Traffic

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Traffic

R

2001

2h 27m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

222 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

A contemporary thriller set in the world of drug trafficking. Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as seen through a series of interrelated stories, some of which are highly personal and some of which are filled with intrigue and danger.

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Critics Consensus

Soderbergh successfully pulls off the highly ambitious Traffic, a movie with three different stories and a very large cast. The issues of ethics are gray rather than black-and-white, with no clear-cut good guys. Terrific acting all around.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

09/08/2023

4/4

Soderbergh's film uses a level-headed approach. It watches, it observes, it does not do much editorializing. The hopelessness of anti-drug measures is brought home through practical scenarios, not speeches and messages -- except for a few.

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Stephen Holden

New York Times

09/08/2023

Steven Soderbergh's great, despairing squall of a film, Traffic, may be the first Hollywood movie since Robert Altman's Nashville to infuse epic cinematic form with jittery new rhythms and a fresh, acid-washed palette.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

09/08/2023

Benicio Del Toro... has the film actor's state of grace: he charms while he acts, not by trying to charm.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dec 30

5/5

After all this time, Traffic still holds up as both a gripping story and a cautionary tale.

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

09/08/2023

It is a legitimately epic film. [Full review in Spanish]

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Eleanor O'Sullivan

Asbury Park Press (NJ)

09/08/2023

4/4

Soderbergh's movie is so full of action and event, it's not easy to signal out the most brilliant moments.

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Leprechaun K

@LeprechaunKing Dec 1

Screenplay was well written by Stephen Gaghan, which won the Oscar. However, the directing by Soderbergh was mediocre at best. Cinematography is non-existence (also done by Soderbergh). The movie has the look of a 90's cell phone video. It is still highly questionable on how this movie won Best Director at the Oscars (against Ridley Scott and Ang Lee). Soderbergh's skill as a visual storyteller is debatable. The movie has the look and feel of a TV movie. Some of the performances have a comedic tone and do not blend well with the overall theme. The ending is unsatisfying and seems forced.

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Jack F

@MovieFan111 Nov 19

Great cast, and a great movie. I don't know what else to say.

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kevenquinlan

Jun 24

Great Movie. Great cast. When Soderberg hits= he hits. Compelling stories and a great testament to the frivolity of the drug war. Even in 2025= still is relevant. Special shout's out to Cheadle and Benny. Why isn't Benny doing whiskey ads? Clothing ads? He's a debonair Mofo, hahaha.

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Max W

Jun 16

Very nice watch. This seems a little like a predecessor to Sicario which was not afraid to give the audience what it wanted. Of course, not all stories can end with the good guys winning but this was somewhat disheartening.

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Manuel P

Jun 15

The birth of the "latin american lens filter"

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THE NASHVILLE I

@Nshvlleindie Jun 10

Traffic is a perfect movie. It's not for everyone; but it's music, the quality and balance of the cast, and the clever ideas from it's director, make it a perfect film. Trust in that it's not a slow burn, but it's allure and peaceful wonder sneaks up on you. The perfect example of "Ethereal" filmmaking...and an ESSENTIAL film for any film lovers in this world.

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Synopsis

A contemporary thriller set in the world of drug trafficking. Traffic evokes the high stakes and high risks of the drug trade, as seen through a series of interrelated stories, some of which are highly personal and some of which are filled with intrigue and danger.

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Producer: Laura Bickford, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Simon Moore, Stephen Gaghan
Distributor: Criterion Collection, USA Films
Production Co: Initial Entertainment Group, USA Films, Bedford Falls Productions, Compulsion Inc.
Rating: R (Some Sexuality|Pervasive Drug Content|Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 5, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $124.1M
Runtime: 2h 27m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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