Featured Audience Ratings

• Thomas J

  
  I can see how Hitchcock was such a famed director!

• Jeff "

  
  Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest is a well crafted suspense thriller that has an engaging plot, a great cast and immaculate directing from the master of suspense. This is one of Hitchcock's finest works that is engaging from start to finish. Cary Grant is terrific in… More
  Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest is a well crafted suspense thriller that has an engaging plot, a great cast and immaculate directing from the master of suspense. This is one of Hitchcock's finest works that is engaging from start to finish. Cary Grant is terrific in the role of Roger Thornhill, a man who is plunged in a mysterious situation. The actors that star opposite Grant are wonderful as well; an Eva Marie and James Mason are fine choices and bring a memorable presence to the screen. Hitchcock directs great film and this is among his greater efforts as a director. What makes him so unique as a director is his style in terms of delivering thrills and suspense. Hitchcock is in a class by himself. North by Northwest is an accomplished picture that is confident, thrilling and above all, memorable. The film contains one of the most recognizable scenes in any Hitchcock film, the scene where Cary Grant gets chased by the crop dusting plane ranks as one of the best scenes along with the shower scene in Psycho. This is a great film that will surely please Hitchcock fans. At times the film does have a few weak areas, however the strong performances and effective directing keep things together well enough to make this a worthwhile film to watch. This is a blend great suspense and thriller elements that truly make this one of the standout pictures of the genre. As it stands, North by Northwest is a near flawless film that is aided by a strong cast, an engaging story and effective directing that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you love a well executed suspense film, North by Northwest will surely appeal to you, and is a must see.

• Sophie B

  
  Certainly an intriguing and well made film that I'd recommend to anyone, despite not being as good as Hitchcock's other films and slightly too long.

• Emil K

  
  North by Northwest was so much ahead it's time when it was released that even today it makes many other thrillers pale in comparision. Here is a film that is full of tension, action, humour and clever dialogue. Ernest Lehman's fantastic screenplay and Hitchcock's… More
  North by Northwest was so much ahead it's time when it was released that even today it makes many other thrillers pale in comparision. Here is a film that is full of tension, action, humour and clever dialogue. Ernest Lehman's fantastic screenplay and Hitchcock's playful direction makes this one a perfect example of masterfully made entertainment. In his long and fruitful career Hitchcock made many films but North by Northwest is easily one of the greatest of them all. This is his best film among his Marnie and Vertigo. It may not be as psychologically complex as those two great films, but what it loses in depth it gains in entertainment. North by Northwest is Hitchcock's definitive set piece film. It is a film full of classic set pieces that has since been a huge influence for many other directors like Brian De Palma, Paul Verhoeven or Martin Scorsese. When it comes to acting great actor Cary Grant never since or before gave us a performance as good as he did in here. Eva Marie Saint is perfect as typically icy Hitchcock leading lady and James Mason and Martin Landau are pitch perfect in their roles too. In the end North by Northwest might not be nothing but extremely well made escapist fun, but what a fun it is. Here is film for anyone who like their films full of nail biting tension and innovative direction. This is Hitchcock at the peak of his powers.

• Kevin C

  
  Hitchcock is all up in this well-directed, incredibly fast-paced hizzy, but it's Ernest Lehman's script that steals the show. Very few films can set up a complex mystery and then, by the end of the film, resolve none of it and still have the viewers leave completely… More
  Hitchcock is all up in this well-directed, incredibly fast-paced hizzy, but it's Ernest Lehman's script that steals the show. Very few films can set up a complex mystery and then, by the end of the film, resolve none of it and still have the viewers leave completely satisfied.

• Graham J

  
  Hitchcock's most exciting and epic adventure is definitely one of his best. Features my favorite performance from Cary Grant, there are so many qoutable lines and so many shots I will never forget. I can watch this one over and over.

• Eric A

  
  This has to be one of the most entertaining films ever made! Hitchcock is truly a genius. I can only imagine the impact this film had in 1959, because just now watching it in 2011 has really amazed me.

• Matheus C

  
  Working from one of the all-time great scripts by Ernest Lehman, Hitchcock is at the top of his game with the manipulation of his actors and the creation of the world they inhabit. This is class A Hollywood entertainment, with incredible star power, amazing set design and some of the… More
  Working from one of the all-time great scripts by Ernest Lehman, Hitchcock is at the top of his game with the manipulation of his actors and the creation of the world they inhabit. This is class A Hollywood entertainment, with incredible star power, amazing set design and some of the director's most iconic set pieces, using all film trickeries available at his disposal to make it possible. It does require a lot of suspension of disbelief, but Cary Grant outcharms even the most calculated script lines and Eva Marie Saint looks like she's going to start having sex with the camera at any time.

• Jay H

  
  Hitchcock's "North by Northwest," a classic of the mystery genre, is every bit as good as its reputation suggests. Bizarre, captivating, and unique, the film engages the viewer from the get-go and maintains that engagement for the majority of the movie. With celebrated… More
  Hitchcock's "North by Northwest," a classic of the mystery genre, is every bit as good as its reputation suggests. Bizarre, captivating, and unique, the film engages the viewer from the get-go and maintains that engagement for the majority of the movie. With celebrated actor Cary Grant in the lead role and Alfred Hitchcock in the director's chair, the film is as well-made as it is intriguing.

• Alexander D

  
  Great+

• Daniel P

  
  What a fantastic film! Suspenseful, dark, and sexy, as with all the best of Hitchcock. Not sure I've disliked any of his movies yet. What's particularly gripping about North by Northwest is its Kafka-esque premise: man being pursued and punished for something he didn't… More
  What a fantastic film! Suspenseful, dark, and sexy, as with all the best of Hitchcock. Not sure I've disliked any of his movies yet. What's particularly gripping about North by Northwest is its Kafka-esque premise: man being pursued and punished for something he didn't do, rendered powerless in his many attempts to extricate himself. And all along, the enemies are getting closer. I think when you look up femme fatale in the dictionary in the future, what you'll see is a picture of Eva Marie Saint. She's simply stunning here, holding all the cards right to the end. There is one, small knock on the film, though: it drags in the middle. Every scene does eventually reveal why it's there, and at the end of these scenes you do get a little frisson most of the time, but I found they were a little fatty, and could have gotten to the point faster. That said, there's a chase scene on Mount Rushmore... how much more can you ask!? Super film, a classic. One for the "can't miss" list.

• Jameson W

  
  Another classic film from director Alfred Hitchcock! The perfect mystery movie.

• Thomas B

  
  One of Hitchcock's best with the inimitable, irreplacable Cary Grant. Full review later.

• Dean M

  
  This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most suspenseful films, but also funniest and most enjoyable. This film contains some of Hitchcock's most famous scenes, including Cary Grant being pursued across the Indiana fields by a murderous crop-dusting plan and a cliff-hanging ending… More
  This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most suspenseful films, but also funniest and most enjoyable. This film contains some of Hitchcock's most famous scenes, including Cary Grant being pursued across the Indiana fields by a murderous crop-dusting plan and a cliff-hanging ending (literally) on Mt Rushmore. The first hour is very funny, as the star squabbles with his mother and raises a ruckus in an auction room.

• Luke B

  
  A film that surprises me every time I see it. This will constantly be one of my favorite films as it is a constant barrage of hits. The film perfectly matches screwball comedy, raunchy romance (without ever getting too sexy), action, and mysterious suspense. A trick in recent films is… More
  A film that surprises me every time I see it. This will constantly be one of my favorite films as it is a constant barrage of hits. The film perfectly matches screwball comedy, raunchy romance (without ever getting too sexy), action, and mysterious suspense. A trick in recent films is to confuse the audience until the very end, where needless exposition happens. Hitchcock was a master of mysteries because he knew how many unanswered questions to have on the go at any one time, and when to answer them. As the film progresses, new plot twists arrive, making it an interesting and intriguing film. At the beginning, we are as clueless as Grant, but as the film goes on, we see more and more , gradually making us more informed than Grant. This clever respect for the audience means we are never talked down to. The action scenes are as fantastic today as they ever were. The slow build up to the plane scene is the kind of patience lacking in today's shaky cam world. North by Northwest is a perfect movie.

• AJ V

  
  This movie is really fantastic, Hitchcock's last film of the fifties, and with Grant. The story does remind you of some other Hitchcock films, but this movie has a new style and remains very modern, I think. I highly recommend this movie.

• Spencer S

  
  In my top ten best Hitchcock films, Cary Grant is the best debonair leading man. Eva Marie Saint is the perfect temptress and sidekick, adding drama to the scene on Mt. Rushmore. To die for.

• KJ P

  
  North By Northwest is extravagantly made for it's time, and may just be one of my favourite films of all time. Alfred Hitchcock is a brilliant filmmaker, and this film should stand in his name forever. A fantastic chase thriller with camerawork that will have Spielberg bowing… More
  North By Northwest is extravagantly made for it's time, and may just be one of my favourite films of all time. Alfred Hitchcock is a brilliant filmmaker, and this film should stand in his name forever. A fantastic chase thriller with camerawork that will have Spielberg bowing down to his feet. Hitchcock hit the mark with thrilling action scenes and a plot that would grabs anyones interest, I am so glad to have stumbled upon this film. Amazing just doesn't say enough!

• Chris W

  
  Often considered one of Hitchcock's Hollywood-era 'masterpieces', North by Northwest is a great achievement. Sure, it borrows here and there from a few earlier Hitchcock films, but is put together and made so well, that it becomes a film all its own. It's got quite… More
  Often considered one of Hitchcock's Hollywood-era 'masterpieces', North by Northwest is a great achievement. Sure, it borrows here and there from a few earlier Hitchcock films, but is put together and made so well, that it becomes a film all its own. It's got quite a good mix of both comedy and thriller elements, both handled very well. The acting is great, although Eva Marie Saint's character would have been more suited to someone like Grace Kelly. Overall, a fantastic joyride of a film.

• Lewis C

  
  North by Northwest reminds me of Vertigo more than any of the other Hitchcock movies that I've seen. Both of them are his versions of "blockbusters", with the pacing and action scenes of a good summer movie. I enjoyed both of them to about the same degree, as well.… More
  North by Northwest reminds me of Vertigo more than any of the other Hitchcock movies that I've seen. Both of them are his versions of "blockbusters", with the pacing and action scenes of a good summer movie. I enjoyed both of them to about the same degree, as well. It's a pretty thrilling ride, I must say. A case of mistaken identity leads Cary Grant into a web of narrow escapes, murders, espionage, chases, and general peril. He meets the requisite icy blonde along the way (who may be friend or foe), and most of the other Hitchcockian flourishes are present in some degree. North by Northwest is also pretty damn funny. I laughed more than a few times at Grant's pithy quips and his mutually aggressive banter with Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall. Who just happens also be another gorgeous woman in a leading Hitchcock role. Who could have guessed? This is a pretty good movie for anyone unfamiliar with Alfred Hitchcock to start with. It's entertaining enough in traditional ways that it will appeal to people who may have yet to become addicted to Hitchcock's style. I say "yet", because North by Northwest will probably speed you on your way to becoming hooked.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings