In Cold Blood

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In Cold Blood

R

1967

2h 14m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

75%

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44 Reviews

88%

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5,000+ Ratings

In this adaptation of Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel, ex-convicts Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Richard Dick Hickock (Scott Wilson) hatch a plan to rob a wealthy Kansas family, the Clutters. The men enter the Clutter home expecting to find a safe filled with cash, but in fact find no money at all. Enraged, they kill the entire family and flee. While on the run, they face not only the realities of their terrible crime but also their own earthly impermanence.

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Critics Consensus

In Cold Blood is a classic docudrama with a fictional thriller's grip -- and a pair of terrific lead performances from Robert Blake and Scott Wilson.

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John Russell Taylor

The Times (UK)

May 1, 2024

The book was cool, long and absorbing; the film is overheated, not so long as films go these days, and decidedly dull.

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Geoffrey Macnab

Independent (UK)

Sep 11, 2015

5/5

It's both a "true crime" movie and a poetic account of two young men who, by committing an act of unspeakable brutality, unleash the furies against themselves.

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Sophie Monks Kaufman

Little White Lies

Sep 11, 2015

4/5

Blake and Wilson give wonderfully natural performances: eerie in their casual attitude to murder but endearing in their open natures. In Cold Blood doesn't judge them but doesn't excuse them.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 2, 2025

4/4

Writer-director Richard Brooks' detached style allows for a non-exploitative presentation, and the contributions by cinematographer Conrad Hall and composer Quincy Jones are first-rate.

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Penelope Mortimer

Observer (UK)

May 1, 2024

I consider this piece of glamourised violence to be one of the most appalling degradations of human ingenuity I have seen either in or out of the cinema.

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Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

May 1, 2024

I fear director Brooks has tried too hard for authentic effect. His film is too low-key. Too black to look at, with no relieving sharpness.

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Meri S.

@mschroeder May 2, 2026

Great acting in this very sad true story. They did a good job of capturing a lot of the details from the book.

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Steve B

@RT36942293 Dec 19, 2025

Perfect casting of Robert Blake and Scott Wilson as the two ex- cons on their way to steal their fortune from a farmhouse in rural Kansas. After all they got a tip from another con that there was a safe in the home that had thousands of dollars in it. Wilson is the tough acting planner of the robbery, but we quickly get the sense that if push comes to shove it's Blake who might go off the tracks. John Forsyth from Dynasty fame was surprisingly good as the hardboiled lead detective Great script, perfectly paced, and the black and white photography seemed to mirror the difference between this simple, midwestern family and the real-life horror of these two monsters.

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Estefania O

@RT68361556 Nov 11, 2025

In Cold Blood is haunting and beautifully crafted, but its glacial pace turns moral reflection into endurance.

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revolver.0 8

@Revolver08 Jun 22, 2025

Outstanding cinematography

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Alec B

@Alec97 Dec 14, 2023

If the filmmakers kept the focus on Blake and Wilson (both perfectly cast), instead of forcing a number of unnecessary supporting players into the narrative, this might have been a masterpiece, As it stands, the movie has stretches of utter genius that are brought to a grinding halt whenever the cops and reporters start blabbering to one another.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Sep 11, 2023

It's unclear if the title relates to the murders or the capital punishment charges hen meted out. Nowhere near as good as the book and that's why it's hard to rate higher. Not bad though. Bought this one on DVD a long time back but wanted to make sure I read the book before watching and pleased that I did so.

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Richard Brooks

Director

Robert Blake

Perry Smith

Scott Wilson

Dick Hickock

John Forsythe

Alvin Dewey

Paul Stewart

Jenson

Gerald S. O'Loughlin

Harold Nye

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Synopsis

In this adaptation of Truman Capote's seminal true-crime novel, ex-convicts Perry Smith (Robert Blake) and Richard Dick Hickock (Scott Wilson) hatch a plan to rob a wealthy Kansas family, the Clutters. The men enter the Clutter home expecting to find a safe filled with cash, but in fact find no money at all. Enraged, they kill the entire family and flee. While on the run, they face not only the realities of their terrible crime but also their own earthly impermanence.

Director: Richard Brooks
Producer: Richard Brooks
Screenwriter: Richard Brooks, Truman Capote
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Columbia Home Video, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1967, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2009
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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