The French Connection

1971 · directed by William Friedkin

Rating

98/100

Hit

yes

Prestige lists

AFI 100, Oscar Winner, NFR

Tough narcotics detective 'Popeye' Doyle is in hot pursuit of a suave French drug dealer who may be the key to a huge heroin-smuggling operation.

The French Connection (1971), directed by William Friedkin, rates 98/100 — a hit. See how its director, cast and crew rate across their careers.

Cast

• Gene Hackman
• Roy Scheider
• Fernando Rey
• Tony Lo Bianco
• Marcel Bozzuffi
• Frédéric de Pasquale
• Bill Hickman
• Ann Rebbot
• Harold Gary
• Arlene Farber

Crew

• Owen Roizman — Director of Photography
• Gerald B. Greenberg — Editor
• Don Ellis — Original Music Composer
• Ernest Tidyman — Screenplay

More from William Friedkin

1. 12 Angry Men (1997) — 84/100 · TV film, not counted
2. The Exorcist (1973) — 80/100 · hit
3. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) — 77/100
4. Sorcerer (1977) — 76/100
5. The Boys in the Band (1970) — 75/100
6. The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023) — 73/100

How these numbers work: Methodology