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What's After the Movie?
Drama thriller

Eyewitness (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

Eyewitness (1981) movie poster

Eyewitness is a 1981 drama thriller directed by Peter Yates, starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Plummer and Sigourney Weaver. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes and earned $6.4 million worldwide. Critics gave it 61 on Metacritic. Stream it on Hoopla and YouTube TV.

worldwide gross
$6.4M
Metascore
61
Eyewitness (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 43m (103 min)
Director
Peter Yates
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Eyewitness About?

The premise of Eyewitness without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Josie, a florist, finds her peaceful life disrupted when her estranged husband, Michael, reappears with a surprising proposal. Michael is embroiled in a difficult divorce from his ex-wife, and Josie becomes caught up in the turmoil and complexities of his past. As she navigates their rekindled connection, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that put her own stability at risk, forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about their shared history.

Eyewitness Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • man wears eyeglasses
  • love triangle
  • discovering a corpse
  • romantic obsession
  • home invasion
  • attacked by a dog
  • police stakeout
  • fiance fiancee relationship
  • reporter
  • murder
  • police detective
  • vietnam war veteran
+38 more
  • best friend
  • female reporter
  • attempted murder
  • bitten by a dog
  • murder suspect
  • new york city
  • neo noir
  • eccentric man
  • jew
  • ex marine
  • mother daughter relationship
  • lie
  • ambush
  • fistfight
  • shot to death
  • following someone
  • dysfunctional family
  • overbearing parents
  • suicide-by-cop
  • father daughter relationship
  • struggle over a gun
  • south vietnamese refugee
  • father son relationship
  • shot in the shoulder
  • horse stable
  • death of pet dog
  • jumping out of a moving car
  • horseback riding
  • car motorcycle chase
  • pet dog
  • murder investigation
  • espionage
  • deception
  • central park manhattan new york city
  • trash compactor
  • dog
  • paraplegic
  • class differences
Where to watch

Where to Watch Eyewitness

Stream it on Hoopla and YouTube TV. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Eyewitness Cast

Morgan Freeman leads the cast, with Christopher Plummer and Sigourney Weaver. Directed by Peter Yates; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Eyewitness Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Eyewitness 61 on Metacritic.

Plot

Eyewitness Plot Summary

What happens in Eyewitness from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In New York City, a diligent janitor named Daryll Deever spends his evenings following television reports about Toni Sokolow, a sharp and dedicated news presenter who has captured his imagination. In the same building, Aldo—another janitor—loses his job after a clash with Mr. Long, a wealthy Vietnamese man whose rumored criminal ties cast a long shadow over the neighborhood. Hoping to help Aldo, Daryll confronts Mr. Long, only to learn that the firing may reflect more than a mere dispute: Aldo’s wartime experiences have bred xenophobic attitudes that may have played a role in his downfall. What begins as a bid to intervene becomes a delicate moral labyrinth about loyalty, prejudice, and the fragility of reputation.

Full summary

The whole story of Eyewitness, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Eyewitness Box Office

Eyewitness grossed $6.4 million worldwide.

1981 box office

Worldwide gross

$6.4M

US & Canada
$6.4M
Videos

Eyewitness Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Eyewitness.

Eyewitness (1981) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Eyewitness?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which janitor spends his evenings watching television reports about Toni Sokolow?

Cars

Cars in Eyewitness

55 cars on screen, including the 1973 BMW R 75/6 and the 1977 Plymouth Fury.

All 55 cars
  • 1973 BMW R 75/6 in Eyewitness 1973 BMW R 75/6 Main role
  • 1977 Plymouth Fury in Eyewitness 1977 Plymouth Fury Main role
  • 1974 Jaguar XJ12 Series II in Eyewitness 1974 Jaguar XJ12 Series II Important role
  • 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in Eyewitness 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Important role
Details

Eyewitness Also Known As

19 alternative titles, including “The Janitor” and “Testemunha Ocular”.

Also known as
  • The Janitor
  • Testemunha Ocular
  • 追杀知情者
  • Uno scomodo testimone
  • Der Augenzeuge
  • Vigyázó szemek
  • Martor ocular
  • El ojo mentiroso
  • L’Œil du témoin
  • Очевидец
  • Naoczny świadek
  • Şahit
+7 more
  • Consigna: Matar al testigo
  • Testemunha Fatal
  • 살인 특종
  • Ögonvittnet
  • Očitý svědek
  • Testimoni presencial
  • Свідок

Seen Eyewitness?

FAQ

Eyewitness FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Eyewitness, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Eyewitness?

Eyewitness runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).

When was Eyewitness released?

Eyewitness was released on February 13, 1981.

Who directed Eyewitness?

Eyewitness was directed by Peter Yates.

More films by Peter Yates

Who is in the cast of Eyewitness?

Eyewitness stars Morgan Freeman, Christopher Plummer and Sigourney Weaver, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch Eyewitness?

In the US, Eyewitness is streaming on Hoopla and YouTube TV (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Eyewitness make at the box office?

Eyewitness grossed $6.4 million worldwide.

How is Eyewitness rated?

Eyewitness has 61 on Metacritic and 56% on TMDB.

Does Eyewitness have a post-credit scene?

No. Eyewitness has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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