This film is currently unavailable
The Day of the Jackal
The race is on to find ‘the Jackal’ before he undertakes a momentous political assassination, in this compelling adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s bestseller.
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Overview
Edward Fox stars as the eponymous 'Jackal', a mysterious British hit-man hired to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle, in this compelling adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s hit novel. Michel Lonsdale is the detective who knows a plot is imminent, but has no idea when, where or who will make the hit. What follows is a race against time as both protagonists zero in on their targets.
Despite being an Anglo-French production, Hollywood veteran Fred Zinnemann (Oklahoma!, High Noon) took directing duties for this meticulously mounted political thriller. Forsyth's story is one of the few whose titles has entered the cultural lexicon, with the 'Jackal' appendage applied to international assassins – most famously Carlos the Jackal (Ilyich Ramírez Sánchez).
Related
Blackmail Blackmail
Police drama 1929 82 mins Silent Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock's first sound film sees a young woman blackmailed for a murder she was forced to commit.
Dirty Harry Dirty Harry
Police drama 1971 102 mins Director: Don Siegel
An unorthodox police officer (Clint Eastwood) chases a ruthless serial killer across San Francisco in Don Siegel's violent 1970s cat-and-mouse thriller.
The Wicker Man The Wicker Man
Horror 1973 88 mins Director: Robin Hardy
Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward star in the folk horror classic about a policemen investigating an island given over to paganism.
Se7en Se7en
Crime 1995 127 mins Director: David Fincher
David Fincher's breakthrough film is a disturbing and visceral thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as detectives hunting down a meticulous serial killer.
The Blue Lamp The Blue Lamp
Police drama 1950 85 mins Director: Basil Dearden
Dirk Bogarde stars as a loose-cannon crook with Dixon of Dock Green (Jack Warner) on his tail, in the classic Ealing policier.
Loot Loot
Comedy 1971 102 mins Director: Silvio Narizzano
Silvio Narizzano adapts Joe Orton’s extraordinarily funny satire on police corruption and the conventions of detective fiction.
Timestalker Timestalker
Comedy 2024 89 mins Director: Alice Lowe
Alice Lowe's time-jumping fantasy rom-com is a colourful, darkly funny treat.
South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic South: Sir Ernest Shackleton's Glorious Epic of the Antarctic
Documentary 1919 81 mins Silent Director: Frank Hurley
An extraordinary story of survival in the wastes of Antarctica.
Night Courier (Mandoob) Night Courier (Mandoob)
Comedy 2023 112 mins Director: Ali Kalthami
A desperate delivery driver gets caught up in the dark underworld of Riyadh in Ali Kalthami’s gripping, pitch-black satire.
The Ballymurphy Precedent The Ballymurphy Precedent
Documentary 2018 108 mins Director: Callum Macrae
John Pilger's film on the conflict in Northern Ireland is a skilful mix of investigative journalism, documentary storytelling and reflections on contemporary history.
Utopia Utopia
Documentary 2013 111 mins Director: John Pilger and Alan Lowery
John Pilger's portrayal of the oldest continuous human culture is also an investigation into a suppressed colonial past, and rapacious present.
The Coming War on China The Coming War on China
Documentary 2016 113 mins Director: John Pilger
John Pilger’s prescient 60th film for ITV is both a warning and an inspiring story of resistance.