Coffy (1973)

79% of critics liked it
(19 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(8,249 ratings)

Writer-director Jack Hill (Spider Baby, Switchblade Sisters) managed to beat Death Wish to the screens by a year with this violent tale of a citizen touched by crime and deciding to fight back. Her little 11-year old sister is a hopeless addict, the police can't help, and poor Nurse "Coffy" Coffin… More Writer-director Jack Hill (Spider Baby, Switchblade Sisters) managed to beat Death Wish to the screens by a year with this violent tale of a citizen touched by crime and deciding to fight back. Her little 11-year old sister is a hopeless addict, the police can't help, and poor Nurse "Coffy" Coffin (Pam Grier) has no choice but to take the law into her own hands. Posing as a Jamaican prostitute, Coffy infiltrates the lairs of pimp King George (Robert DoQui) and kingpin pusher Vitroni (Allan Arbus). Eventually, after her childhood sweetheart is beaten into a coma and she finds out her politician-lover (Booker Bradshaw) is involved, Coffy kills everyone with a shotgun. However, by having a black woman named Coffy get injected with a sugar mixture (the crooks think it's heroin), one can only imagine the filmmakers cackling about Coffy with cream and sugar. In fact, the original ad line promised "Coffy...she'll cream you!" ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Jack Hill
Written By: Jack Hill
Genres: Classics, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jun 13, 1973 Wide
On DVD: Dec 26, 2001
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Jack Hill directs for maximal suspense, violence, and voyeuristic appeal (which Grier certainly embodies).
, Variety
Grier, a statuesque actress with a body she doesn't hesitate to show, is strongly cast. Booker Bradshaw as a city politician and William Elliott as an honest cop score well.
A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Leaves a viewer with the happy thought that she now can get back to nursing and away from films like Coffy.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Coffy is slightly more serious and a little more inventive than it needs to be.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Grier is the movie's bristling force
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
If you're looking for nonstop, no-holds-barred exploitation, look no further. Pam Grier's first solo starring role is an enormously entertaining black action classic.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film totally revolves around Pam and she carries the film with a lethal and sexy punch.
, Time Out
The world Coffy inhabits is revealed as one where social, sexual and political exploitation are simply the norms.
Bill Chambers, Film Freak Central
There's no denying the film's savage power
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
If only for Grier's performance, Coffy is a must see.
, Boxoffice Magazine
Judging by the talents she displays in this action drama, Pam Grier might yet emerge as the first black female superstar in today's market.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
If you think the latest crop of skinny white girls (Diaz, Alba, Garner, Gellar, et al.) knows how to kick ass, then you need to educate yourself with a little jolt of Coffy.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

While this film isn't 100% great as far as technical stuff, or acting, it definitely promises what it delivers. This is one of the most famous, influential, and noteworthy blaxploitation films on the 1970s. Although she had film roles before this, this is the film that made Pam… More
While this film isn't 100% great as far as technical stuff, or acting, it definitely promises what it delivers. This is one of the most famous, influential, and noteworthy blaxploitation films on the 1970s. Although she had film roles before this, this is the film that made Pam Grier's career. Without this character (and a few other lead female roles from otehr blaxploitation films), there wouldn't be any badass female action heroes like Ellen Ripley, Sarah Connor, or Lara Croft. It's that simple. Yeah, this movie is a little cheesy, and features some questionable morals and actions, but it's hard not to like a sassy tough chick who fights dirty by hiding razor blades in her afro. The music kicks ass too. I'm surprised the soundtrack for this isn't as well known as the ones for Shaft and Super Fly. If you like urban action movies, blaxploitation films, revenge flicks, and have a thing for 70s cinema in general, you really need to see this if you haven't done so already.
Cassandra M

If you only watch one blaxploitation movie make it this one. There is much fun to be had in many films of the genre, but here the central performance by Pam Grier is monumental. She may not be the greatest actress in the world, but what presence, and when the big boys fall for her at… More
If you only watch one blaxploitation movie make it this one. There is much fun to be had in many films of the genre, but here the central performance by Pam Grier is monumental. She may not be the greatest actress in the world, but what presence, and when the big boys fall for her at the wink of an eye, it is believable. Perhaps at the end it is a little over the top, that on such a serious mission a guy would pause for a quickie, but then?. This measured, involving and exciting. There is much violence, including the most wonderful massed cat fight, and much gratuitous violence. In fact during the aforementioned cat fight, all the girls involved have their breasts spill out one after the other. The dialogue is fine and scenes are not overlong as they can be in this genre. Also, the costumes have to get a mention and impressive as Grier's are it's the top bad boys that really come up trumps, as for the top pimp's jump suit, in yellow, what can I say?
Anthony L

Another great Grier/Hill blaxploitation collaboration, you just know somebody?s gonna lose a dick!
Tim S

Outside of Car Wash, this was my first foray into blacksploitation, much to my shame. So with that, I revel in just how fantastically awesome Coffy is. This movie won't be for everyone, but for outrageous cinema or grindhouse fans, it's a feast for the senses. Pam Grier… More
Outside of Car Wash, this was my first foray into blacksploitation, much to my shame. So with that, I revel in just how fantastically awesome Coffy is. This movie won't be for everyone, but for outrageous cinema or grindhouse fans, it's a feast for the senses. Pam Grier stars as the sexy bad-ass mutha Coffy, out for revenge against the scum of society. The acting here is about what you'd expect from these sorts of movies: mostly campy and WAY out there, but fun and enjoyable. Don't expect any Oscar-worthy performances. Just enjoy the ride. On a sidenote, keep an eye out for Allan Arbus, who fans may recognize as the infamous Sidney Freeman from M*A*S*H. He popped up in the main cast and I was thinking "Sidney, my man!" :D The score is the typical 70's blacksploitational fare; lots of wah wah guitar and smooth black voices. I love it and can't get it enough of it, particularly the pimp's theme which repeats 'George' over and over again. Hilarious and groovy. I can't really find any faults with this flick because it's not meant to be anymore than what it is, and that's ok because I enjoy the hell out of it. Pam Grier kicking the underworld's ass, all the while being sexy AND bad, but most people won't get it. It's blacksploitation, action, sexiness (there are tits popped out in a LOT of scenes), cheesy dialogue, explosions, guns and car chases. You'd be hard-pressed not to have a good time with this one.
Adam M

weird: celebrates vengeance against the whites and black pimps sexually objectifying Coffy but the camera ogles Pam Grier's body whether she's lost a fistfight or is kicking ass
Ken S

Pam Grier maybe the biggest badass...ever
Daniel H

A not-so-classy revenge flick that launched Pam Grier to superstardom. The film is more gutsy than many other Blaxploitation movies, both in the seriousness, and in gore content... we literally get a half-second of head exploding within the first 5 minutes, and fights seem to start… More
A not-so-classy revenge flick that launched Pam Grier to superstardom. The film is more gutsy than many other Blaxploitation movies, both in the seriousness, and in gore content... we literally get a half-second of head exploding within the first 5 minutes, and fights seem to start at the drop of a hat. The obligatory anti-drug protagonism and eponymous title song identify it strongly as a blaxploitation film. But, not entirely. Layer the excessive nudity and catfights on top of the violence, and it almost begins to seem like a film Russ Meier would have idolized... low-cut blouses get ripped open at any and all times, and of course, a man doesn't flash so much as a nipple: the film is almost a pure blend of sexploitation and blaxploitation. By the end, a scene which must have influenced Tarentino in Kill Bill: Vol 2, where the revenge-driven femme-fatale is forced to confront the object of her vengeance: her former lover.
Michael G

Not a good movie at all. Just nostalgic.
Lesley N

Pam Grier gets her revenge on the baddies that turned her sister into a drug addict. Plenty of violence, toplessness and girl-power for people who like that kind of thing, and why not. Nice soundtrack by Roy Ayres.
Wu C

Pam Grier is a knockout and in this movie we see her in her prime. I never saw many of this genre, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one.