Klute

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Poster for

Klute

R

1971

1h 54m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

This acclaimed thriller stars Jane Fonda as Bree Daniel, a New York City call-girl who becomes enmeshed in an investigation into the disappearance of a business executive. Detective John Klute is hired to follow Daniel, and eventually begins a romance with her, but it appears that he hasn't been the only person on her trail. When it becomes clear that Daniel is being targeted, it's up to her and Klute to figure out who is after her before it's too late.

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Critics Consensus

Donald Sutherland is coolly commanding and Jane Fonda a force of nature in Klute, a cuttingly intelligent thriller that generates its most agonizing tension from its stars' repartee.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Feb 18, 2020

As close to a classic as anything New Hollywood produced.

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David Robinson

Financial Times

Feb 12, 2020

What lifts it above its B-picture origins (and the pastiche is certainly conscious) is the style -- crisp, elliptical, only moderately arty -- of Alan J. Pakula's direction.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Feb 12, 2020

This is done with remarkably little dialogue but with a tremendous sense of tension and atmosphere.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

May 26, 2026

2.5/5

Jane Fonda won an Oscar playing a psychologically complex prostitute in the first of Alan J. Pakula's "paranoia" trilogy. And Donald Sutherland! So why is this iconic film so damn dull?

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Dec 29, 2024

9/10

For the bulk of the film, it’s a character study rather than a crime thriller, which continues to help with the hyper-realism and Bree's personal complexity.

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Alan Jones

Radio Times

Aug 8, 2024

5/5

There's nail-biting suspense in spades, thanks to the atmospheric cinematography of Godfather cameraman Gordon Willis.

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Mia P

@miaxko4 6 days ago

Hard to describe my feelings about this movie. First of all, exceedingly original, creative and strong narrative. I watched it when I was younger, so the narrative was quite unclear, but one thing that stood out to me was the soundtrack. I am very passionate about film scores and this one has to be my favorite off all time. A mix of mystery and belonging scales contributed to my interpretation of the film. making it stand out. The movie itself made me change my perspective upon life in the 70s, especially women, and how womanizers have changed through time. Lovely, yet revealing movie.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 5, 2026

Klute is a 4 star movie

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Sep 30, 2026

A substantially substandard, slow burn thriller formulaically overshadowed with moderate chills effectively mixed amidst its functionally elevated showcases by Fonda’s sharp conviction and Sutherland’s natural genuinity. (B)

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David C

@Bankten Jul 12, 2026

Excellent acting by Jane Fonda & Donald Sutherland. I give it a rating of 9, an awesome movie for its time. As I watch this movie, it's 51 years after it was on the big screen. Sorry, I missed it at the time, but I was in the Navy in San Diego at the time in boot camp. It holds up very well. I think this is a must-watch for any movie buff.

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Nathan Y.

@NathanYatesDouglass Apr 1, 2026

Wow. I wish they still made movies like this. Provocative, moody, well-acted. Slow paced but somehow that adds to the tension.

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Max M.

@Househuntermax Feb 17, 2026

Great acting and direction. I like the way Pakula lets the shots play out. Good movie, But it feels like it’s missing something.

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Alan J. Pakula

Director

Jane Fonda

Bree Daniel

Donald Sutherland

John Klute

Roy Scheider

Frank Ligourin

Charles Cioffi

Peter Cable

Dorothy Tristan

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Synopsis

This acclaimed thriller stars Jane Fonda as Bree Daniel, a New York City call-girl who becomes enmeshed in an investigation into the disappearance of a business executive. Detective John Klute is hired to follow Daniel, and eventually begins a romance with her, but it appears that he hasn't been the only person on her trail. When it becomes clear that Daniel is being targeted, it's up to her and Klute to figure out who is after her before it's too late.

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Producer: Alan J. Pakula
Screenwriter: Andy Lewis, David P. Lewis
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 23, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 54m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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