Shaft poster
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Shaft

6.419711h 40mRMovieCrimeThrillerDrama

Cool Black private eye John Shaft is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.

DirectorGordon Parks
WritersErnest Tidyman·John D.F. Black
ProducersJoel Freeman·David Golden

Where to watch

Howdy Amazon ChannelHowdy Amazon ChannelKanopyKanopy
Availability shown for United States · rights vary by country

Cast · Directed by Gordon Parks

RRRichard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree
John Shaft
MGMoses Gunn
Moses Gunn
Bumpy Jonas
CCCharles Cioffi
Charles Cioffi
Vic Androzzi
CJChristopher St. John
Christopher St. John
Ben Buford
GMGwenn Mitchell
Gwenn Mitchell
Ellie Moore
LPLawrence Pressman
Lawrence Pressman
Sergeant Tom Hannon
VAVictor Arnold
Victor Arnold
Charlie
SBSherri Brewer
Sherri Brewer
Marcy
RRRex Robbins
Rex Robbins
Rollie
CYCamille Yarbrough
Camille Yarbrough
Dina Greene
MW
Margaret Warncke
Linda
JLJoseph Leon
Joseph Leon
Byron Leibowitz

More from Richard Roundtree · Lead actor

The Mentalist
The Mentalist
2008 · 8.4
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
2005 · 8.2
Chicago Fire
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2012 · 8.4
Desperate Housewives
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2004 · 7.9
The Closer
The Closer
2005 · 7.8
Murder, She Wrote
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1984 · 7.5
The Love Boat
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1977 · 6.3
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990 · 7.3
Heroes
Heroes
2006 · 7.4
MacGyver
MacGyver
1985 · 7.7
See all fromRichard Roundtree

More from Moses Gunn · Co-star actor

Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
1968 · 7.2
Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie
1974 · 8.0
Great Performances
Great Performances
1971 · 6.1
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
1981 · 7.6
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
1984 · 7.0
American Playhouse
American Playhouse
1982 · 6.6
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
1993 · 8.1
Tales from the Crypt
Tales from the Crypt
1989 · 8.0
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
1984 · 7.4
Quincy, M.E.
Quincy, M.E.
1976 · 7.5
See all fromMoses Gunn

More from Gordon Parks · Director

American Playhouse
American Playhouse
1982 · 6.6
Shaft's Big Score!
Shaft's Big Score!
1972 · 6.1
Leadbelly
Leadbelly
1976 · 6.4
Martin
Martin
2026
Flavio
Flavio
1964 · 6.3
Solomon Northup's Odyssey
Solomon Northup's Odyssey
1991 · 6.8
The Super Cops
The Super Cops
1974 · 5.9
Moments without Proper Names
Moments without Proper Names
1987 · 7.7
The Learning Tree
The Learning Tree
1969 · 6.8
The World of Piri Thomas
The World of Piri Thomas
2021 · 9.0
See all fromGordon Parks

More like this

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1973 · 5.9
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1974 · 6.3
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Dead Man Down
2013 · 6.2
Paid in Full
Paid in Full
2002 · 6.9
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1973 · 6.6
Gangster Squad
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2013 · 6.4
In Cold Light
In Cold Light
2026 · 5.8
Across 110th Street
Across 110th Street
1972 · 6.7
Code of Silence
Code of Silence
1985 · 5.9
The Enforcer
The Enforcer
2022 · 7.0
Scarface
Scarface
1932 · 7.4
Al Capone
Al Capone
1959 · 6.6

Shaft — streaming FAQ

Which OTT platform streams Shaft?

Shaft is streaming on Howdy and Kanopy in United States, and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. It's not currently on Netflix.

Is Shaft on Netflix?

No, Shaft is not on Netflix in United States as of September 2026. It's currently on Howdy and Kanopy.

Is Shaft on Amazon Prime Video?

Shaft isn't included with a Prime Video subscription in United States, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Where can I watch Shaft for free?

Shaft is available to stream free (with ads) on Kanopy in United States.

Is there a sequel to Shaft?

Yes — Shaft is followed by Shaft's Big Score! (1972) in the Shaft Collection.

Is there a prequel to Shaft?

Shaft is the first film in the Shaft Collection.

Is Shaft part of a trilogy?

Yes — Shaft is part of a trilogy, alongside Shaft's Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973).

How many movies are in the Shaft Collection?

There are 3 films in the Shaft Collection: Shaft (1971), Shaft's Big Score! (1972) and Shaft in Africa (1973).