Chinatown
“You get tough. You get tender. You get close to each other. Maybe you even get close to the truth.”
Synopsis
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Part of the The Jake Gittes Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Chinatown (1974) Original Trailer [FHD]
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-06-28
Top Cast
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Jack Nicholson
J.J. 'Jake' Gittes
Faye Dunaway
Evelyn Cross Mulwray
John Huston
Noah Cross
Perry Lopez
Lieutenant Lou Escobar
Burt Young
Curly
John Hillerman
Russ Yelburton
Darrell Zwerling
Hollis I. Mulwray
Roman Polanski
Man with Knife
Diane Ladd
Ida Sessions
Richard Bakalyan
Detective Loach
Joe Mantell
Lawrence Walsh
Roy Jenson
Claude Mulvihill
James Hong
Evelyn's Butler
Bruce Glover
Duffy
Nandu Hinds
Sophie
James O'Rear
Lawyer
Beulah Quo
Maid
Jerry Fujikawa
Gardener
Release History & Theatrical Window
Filmundur
Festival / Special Debut
June 20, 1974
Wide Cinema Exhibition
February 21, 2001
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$30M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
5x
+$24M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Towne, Roman Polanski
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- Chinatown
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Spanish, Cantonese, English
- Runtime
- 2h 10m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $30M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures, Long Road Productions, Robert Evans Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Roman Polanski
Robert Towne, Roman Polanski
Jerry Goldsmith
John A. Alonzo, Stanley Cortez
Sam O'Steen
Robert Evans
Department Leadership Roster
Richard Sylbert
Production Design
Robert Evans
Producer
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
Sam O'Steen
Editor
John A. Alonzo
Director of Photography
Roman Polanski
Director
Anthea Sylbert
Costume Design
Hal Needham
Stunt Coordinator
Robert Towne
Writer
Roman Polanski
Writer
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
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Chinatown.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Chinatown.
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North American Cinema
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Movie Collection
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chinatown
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Chinatown about?
Private eye Jake Gittes lives off of the murky moral climate of sunbaked, pre-World War II Southern California. Hired by a beautiful socialite to investigate her husband's extra-marital affair, Gittes is swept into a maelstrom of double dealings and deadly deceits, uncovering a web of personal and political scandals that come crashing together.
Who directed Chinatown?
Chinatown was directed by Roman Polanski.
Who stars in Chinatown?
The principal cast of Chinatown includes Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston, Perry Lopez, Burt Young.
When was Chinatown released and how long is it?
Chinatown was released in 1974 with a total runtime of 2h 10m.
What was the box office and production budget of Chinatown?
Chinatown had a reported production budget of $6M and grossed $30M at the worldwide box office (5 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Chinatown?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Chinatown was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Chinatown?
Chinatown holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).