Street Smart

Street Smart (1987)

  • 69% of critics liked it
    (13 reviews)

  • 43% of users liked it
    (1,233 ratings)

Jonathan Fisher (Christopher Reeve) is a newspaper reporter who becomes a celebrity when he writes a fictitious exposé on prostitution. The story of the high-living pimp is too close a resemblance to real-life flesh pedlar Fast Black (Morgan Freeman), and Jonathan is jailed when he refuses to turn… More

Play Trailer

R,
Directed By
Written By
David Freeman
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1987 Wide
Media Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Pauline Kael, New Yorker

    Is Morgan Freeman the greatest American actor?

  • Janet Maslin, New York Times

    Street Smart winds up being a bit too smart for its own good, but it's compelling and complex.

  • Richard Harrington, Washington Post

    Schatzberg's major problems are lethargic pacing and a strained plot.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    A clever thriller with a lot of unbelievable scenes and a sappy ending, but two wonderful performances.

  • Pat Graham, Chicago Reader

    There's something about seedy undersides that brings out the best (or at least the personal) in director Jerry Schatzberg ... though his Elia Kazan social consciousness could use a little toning down.

Read all 8 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Adam M


    Morgan Freeman's performance IS the movie; the rest is a supporting cast trying to work themes a rewrite by James Toback would have fully realized ... and we would be locked into Reeve's dilemma more than just as our ticket to meeting Fast Black ... Points for Anna Horsford… More

  • Walter M


    [font=Century Gothic]In "Street Smart," a magazine journalist, Jonathan Fisher(Christopher Reeve), has trouble researching an article about a pimp, even after interviewing Punchy(Kathy Baker), a prostitute, so he fabricates the article, instead. As a result of the article… More

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

Other Retailers

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Subscription Services

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Cast

See more (48)

Trailers & Clips