Shaft
New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.
Critics Sentiment
Shaft kills Peoples Hernandez in final gunfight after hostage standoff
Trey's mother Carla shoots Walter Wade dead on courthouse steps
The film peaks with Shaft's satisfying confrontation with Peoples but crashes with the controversial vigilante ending that many reviewers found irresponsible.
Shaft starts strong with effective setup and nostalgic touches, maintains decent momentum through Jackson's charismatic performance and Wright's standout villain work, but stumbles with plot logic issues and a problematic ending. While entertaining as mindless action, reviewers consistently noted the film's reliance on clichés and questioned its social messaging, particularly the vigilante justice conclusion.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 99
Samuel L. Jackson
John Shaft
Vanessa Williams
Carmen Vasquez
Jeffrey Wright
Peoples Hernandez
Christian Bale
Walter Wade, Jr.
Busta Rhymes
Rasaan
Dan Hedaya
Jack Roselli
Toni Collette
Diane Palmieri
Richard Roundtree
"Uncle" John Shaft
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Jimmy Groves
Josef Sommer
Curt Flemming
Lynne Thigpen
Carla Howard
Philip Bosco
Walter Wade Senior
Pat Hingle
Judge Dennis Bradford
Lee Tergesen
Luger
Daniel von Bargen
Lt Kearney
Francisco 'Coqui' Taveras
Lucifer
Sonja Sohn
Alice
Peter McRobbie
Lt. Cromertie
Zach Grenier
Harrison Loeb
Richard Cocchiaro
Frank Palmieri
Crew
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