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Justin Chambers, Robin Tunney, Rory Culkin, Philip Baker Hall, William Mapother ... see more see more... , Rex Linn , Brian Bloom , George Maguire (II) , Jarion Monroe , Brad William Henke , Paul Ghiringhelli , Nate Dushku , Nick Scoggin , Kathryn Howell , Marty Lindsey , Shelby Alexis Irey , Natassia Costa , Kris Palm , Katelin Chesna , Luis Sagua , Ian Scott McGregor , Jodi Feder , Molly Mulholland , Logan Fahey , Joe Stricker , D.C. Meyer , Jessica Rofe , A. Donald Cross , Peter Van Shaik , David Tenebaum , Gilchrist Macquarrie , George Maguire (I)

A determined California detective attempts to crack one of the most mysterious cases in modern crime as the tale of the fearsome Zodiac Killer comes to the screen in director Alexander Bulkley's cinem... read more read more...atic account of the crimes that rocked San Francisco's Bay Area from December 1968 to October of the following year. As the citizens of the small California town of Vallejo prepare for their holiday celebrations, the discovery that two teens have been viciously gunned down at a remote lover's lane leaves the citizens of a once tight-knit community fearing for their lives. In the months that follow the brutal crimes, Vallejo police inspector Matt Parish devotes his entire existence to revealing the identity of the elusive killer and ensuring that no more innocent lives are taken. With pressure from both his superiors and the local press mounting, lack of sufficient evidence and increased tensions at home lead Inspector Parish down a series of frustrating dead-end roads. When the killer strikes yet again, this time shooting a young couple in a darkened parking lot, investigators are shocked to receive a phone call from a man confessing to the crime. A letter sent to the local newspapers by the confessed killer states that if it is not published, a dozen more people will die in the coming weekend. Even more curiously, the letter contains a mysterious code that, if deciphered correctly, will supposedly reveal the true identity of the man behind these shocking crimes. Though a suspect is questioned following yet another killing, this time in broad daylight, the frustrated police department fails to make an arrest as the elusive killer continues to taunt both the police and the media with a series of menacing letters. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

48% liked it

9,943 ratings

Critics

26% liked it

31 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Alexander Bulkley

Release Date: March 17, 2006

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DVD Release Date: August 29, 2006

Stats: 711 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (711)


  • April 13, 2011
    Not as in-depth or graphic as David Fincher's version of the Vallejo killings and this one got a little boring at times too. But overall I thought it was ok and watchable at least. I do enjoy fact-based serial killer movies and I've seen a fair few and this was far from being the... read more worst of them.
  • February 10, 2008
    Not to be confused with the David Fincher masterpiece, THE Zodiac is utter shit. It apes said genius's work in the most generic and unapologetic of ways--all from the "let's get this guy" cop pep talk down to the cliched "problems at home when the cop becomes obsessed with his wo... read morerk and misses his own birthday" scene. I can't really think of anything good to say about this movie aside from Robin Tunney's fleeting cuteness. I might not have minded it if I was sideways when I saw it, but since I was sober this movie is puke. Chunky, chunky puke.
  • July 24, 2008
    The 2007 movie much much better.
  • September 29, 2007
    Very disappointing Zodiac movie.
  • July 21, 2007
    An interesting true story about the northern California killer known to the public as the 'Zodiac Killer'
  • May 26, 2007
    This was an OK movie. Zodiac's story is interesting but the movie was all too predictable. Hopefully the newer version will be better.
  • May 1, 2009
    Kind of lame. There were some neat moments, but the storytelling was lacking, and the movie itself was a little confusing. There seemed to be no identified main character, and it took forever to learn anyone's names.
  • April 3, 2009
    Not as good as Zodiac (the one with Jake Gyllenhaal), but still good. A bit slow, but I think The Zodiac's comments at the very end of the movie were a bit chilling.
  • May 22, 2008
    It was very interesting. I dind't know that people needed to make five hundred movies about this killer. and i didn't know that the last letter they got from him was in 1978! crazy!!
  • March 23, 2008
    I watched this thinking it was the one with Jake Gyllenhaal. Interesting still...or perhaps terriffing considering it's based on a real serial killer who is still out there. The last letter of the Zodiac played in the movie really sends a chill up the spine. I'll have to watch... read more the other one to compare.

Critic Reviews


Owen Gleiberman
March 22, 2006
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The Zodiac has been made with the dunderheaded flatness of bad '70s TV. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
March 17, 2006
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

It has the look of a straight-to-video movie, or at best a Project Greenlight production. Full Review

Kevin Crust
March 17, 2006
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

The would-be psychological thriller devolves into a plodding domestic drama. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
March 17, 2006
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

The B-team version of the story. Full Review

Michael Granberry
March 17, 2006
Michael Granberry, Dallas Morning News

Have the screenwriters ever studied the concept of arc, how characters evolve from opening to closing credits? Full Review

Bruce Newman
March 16, 2006
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

Treats the unfolding murder spree like a routine police procedural.

Kirk Honeycutt
March 16, 2006
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter

The filmmakers essentially box themselves into an almost existential situation where nothing happens other than the unraveling of intimate relationships under insurmountable stress.

Bob Longino
March 16, 2006
Bob Longino, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Boring when it should be gripping. Full Review

Robin Clifford
March 8, 2007
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews

I hate to waste my time seeing what I know is an incomplete work. Good filmmaking and story telling, though. Full Review

Kim Voynar
March 2, 2007
Kim Voynar, Cinematical

Whether you're a true-crime buff or just an average cinephile who enjoys a well-crafted film, you'll find something to like about Zodiac. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Zodiac Trivia


  • What was the collective name of the thirteen ghosts in the film remake of Thirteen Ghosts?  Answer »
  • In the movie Zodiac, what was the nick name of the guy that was the zodiac killer?  Answer »
  • What fact did they get wrong in the recent Zodiac movie?  Answer »
  • Name the actor who portrayed a newspaper cartoon artist that was obsessed with finding the Zodiac Killer?  Answer »

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