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Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, Mitchell Ryan, Felton Perry, David Soul ... see more see more... , Robert Urich , Maurice Argent , Margaret Avery , Richard Devon , Tony Giorgio , Jack Kosslyn , Bob McClurg , John Mitchum , Kip Niven , Clifford A. Pellow , Albert Popwell , Suzanne Somers , Christine White , Adele Yoshioka , Tim Matheson , Johnny Weissmuller Jr. , Mitch Ryan

The second Dirty Harry movie, Magnum Force concerns itself with a vigilante group that has targeted notorious scofflaws for extermination. When a prominent gang boss or drug-runner is set free by the ... read more read more...airheaded liberal courts, a covert group of "avengers" is soon on hand to blow the miscreant to bits. While detective Dirty Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) is no great friend of civil liberties, he is dead set against wholesale murder as a solution to legal loopholes. Discovering that all the killings have been committed by the same weapon, Callahan reaches the conclusion that his on-the-edge partner, Charlie McCoy (Mitchell Ryan), is responsible. But the answer is less transparent than that, as Harry learns almost at the cost of his own life. Co-scripted by John Milius and Michael Cimino, Magnum Force was followed by three additional Dirty Harry installments: The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983) and The Dead Pool (1988). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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72% liked it

27,323 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

20 critics

R, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Ted Post

Release Date: December 28, 1973

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DVD Release Date: November 20, 2001

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Stats: 1,043 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,043)

  • kenstachnik
    October 4, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Not even close to the amazing achievement of the first film. While it is pretty cool to watch Dirty Harry fight Hutch, I was really underwhelmed.
  • SajinPA
    June 12, 2011
    SajinPA
    Harry Callahan, who's already pissed off at " the system" now has to deal with a band of vigilante cops who are even more pissed off at the same system.
    In this movie Harry is crossing lines with someone of his own kind, and we come to understand that he's much more than a gun t... read moreoting maniac and knows where to draw his boundaries. In his own words, "A man's got to know his limitations"..
  • fb733768972
    April 18, 2011
    fb733768972
    Magnum Force brings back the classic Dirty Harry character we have all come to know and love, and even though the first film stands as a masterpiece, this second instalment proves that the series is far from over and that their are still many more obstacles for Callahan to overco... read moreme. In this film, Harry gets the opportunity to meet three new gunmen in his force who he wants to learn new tactics from, but when he realizes they are all crooked cops, he is now on the hunt to stop them dead in their tracks with full on retribution. Magnum Force is stylistic, witty, brutal, and one hell of an adrenaline ride. I love this film!
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 15, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    A solid sequel to the first Dirty Harry film, Magnum Force is also one of the best films in the series. Harry Callahan is on the trail of a bunch of crooked cops who take the law into their own hands. The story is excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Magnum Force is a n... read moreear flawless film that shouldn't get the flack it deserved. Dirty Harry Callahan delivers and thats all that matters. Magnum Force has one of the best story lines in the film franchise, and I thought that Callahan going against vigilante cops was brilliant idea for a film. I thought that Callahan had a slightly bigger challenge this time around due to the fact that he's taking on a band of vigilante cops that are just as tough as he is. The strength of Magnum Force is the fact that Harry Callahan is against his own kind. I thought that made all the difference, and made the film something special. Magnum Force is a prime example of a thrilling action film. The film for me, at least is one of the sequels that I've seen, and it's simply intense. Magnum Force is a well crafted film that delivers. The acting and story are solid. There are more good things going for this film than bad. The film is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Clint Eastwood is in top form. This follow up the phenomenal Dirty Harry builds up on the action of the first film, and retains all the elements of the first, and amplifying them to a whole new level. Magnum Force is a fine sequel, and aside from Sudden Impact, is my favorite Dirty Harry film of the series. Magnum Force is a sequel worthy of the Dirty Harry name, and it furthers the point of Dirty Harry being one of the most bad assed characters in film history.
  • shawnewing92
    March 14, 2011
    shawnewing92
    Magnum Force is the second Dirty Harry film. Although this film was not as great as the first, it still had all the right action and a decent plot.
  • garyX
    May 17, 2010
    garyX
    Harry Callahan returns to investigate the serial murders of unrelated criminals and discovers a conspiracy of vigilantes within his department. The sequel to Dirty Harry is where Callahan starts his transformation from uncompromising outsider to macho stereotype, the opening titl... read morees consisting of an unwavering close up on his .357 phallus on a blood red background and the graphic and often gratuitous shoot outs are punctuated by his refusing anaesthetic and having every female within his vicinity falling into bed with him. It's a much more exploitative approach, the grit of the original replaced with irrelevant action scenes, nudity and gangland stereotypes (the pimp is straight out of a particularly unsubtle blaxploitation movie). There are also some inconsistencies in the plot; how can a cop empty an unsilenced magnum in the middle of a street in broad daylight without anyone noticing, and why would they choose to hit a target who they must have known was being staked out? As well as the killings being too indiscriminate to make the "vigilante justice" motive seem plausible. On the other hand, Clint is still ice cool and TV cop show stalwart Ted Post handles the action efficiently enough so it's reasonably entertaining if you don't take it too seriously, but It's not even in the same league as the original.
  • sanjurosamurai
    May 8, 2010
    sanjurosamurai
    most fans consider the original to be the best of the 5 dirty harry movies, but i agree with the more critical tradition that puts this film ahead of the first. the story is developed well and the heightened violence fits the series perfectly. the supporting cast is also perfec... read moret for the film. solid sequel.
  • ythelastman89
    January 26, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I honestly think that this is just as good as the first. Ted Post did a great job picking up where Don Siegel left off. Clint Eastwood did a great job, I think I even liked him more this time around. I love the plot, it worked out really well. It's one of those rare sequels where... read more the quality is equal to that of the first.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Obviously not as good as Dirty Harry but still a very good follow up with a great story. An inspiration for Maniac Cop? I did feel that Dirty Harry himself was a lot more toned down which was a shame but still, a great 70's cop film!
  • stormyweather980
    August 16, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Wow, the original is the only Dirty Harry film on Flixster to average more than 3 stars? Why? All five of them are great, including this one! Can't wait to see them all again so I can see how they rank against one another better.

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
March 13, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

But who polices the police? Full Review

Louise Keller
August 9, 2008
Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

An enthralling thriller which resounds like the boom of the Magnum force Full Review

Steve Crum
October 30, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Dirty Harry feels like a lucky punk once again.

Jon Niccum
December 5, 2003
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

Engrossing follow-up to Dirty Harry

Bob Bloom
August 20, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

one of the best in the Dirty Harry series. a tough drama with Eastwood at top form.

Scott Weinberg
July 26, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Eastwood doing what he does best! (Westerns aside, of course.)

Steve Rhodes
December 3, 2001
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

With bravado and resourcefulness to spare, Harry would make a great trainer for today's new crew of sky marshals. Full Review

John J. Puccio
November 20, 2001
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

...too long and too wayward. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Nora Sayre
May 9, 2005
Nora Sayre, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • What was the name of the first 'Dirty Harry' sequel?  Answer »
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