Traffik (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Traffik is a 2018 thriller directed by Deon Taylor, starring Paula Patton as Brea, William Fichtner and Omar Epps. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $9.5 million worldwide on a $4 million budget. Critics gave it 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Deon Taylor
- Genre
- Thriller
- Original language
-
English
- Budget
- $4M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Traffik About?
The premise of Traffik without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During a romantic weekend in the desert, two couples find their idyllic getaway shattered when a ruthless biker gang arrives. What begins as a chance encounter quickly turns into a fight for survival as tensions rise and unexpected alliances are formed. The group must confront their attackers and unravel a dangerous conspiracy while desperately trying to escape the escalating violence.
Traffik Themes & Keywords
· 37 tags- murder
- death
- husband wife relationship
- violence
- kidnapping
- flashback
- police
- fight
- blood
- biker gang
- female police officer
- chained to a wall
+25 more Show fewer
- pokies
- infinity pool
- bare chested male
- female topless nudity
- chinese take out
- semi tractor trailer
- human trafficking
- escape
- surveilance-video
- upside down camera shot
- human cargo
- ends with statitics
- injection in arm
- woman swims in black lingerie
- woman wears a g string
- woman wears underwear in public
- woman wears a bodysuit
- low budget
- villainess
- sex scene
- sex in a car
- sex in a swimming pool
- woman on top sex
- tied feet
- one word title
Where to Watch Traffik
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 10
Traffik Cast & Characters
Paula Patton leads the cast as Brea, with William Fichtner as Carl Waynewright and Omar Epps as John. Directed by Deon Taylor; 15 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Deon Taylor
-
Paula Patton as Brea -
William Fichtner as Carl Waynewright -
Omar Epps as John -
Laz Alonso as Darren
Also Starring in Traffik
· 11 more- Roselyn Sanchez Malia
- Dawn Olivieri Cara
- Missi Pyle Sheriff Sally Marnes
- Luke Goss Red
- Claude Duhamel Pony
- Scott Anthony Leet Scoot
- Lorin McCraley Billy
- William W. Barbour
- Stacey Arwen Raab
- September D'Angelo
- Lisa Hitchcock Kallstrom
Traffik Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Traffik 29% on Rotten Tomatoes and 37 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 38/100, strongest in character & emotion (50) and weakest in rewatch factor (25).
Traffik Echo Score Breakdown
In its attempt to blend a social message with thriller elements, Traffik falls short due to uneven pacing, inconsistent plotting, and questionable character decisions. Critics and viewers alike note that scenes drag on without sufficient narrative impetus while the film’s well-meaning intent feels undermined by generic genre tropes. Although the lead performance and occasional visual flair offer brief highlights, these moments fail to compensate for the film’s fundamental structural issues. The net result is a thriller whose ambitions outweigh its execution.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 45
In terms of art and craft, Traffik displays competent cinematography but uneven direction and editing hinder its visual cohesion. Reviewers highlight Dante Spinotti’s photography as a clear strength, contributing polished imagery amid otherwise lackluster production design. However, extended takes and abrupt genre shifts disrupt the film’s flow and dilute its production values. As a result, the technical elements remain serviceable yet ultimately inconsistent.
- Character & Emotion 50
In terms of character and emotion, the film benefits from a commanding lead performance but struggles to develop its supporting roles. Paula Patton’s nuanced portrayal offers authentic emotional weight and credible chemistry in key scenes. Conversely, secondary characters often exhibit implausible motivations and lack meaningful depth, leading to disengagement. Ultimately, the emotional resonance rests heavily on the protagonist, leaving the ensemble underrealized.
- Story & Flow 30
In terms of story and flow, Traffik’s narrative coherence suffers from inconsistent pacing and predictable developments. Critics note that scenes frequently overstay their welcome, undermining suspense and momentum. The plot’s incorporation of multiple genre tangents dilutes focus and diminishes originality, while implausible character decisions further strain credibility. Overall, the storyline remains uneven and lacks the necessary engagement to sustain its ambitions.
- Sensory Experience 50
In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers intermittent visual flair but lacks a cohesive audiovisual identity. The cinematography receives praise for its polished imagery and effective framing, yet the soundtrack and sound design remain largely unremarkable. While certain sequences leverage lighting and composition to heighten tension, the overall sensory palette feels uneven and fails to fully immerse the audience. Consequently, the sensory impact is moderate and inconsistent.
- Rewatch Factor 25
In terms of rewatch factor, Traffik offers limited appeal for subsequent viewings due to its uneven structure and muted thrills. The film’s pacing inconsistencies and generic genre tropes become more pronounced on repeated watches, reducing suspense. Although the lead performance retains some interest on replay, the overall narrative and emotional underpinnings lack sufficient complexity or novelty to warrant multiple viewings. As such, the rewatch value remains low.
-
IMDb 5.9 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 29% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 45%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 37 Metascore
User score 4.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 61% User score
See on TMDB -
Movie Insider 3.0 /5
See on Movie Insider
Traffik Plot Summary
What happens in Traffik from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The movie opens with a young woman dancing in a nightclub who is approached by a man, leading to her abrupt abduction and confinement in a trailer.
Next, we meet Brea, a journalist working for the Sacramento Post, who is frustrated to discover that a rival journalist is covering a significant scandal story she has been trying to pitch. When she confronts her boss, Carl, he dismissively tells her that her story is merely a fluff piece.
To celebrate Brea’s birthday, her boyfriend John takes her out to dinner alongside their friends Darren and Malia. Unfortunately, Darren ruin’s John’s thoughtful surprise—a romantic getaway in the mountains—leading to a bathroom conversation where Brea admits she isn’t ready for marriage.
Full summary
The whole story of Traffik, scene by scene
Traffik Box Office & Budget
Traffik grossed $9.5 million worldwide on a $4 million budget, 2.4 times what it cost. $9.2 million came from the US and Canada and $329,758 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$9.5M
2.4× its budget
- US & Canada
- $9.2M
- International
- $329.8K
- Budget
- $4M
Traffik Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 4 trailers and 2 teasers.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Trailer (Producers' Cut)
- Trailer TRAFFIK - Find it on Digital July 10 and on Blu-ray and DVD July 17!
- Teaser TRAFFIK (2018 Movie) Official TV Spot – "Refuse"
How Well Do You Know Traffik?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of the protagonist Brea?
Cars in Traffik
11 cars on screen, including the 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle and the Harley-Davidson Sportster.
-
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Important role -
Harley-Davidson Sportster Important role -
1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Important role -
Peterbilt 379 Minor role
Traffik Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Stranded” and “Traffik - Liberdade Roubada”.
- Also known as
-
- Stranded
- Traffik - Liberdade Roubada
- Red de peligro
- Traffik - Red de peligro
- Траффик
- 트래픽
- Без изход
- 假期惊魂
- 假期驚魂
- טראפיק
- Forgalom
- Traffik - In trappola
+6 more Show fewer
- Трафік
- Cuộc Chiến Sống Còn
- إتجار بالبشر
- セックス・トラフィック 悪夢の週末
- Traffik: Lupta pentru supraviețuire
- Pavojingas tinklas
Seen Traffik?
Movies Like Traffik
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Trafficked, Traffik and Trespassers.
Traffik FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Traffik, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Traffik?
Traffik runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Traffik released?
Traffik was released on April 20, 2018.
Who directed Traffik?
Traffik was directed by Deon Taylor.
More films by Deon Taylor Who is in the cast of Traffik?
Traffik stars Paula Patton as Brea, William Fichtner as Carl Waynewright and Omar Epps as John, among 15 credited actors.
Where can I watch Traffik?
In the US, Traffik is streaming on Amazon MX Player, Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home Free and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Traffik make at the box office?
Traffik grossed $9.5 million worldwide ($9.2 million domestic, $329,758 international) on a budget of $4 million.
How is Traffik rated?
Traffik has 5.9/10 on IMDb, 29% on Rotten Tomatoes, 37 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.
Does Traffik have a post-credit scene?
No. Traffik has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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