Shaft (2000)

68% of critics liked it
(110 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(62,077 ratings)

This action drama puts a new spin on Shaft, one of the key "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s. John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson), the namesake nephew of the legendary private eye (Richard Roundtree), is a street-smart police detective who with his partner Carmen Velez (Vanessa L. Williams) has been… More This action drama puts a new spin on Shaft, one of the key "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s. John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson), the namesake nephew of the legendary private eye (Richard Roundtree), is a street-smart police detective who with his partner Carmen Velez (Vanessa L. Williams) has been assigned to a racially motivated murder case, in which a black college student was killed in front of a restaurant by Walter Williams Jr. (Christian Bale), the sociopathic son of a New York construction tycoon, who then fled the country rather than face prosecution. Diane Palmieri (Toni Collette), a waitress on a smoke break, saw the murder, but she doesn't want to talk to the police. Two years later, Walter is forced to return to New York, but without Diane's testimony, the city doesn't have much of a case. Soon, Shaft, Walter Junior, and Walter Senior's goons are all looking for Diane, with Junior enlisting the help of Peoples Hernandez (Jeffrey Wright), a small-time drug dealer who will do anything to move into the big leagues. Shaft and Carmen find Diane, but discover that she had a good reason for being on the lam for the past two years. Amidst all this activity, John gets frequent advice from his uncle, with whom he ponders the idea of quitting the force and opening a detective agency. Shaft was directed by John Singleton, from a screenplay by Singleton, Richard Price, and Shane Salerno. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: John Singleton
Written By: Richard Price, John Singleton, Shane Salerno
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jun 16, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Dec 12, 2000
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Susan Stark, Detroit News
Sleek, urgent, knowing, gleefully profane and above all ultra-cool, Shaft blows into the summer movie season like a breath of fresh air.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
A guilty pleasure for adults and older teens.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Slim pickings are offered in terms of supplements, but some of these pickings offer a tad more substance than usual.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Shaft quickly splits into two different movies, and only one of them fully succeeds.
Jeffrey Overstreet, Looking Closer
The primary focus of the film, and the real reason we're here, is to watch Samuel Jackson sink his teeth into the Shaft's trash-talking dialogue.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Samuel L. Jackson, who broke out of the pack in Pulp Fiction, fits the role and his leather Armani coat as though it's tailor-made. He's the man, and we can dig it.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Shaft is an unimpressive action film that is loosely based on the classic of the same name. I found it quite bad. Shaft didn't thrill me, and frankly, I was disappointed. I felt that the film could have been much better, and that it didn't anything to really entertain you.… More
Shaft is an unimpressive action film that is loosely based on the classic of the same name. I found it quite bad. Shaft didn't thrill me, and frankly, I was disappointed. I felt that the film could have been much better, and that it didn't anything to really entertain you. The thing is, Shaft has a poorly constructed script that is overly vulgar, and relies on that to try and entertain the viewer. Shaft is a pretty bland film and uses cliché upon cliché to create its story. Shaft doesn't differ from other cop films, and offers nothing new to the genre. The film is mediocre that really isn't entertaining. The cast is awful, and they don't do anything that elevates this film into being something really entertaining. The film is dull, boring and unimpressive. Shaft relies on its profanity to be "entertaining", unfortunately, it isn't entertaining. Shaft is a boring action film that is unimpressive to watch and frankly is a waste of time. I did not enjoy this film, and I thought that it was a missed opportunity to do something interesting. This is yet another remake that fails to capture the thrills of the original. The films flaws lies within a poorly written script, a bad cast and overall poor directing. Shaft is a mediocre film that misses the mark, and is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The film is poorly conceived, and doesn't capture the elements which the original film a good, entertaining viewing experience. This remake fails to entertain and is marred with a bad script that is the film fatal flaw.
xGary X

Renegade tough guy cop John Shaft sets his sights on an over-privileged racist who murdered an innocent man and skipped bail using his father's influence. The hardest thing to swallow about this film is a bald Shaft, and to be honest it seems like a bit of a cheek to use the name… More
Renegade tough guy cop John Shaft sets his sights on an over-privileged racist who murdered an innocent man and skipped bail using his father's influence. The hardest thing to swallow about this film is a bald Shaft, and to be honest it seems like a bit of a cheek to use the name and Isaac Hayes' classic theme tune for what is essentially just another generic cop thriller. However, because of a nice homage to classic Blaxploitation soundtracks and a charismatic performance by SLJ who gamely kicks the ass of racist assholes and smart mouthed gangstas alike, Singleton manages to emulate the flavour of a 70s cop show just enough to make the first half of the film fairly enjoyable. Unfortunately by the end Busta Rhymes and Jeffrey Wright, who are both awful, are afforded far too much screen time and the plot reveals itself to be total garbage. It has enough in the way of decent moments to make it worth watching once, but I certainly wouldn't bother sitting through it a second time.
Lenny M

Blows Shaft.
Nelson P

An utterly terrible movie that deserves absolutely no praise or acclimation. While it works as a comedy it plays out as a police thriller which ultimately destroyed any credibly this movie could have had.The only reason to see this is to whiteness Christian Bale as the ultimate… More
An utterly terrible movie that deserves absolutely no praise or acclimation. While it works as a comedy it plays out as a police thriller which ultimately destroyed any credibly this movie could have had.The only reason to see this is to whiteness Christian Bale as the ultimate yuppie.
Tim S

This is a fun cop movie, even for a remake.
Conner R

A fun homage to black sploitation films of the 70s. Samuel L. Jackson did a great job and fit the role of John Shaft perfectly. Christian Bale was also quite good as a slimy over privileged villain.
Cassandra M

An enjoyable but nevertheless quite silly and average remake of the classic television show has the new John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) beating up a white racist (Christian Bale) and getting booted off of the police force. Everyone in this film is a racist - primarily the whites - and… More
An enjoyable but nevertheless quite silly and average remake of the classic television show has the new John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) beating up a white racist (Christian Bale) and getting booted off of the police force. Everyone in this film is a racist - primarily the whites - and this whole idea is way too forced. The language and violence is rough, yet the film itself is quite goofy, with not many good scenes and only a few mediocre action sequences. The moral is somewhat depressing: if someone wrongs you, or someone of your race, then beat them up and kill them once they reappear. Richard Roundtree's cameo helps a bit, but regardless, this SHAFT is still only "good" at best.
Anthony L

Not really a remake, more a revamp on the name. Jackson was the man for the job but this isn?t a touch on the original. I liked it though and Richard Roundtree gave it his blessing!
Sophie B

This film had really good prospects having Samuel L Jackson and Christian Bale but it didn't really happen. I mean it was good! It had some really great parts but there wasn't relly anything to set it apart from other action movies. Jackson was great though and I really… More
This film had really good prospects having Samuel L Jackson and Christian Bale but it didn't really happen. I mean it was good! It had some really great parts but there wasn't relly anything to set it apart from other action movies. Jackson was great though and I really hated Bales character. Good acting.
Dean M

This remake of the 1971 blaxploitation fave is like stretching the overwrought climex of <i>New Jack City</i> to feature length. The cast is strong, and director-co-scripter John Singleton concludes his tale with an unexpected moment of cynicism. Even given all these… More
This remake of the 1971 blaxploitation fave is like stretching the overwrought climex of <i>New Jack City</i> to feature length. The cast is strong, and director-co-scripter John Singleton concludes his tale with an unexpected moment of cynicism. Even given all these dynamic elements, you would not be able to take your eyes off Samuel L. Jackson.
Curtis L

Okay, nothing special
Candy R

Love the music and Samuel is so cool.
Aaron N

John Shaft: Yo, Luger, what's up with the "cornbread" talk, man? Luger: And your problem is, what? John Shaft: Nazis with badges. That's my problem. Luger: [laughs] "Nazis"? You gotta lighten up, Shaft. I talk like this all the time... but I see your… More
John Shaft: Yo, Luger, what's up with the "cornbread" talk, man? Luger: And your problem is, what? John Shaft: Nazis with badges. That's my problem. Luger: [laughs] "Nazis"? You gotta lighten up, Shaft. I talk like this all the time... but I see your point. Maybe I should take an "ethnic sensitivity" workshop, huh? Fuck you. John Shaft: Maybe I should "workshop" my foot up your ass! Samuel L. Jackson as the new shaft, probably one of the easiest choices ever made. Basically Sam Jackson shows up on set, is given a gun and a badge, and walks around acting cool for an hour and a half, that's his role. Then you also have Christian Bale and Jeffrey Wright as a couple of sinister villains, doing very good jobs in a movie that they doesn't need the caliber performances they give. John Singleton seems like a logical choice to direct a remake of shaft, unless you wanna play the Spike Lee card...hmm, I wonder... Anyway, the plot involves a murder, skipping bail, finding a witness, Busta Rhymes cracking jokes, cool music, especially Isaac Hayes, some gun play, and Sam Jackson saying motherfucker. It's a fun good time. Peoples Hernandez: You are not a cop anymore. John Shaft: Do you think that makes me less dangerous or more dangerous?
Michael S

This movie was a ton of fun. Very underrated.
Jason S

A kick butt take on the old Shaft movies. No one could have pulled it off better than Sam.
danny d

he shoots people, people die, he shoots more people
Michael G

If nothing else, Christian Bale and Toni Collette are in it. And Shaft doesn't even get laid! What the hell is that?
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]Frequency - Okay, I'll make a confession here. I could've been at the national premier for this but decided not to because the premise and especially the trailer put me off so much, I was being very prejudiced. Now that I bit the bullet and ponied… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]Frequency - Okay, I'll make a confession here. I could've been at the national premier for this but decided not to because the premise and especially the trailer put me off so much, I was being very prejudiced. Now that I bit the bullet and ponied up to see the thing I'm so ashamed for those same prejudices. 'Frequency' is a very creative film with some rather touching father-son moments of its own. Director Gregory Hoblit has swiftly directed the film and rescues it when it has the idea of a father/son team up in two different times to track down a serial killer. What you think should veer into cheap mellodrama or gimmick stays true through the course. 'Frequency' is a light-hearted, sentimental, yet engagaing and worthwhile film I'm very glad to have seen.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B+[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Shaft - Smauel L. Jackson takes on director John Singleton's remake - shut you mouth! I mean newer Shaft (c'mon, kill me) and spins it with effortless style and some surprising scenes of wit and even suspense. 'Shaft' used to be a landmark in cinema, and for the black community as well, as it went full forward smashing taboos. It was more of a statement than good art because it wasn't really art (the character in the novel was white, by the way). Jackson's Shaft is more of a thug then the kindler gentler lady pleasure that was Richard Roundtree. This 'Shaft' is never once preocupied with being any landmark but doesn't strive to be anything more then entertaining fun. The story is what surprised me most, it actually had interesting people and a well told tale. Taking a cue from the Batman franchise the villains are far more interetsing and illuminous then anyone else, and Christian Bale and a star-making performance by the always talented Jeffrey Wright end up making each of them a wonder on screen. Their chemistry together is worth the price of admission alone, even if you are tired of Bale playing white-collar pretty boys now (he still murders in each though!). 'Shaft' is a loud and fast breath of summer but it's one that surprising and very entertaining.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B[/color][/font]
Stephen E

Certainly not a great movie, for it as its flaws, but as far as remakes go -- and this technically is a remake -- it's pretty good.
Mike T

I really don't understand the point of making a movie so dense that its only purpose is to entertain. This is as stupid as they come - Christian Bale is brutal, the script is worse and there isn't a shred of intelligence or enjoyment the whole way through. Big stinker.