
Frances Lee McCain
Prostitute
Clifton James
Officer Jim Maloney SFPD Bomb Squad
Paul Koslo
Duane Haygood
Matt Clark
Coronor
William Hansen
Mr. Schwermer, Bus Vicitm
Shirley Ballard
Grace Martin
Elaine Collins
Go-Go Dancer
Cheryl Christiansen
Nurse on Bus
Don Borisenko
Collins
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 20, 1973
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$2.3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.7M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.75x
-$580K deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Stuart Rosenberg
- Screenplay & Story
- Thomas Rickman, Stuart Rosenberg
- Original Score
- Charles Fox
- Original Title
- The Laughing Policeman
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 52m
- Production Budget
- $2.3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.7M
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Stuart Rosenberg
Thomas Rickman, Stuart Rosenberg, Per Wahlöö, Maj Sjöwall
Charles Fox
David M. Walsh
Bob Wyman
Stuart Rosenberg
Department Leadership Roster
Stuart Rosenberg
Director
Thomas Rickman
Screenplay
Stuart Rosenberg
Producer
Bob Wyman
Editor
Charles Fox
Original Music Composer
David M. Walsh
Director of Photography
Stuart Rosenberg
Screenplay
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.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Laughing Policeman.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Laughing Policeman.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Jellysteve
list0
All BluRay Movies EVER
desc
Golden Globes - Best Non-English Language Film Winners 1949-2025
Golden Globes winners archive (Best Non-English Language Film Winners 1949-2025)
Book Adaptations
Similar Titles to The Laughing Policeman
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
5.9
6.8
5.9
5.7
5.1
5.7
5.4
6.7
6.2
5.3
6.7
6.9
4.1
6.0
2.8
6.6
4.8
4.5
6.8
7.8
More Like The Laughing Policeman
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Laughing Policeman
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Laughing Policeman about?
When a gunman opens fire on a crowded city bus in San Francisco, Detective Dave Evans is killed, along with the man he'd been following in relation to a murder. Evans' partner, Sgt. Jake Martin, becomes obsessed with solving the case.
Who directed The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman was directed by Stuart Rosenberg.
Who stars in The Laughing Policeman?
The principal cast of The Laughing Policeman includes Walter Matthau, Bruce Dern, Louis Gossett Jr., Albert Paulsen, Anthony Zerbe.
When was The Laughing Policeman released and how long is it?
The Laughing Policeman was released in 1973 with a total runtime of 1h 52m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman had a reported production budget of $2.3M and grossed $1.7M at the worldwide box office (0.75 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Laughing Policeman?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Laughing Policeman was composed by Charles Fox.
Is The Laughing Policeman based on a book or true story?
The Laughing Policeman is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Per Wahlöö", Novel: "Maj Sjöwall".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Laughing Policeman?
The Laughing Policeman holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).