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Magnum Force
1973 124 min United States of America R 16+
★7.0
Drama, Crime, Action
Director: Ted Post
Trailers
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Description
"Dirty" Harry Callahan is a San Francisco Police Inspector on the trail of a group of rogue cops who have taken justice into their own hands. When shady characters are murdered one after another in grisly fashion, only Dirty Harry can stop them.
US Gross:
$39.77M
Worldwide:
$39.77M
Starring
Clint Eastwood
Actor
Hal Holbrook
Actor
Mitchell Ryan
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Magnum Force is widely regarded as a solid, action-oriented successor to the original Dirty Harry that successfully evolves the franchise into a broader police procedural. While opinions vary on whether it maintains the gritty, subversive edge of its predecessor, the film is generally praised for Clint Eastwood’s commanding performance and its effective utilization of 1970s San Francisco as a backdrop.
| Acting | Clint Eastwood delivers a commanding and consistent performance that effectively evolves Harry Callahan's character beyond the initial lone-wolf archetype. | |
| Score | Lalo Schifrin’s iconic score successfully preserves the franchise's atmosphere and maintains narrative momentum. | |
| Originality | The film codifies essential police-procedural tropes—such as the distrustful superior and the sacrificial rookie—that would go on to influence the broader action genre. | |
| Direction | The shift in direction from Don Siegel to Ted Post is contentious, with some finding the new approach taut and effective, while others argue it lacks the original film's grit and pacing coherence. | |
| Theme | The portrayal of Harry Callahan is divisive; supporters appreciate the added nuance and empathy, while critics argue the character is unnecessarily polished and lacks the rebellious, "dirty" identity of the original. |