Shaft (franchise)

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Shaft
File:Shaft logo.svg
Based on Characters created by Ernest Tidyman
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Distributed by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Release dates
 1971–present
Country United States
Language English
Box office Total (4 theatrically-released films): $131,751,966

The Shaft franchise is a series of five action-crime feature films and seven television films, centered on a family of African-American police detectives all sharing the name John Shaft. The first three features may be described as blaxploitation films, the television films are mysteries, and the fourth feature installment is a crime thriller. By contrast the fifth film installment, released to Netflix, is a satirical buddy-cop comedy.[1]

Background

John Shaft

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Main article: John Shaft

Feature films

Film U.S. release date Director(s) Story by Screenwriter(s) Producer(s)
Shaft July 2, 1971 Gordon Parks Ernest Tidyman and John D. F. Black Joel Freeman
Shaft's Big Score! June 8, 1972 Ernest Tidyman Ernest Tidyman and Roger Lewis
Shaft in Africa June 14, 1973 John Guillermin Stirling Silliphant Roger Lewis
Shaft June 16, 2000 John Singleton John Singleton & Shane Salerno John Singleton & Shane Salerno
and Richard Price		 John Singleton and Scott Rudin
Shaft June 14, 2019 Tim Story Kenya Barris & Alex Barnow Kenya Barris and John Davis

Shaft (1971)

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Main article: Shaft (1971 film)

John Shaft is a classy and suave African-American detective. Successfully, he fights local crime, in the leader of the black crime mob named Bumpy and his gang, and black nationals. The conflicting characters have to put aside their differences when they must defeat the white mafia, who kidnapped Bumpy's daughter in attempts to blackmail him.

Shaft's Big Score! (1972)

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Main article: Shaft's Big Score!

When John Shaft finds out that a dead friend ran an illegal money laundering scheme out of the former's legitimate business and left $200,000 unaccounted for, he discovers the reason why he had suddenly found himself in the middle of a war between rival gangs. The thugs begin a war of taking over the territory that belonged to the deceased, as well as to get their hands on the missing two hundred grand. Shaft has all he can handle trying to track down the money and, at the same time, keep his friend's sister from the clutches of these dangerous groups.

Shaft in Africa (1973)

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Main article: Shaft in Africa

John Shaft is persuaded to take on the faux identity of a native-speaking worker in Africa by threats of violence, the enticings of money, and the lure of a potential love interest in his tutor. While undercover he must help in completing a coup on a business that is smuggling immigrants into Europe, and then exploiting them. The villains, unfortunately for him, know he is coming.

Shaft (2000)

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Main article: Shaft (2000 film)

New York City Police Detective John Shaft II, son of the 1970s cop,[lower-alpha 2] is the lead detective on a sensitive case when a young African-American is viciously beaten to death. After learning there was an eye-witness and upon further investigation, the man's friends lead Shaft on the trail of a man who was known to have racial prejudice, prior to the attack. The titular character confronts him and learns that he's Walter Wade Jr., the son of a wealthy real estate tycoon. He finds evidence that the perpetrator was at the location of the crime. The suspect is released on bail because of 'excessive force' from Shaft during his arrest, and flees the country. Two years later, Wade returns to the U.S. where Shaft arrests him for evading law enforcement. After the judge grants him bail, Shaft questions the magistrate's motives and intentions. He resigns from the police force and sets out to lock Wade away permanently. At the same time Wade fears that Shaft may find the witness before he does and hires a drug lord to find and kill her.

Shaft (2019)

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Main article: Shaft (2019 film)

John Shaft III, also known as JJ, is a cyber security expert for the FBI who seeks out a different kind of expertise from his absentee father John Shaft II (and ultimately, grandfather John Shaft I) after his best friend's untimely death.

In discussing the film, director Tim Story stated, "...We’re going to definitely make sure the stakes in the world are real, and then you’ve got these characters who are dealing with kind of a father/son situation, we’re going to see them put a family back together."[2]

Television films

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Main article: Shaft (TV film series)
Series Season Episodes First released Last released Showrunner(s) Network(s)
Shaft 1 7 October 9, 1973 February 19, 1974 TBA CBS

Following the box office failure of Shaft in Africa, the studio moved the franchise to the small screen in 1973. A collection of television films ordered as a television series, the films were released on CBS network television. While attempting to build crossovers with another crime-drama, Hawkins, the series never garnered much success. Each film features a different case and a different crime for the titular character to solve. The series was cancelled after one season, due to poor ratings. Richard Roundtree, who reprised his role from the theatrical feature films, has since expressed his distaste for the television films and their contrasting message compared to the feature films.[3]

Shaft and the Enforcers (1973)

The first film, The Enforcers, aired on CBS on October 9, 1973.[3]

Shaft and the Killing (1973)

The second film, The Killing, aired on CBS on October 30, 1973.[3]

Shaft and the Hit-Run (1973)

The third film, Hit-Run, aired on CBS on November 20, 1973.[3]

Shaft and the Kidnapping (1973)

The fourth film, The Kidnapping, aired on CBS on December 11, 1973.[3]

Shaft and the Cop Killer (1974)

The fifth film, Cop Killer, aired on CBS on January 1, 1974.[3]

Shaft and the Capricorn Murders (1974)

The sixth film, The Capricorn Murders, aired on CBS on January 29, 1974.[3]

Shaft and the Murder Machine (1974)

The seventh and final television film, The Murder Machine, aired on CBS on February 19, 1974.[3]

Cast and crew

Cast

The film series contains four main stars, with various key characters appearing in each individual movie. The following chart organizes the films' stars, arranged by film.

Character Feature films Television films
Shaft Shaft's Big Score! Shaft in Africa Shaft Shaft The Enforcers The Killing Hit-Run The Kidnapping Cop Killer The Capricorn Murders The Murder Machine
1971 1972 1973 2000 2019 1973 1974
John Shaft Richard Roundtree
Bumpy Jonas Moses Gunn
Lt. Al Rossi Angelo Gnazzo Ed Barth
John Shaft II Samuel L. Jackson
John "JJ" Shaft III Jessie T. Usher
The Detective Rudy Doucette Rudy Doucette Rudy Doucette
The Hood Arnold Roberts Arnold Roberts
Laura Parks Judie Stein Judie Stein
The Pit Boss Nick Borgani
The Sportsman Robert Strong Robert Strong
Lt. Vic Androzzi Charles Cioffi
Ben Buford Christopher St. John
Ellie Moore Gwenn Mitchell
Tom Hannon Lawrence Pressman
Charlie Victor Arnold
Davies Tony King
Marcy Jonas Sherri Brewer
Rollie Rex Robbins
Dina Greene Camille Yarbrough
Linda Margaret Warncke
Byron Leibowitz Joseph Leon
Cul Arnold Johnson
Bunky Antonio Fargas
Willy Drew Bundini Brown
Gus Mascola Joseph Mascolo
Rita Kathy Imrie
Johnny Kelly Wally Taylor
Captain Bollin Julius Harris
Arna Asby Rosalind Miles
Andy Pascal Joe Santos
Johnson Don Blakely
Cal Asby Robert Kya-Hill
Preacher Thomas Anderson
Rip Frank Adonis
Detective Salmi Henry Ferrentino
Jerry John Foster
Junior Gillis Melvin Green, Jr.
Cooper Dan Hannafin
Gus' Girlfriend Marilyn Hamlin
Cabaret Dancer Kitty Jones
Old Lady Evelyn Davis
Emir Ramila Cy Grant
A.V. Ramila Avelio Falana
Col. Gondor Marne Maitland
Amafi Frank Finlay
Aleme Vonetta McGee
Jazar Neda Arnerić
Wassa Debebe Eshetu
Sassari Spiros Focás
Perreau Jacques Herlin
Osiat Frank McRae
Zubair Nadim Sawalha
Kopo Thomas Baptiste
Vanden Glynn Edwards
Cusset Jacques Marin
Angelo Aldo Sambrell
Ziba Jho Jhenkins
Oyo Willie Jonah
Piro Adolfo Lastretti
Prostitute Zenebech Tadesse
Ramila's Son A.V. Falana
Williams James E. Myers
Shimba Jon Chevron
Sadi Nik Zaran
Peoples Hernandez Jeffrey Wright
Det. Carmen Vasquez Vanessa Williams
Rasaan Trevor "Busta Rhymes"
Smith, Jr.
Diane Palmieri Toni Collette
Walter Wade, Jr. Christian Bale
Det. Jack Roselli Dan Hedaya
Det. Jimmy Groves Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Curt Fleming Josef Sommer
Carla Howard Lynne Thigpen
Walter Wade, Sr. Philip Bosco
Hon. Dennis Bradford Pat Hingle
Det. Luger Lee Tergesen
Lt. Kearney Daniel von Bargen
Lucifer Francisco "Coqui" Taveras
Alice Sonja Sohn
Lt. Cromartie Peter McRobbie
Sasha Arias Alexandra Shipp
Maya Babanikos Regina Hall
Major Gary Cutworth Matt Lauria
Special Agent Vietti Titus Welliver
Freddie P. Cliff "Method Man" Smith
Pierro "Gordito" Carrera Isaach de Bankolé
Karim Hassan Avan Jogia
Bennie Rodriguez Luna Lauren Vélez
Williams Robbie Jones
Dominguez Rodriguez Aaron Dominguez
Ron Leland Jones
Baby Chivonne Michelle
Sugar Tashiana Washington
Ms. Pepper Adrienne C. Moore
Marshall Cunningham Robert Culp
Det. Sgt. Lew Turner Richard Jaeckel
Gerald Felk Kaz Garas
Juan Otero Rafael Campos
Charles Dawson Noah Keen
Judge McCormick Dean Jagger
Bobby Michael Gregory
Gordon Dana Charles Boyd
Walter Anderson Maurice Hill
Stan Burgess Harv Selsby
Dr. Helen Connors Jeanne Sorel
Sister Elizabeth Diana Webster
Jane Cunningham Barbara Babcock
Cathy Cunningham Melissa Sue Anderson
Court Member Dusty Cadis
Numbers Peter Elbling
Court Member Bill Hickman
Don Lewis Richard Lawson
Diana Richie Ja'net DuBois
Kyle Bruckner Leonard Frey
Sergeant Duff Michael Ansara
Sonny Bruckner Michael Pataki
Stanley Hollister Henry Beckman
Archie McGill Ron Soble
Victor Perrine Jared Martin
Captain Rigano Val Avery
Charley Vito Scotti
Jack Benjamin Louis Guss
Mrs. Richie Royce Wallace
Logan Albert Popwell
Selma Thomas Jacque Lynn Colton
Judge Graves Michael Fox
Judge Weinberg Jack Bernardi
Iggie Lou Kane
Bailiff Benjie Bancroft
Courtroom Spectator Al Beaudine
Court Clerk Billy Beck
Court Reporter Dick Cherney
Juror George Holmes
Passerby Kathryn Janssen
Workman Danny Sands
Gambler Eddie Smith
Detective Nico Stevens
Tom Oliver Howard Duff
Marcus Lowell Percy Rodrigues
Ann Lowell Judy Pace
David Oliver Tony Geary
Paul Hanson Don Matheson
Clifford Grayson Tony Curtis
Charles Harris Nicky Blair
Mona Pat Delaney
Secretary Paula Shaw
Pit Boss Ted Jordan
Jacquard Jason Wingreen
Mrs. Pattion Shirley Anthony
Hoods Fred Carson
Bill Catching
Croupiers Sig Frohlich
Joseph La Cava
Dealer Bob Harks
Club Patrons Eddie Garrett
Robert Hitchcock
Joe Pine
Bartender Shep Houghton
Eddie Simmons Charlie Picerni
Pit Boss Hank Robinson
Crouper George Washburn
Elliot Williamson Paul Burke
Nancy Williamson Karen Carlson
Matthew Potter Nicholas A. Beauvy
Beck Greg Mullavey
Hayden Timothy Scott
Leo Vic Brandt
Sheriff Bradley Frank Marth
Deputy Walter Philip Kenneally
Deputy Daley Erik Holland
Deputy Milton Frank Whiteman
Mr. Tolliver Stephen Coit
Debbie Jayne Kennedy
Potter Richard Stahl
Cab Driver Joseph Petrullo
Bank Customer Robert Casper
Wally Doyle George Maharis
Officer Charles Tyler James A. Watson Jr.
Tom Donegan Richard Schaal
Brock Arch Johnson
Marcia Tyler Kim Hamilton
Eve Talya Ferro
Capt. Brian Brewster Darren McGavin
Dr. Meyer Gene Elman
Helen Rossi Mitzi Hoag
Tony Max Gail
Marks Joseph George
Cargill Peter Canon
Bartender Vic Christy
J. L. Teague Don Knight
Gil Kirkwood David Hedison
Joanna Kirkwood Cathy Lee Crosby
Harry Praeger Robert Phillips
Fire Investigator Bert Freed
Frank Lucas Arthur O'Connell
Bank Clerk June Dayton
Bank Officer Dean Harens
Myrna Candice Rialson
Carol Thelma Pelish
Nicky Jo Ella Deffenbaugh
Police Officer David Armstrong
Franklin Carter George Bryson
Boermer Edward Colmans
Gunther Gil Perkins
Detective Ray Pourchot
Intern Walter Smith
Richard Quayle Clu Gulager
Louise Quayle Fionnula Flanagan
Henry Kassner Mills Watson
Gerald Wallace Joe Warfield
Frank Higget Sheldon Allman
Plainclothesmen John Garwood
Glenn Robards
Bookie Danny Wells
Moon Bill Walker
Girl Janice Durkin
Higget's Bodyguard Sid Haig
Corman Than Wyenn

Crew

Title Composer(s) Cinematographer(s) Editor(s) Production
companies		 Distributing
company		 Running
time
Shaft
(1971)		 Isaac Hayes & Johnny Allen Urs Furrer Hugh A. Robertson Shaft Productions,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer		 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 100 minutes
Shaft's Big Score! Gordon Parks Harry Howard 104 minutes
Shaft in Africa Johnny Pate Marcel Grignon Max Benedict Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,
Shaft Productions, Ltd.		 112 minutes
Shaft
(TV film series)		 Michael Hugo & Keith C. Smith Peter Kirby & George Folsey, Jr. MGM Television CBS Network approx. 73 minutes each
Shaft
(2000)		 David Arnold Donald E. Thorin John Bloom & Antonia Van Drimmelen Shaft Productions,
Paramount Pictures,
New Deal Productions,
Scott Rudin Productions,
Munich Film Partners & Company		 Paramount Pictures 99 minutes
Shaft
(2019)		 Christopher Lennertz Larry Blanford Conrad Buff IV New Line Cinema,
Khalab Ink Society,
Davis Entertainment,
Netflix Original Films,
Warner Bros. Pictures,
Warner Bros. Digital Networks		 Warner Bros. Pictures 111 minutes

Reception

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For more details on the reception of each film, see the "Reception" section on each film's article.

Box office performance

Film Release date Box office gross Box office ranking Budget Ref.
North America Other territories Worldwide All time
North America		 All time
worldwide
Shaft (1971) July 2, 1971 $12,121,618 N/A $12,121,618 #4,476 #5,704 $500,000[citation needed] [4]
Shaft's Big Score! June 8, 1972 $10,000,000 N/A $10,000,000 #4,875 #6,204 $1,978,000 [5]
Shaft in Africa June 14, 1973 $1,455,635 $1,079,615 $2,440,240[lower-alpha 3] N/A N/A $2,142,000 [7][6]
Shaft (2000) June 16, 2000 $70,327,868 $36,862,240 $107,190,108 #1,086 #1,377 $53,012,938 [8]
Shaft (2019) June 14, 2019 $21,360,215 N/A $21,360,215 TBA TBA $30,000,000 [9]

Critical and public response

Film Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic CinemaScore[10]
Shaft (1971) 88% (40 reviews)[11] 66 (10 reviews)[12] N/A
Shaft's Big Score! 68% (11 reviews)[13] N/A N/A
Shaft in Africa 56% (9 reviews)[14] N/A N/A
Shaft (2000) 67% (115 reviews)[15] 50 (33 reviews)[16] A-
Shaft (2019) 31% (99 reviews)[17] 40 (30 reviews)[18] A

See also

A future descendant of John Shaft appears in the Cowboy Bebop episode "Mushroom Samba", voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka in the 1999 Japanese version and by Beau Billingslea in the 2001 English dub. According to writer/director Quentin Tarantino, the characters Broomhilda "Hildi" von Schaft and her husband Django Freeman in his 2012 film Django Unchained were written as the progenitors to the Shaft family line and direct ancestors of John Shaft. Tarantino stated that while the film isn't an official prequel to the series, his intention was that the characters have familial ties.[19]

Further reading

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Notes

  1. ↑ Rights to the first three films are currently held by Warner Bros. Pictures via Turner Entertainment Co.
  2. ↑ The 2019 sequel retcons him into being Shaft II's biological father, the film mentioning that Shaft I had spent years pretending to be his uncle.
  3. ↑ Because there are no box office numbers available for Shaft in Africa, these figures are calculated off of home video rental sales.[6]

References

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  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ "Big Rental Films of 1973", Variety, January 9, 1974, p. 60.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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