The African Queen

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The African Queen

PG

1952

1h 45m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After religious spinster's (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She's not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. Time alone on the river leads to love.

Critics Consensus

Perfectly cast, smartly written, and beautifully filmed, The African Queen remains thrilling, funny, and effortlessly absorbing even after more than half a century's worth of adventure movies borrowing liberally from its creative DNA.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

07/06/2022

This is a comedy, a love story, and a tale of adventure, and it is one of the most charming and entertaining movies ever made.

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Kevin Maher

The Times (UK)

11/25/2019

5/5

The action scenes are expertly handled, the film was a hit and Hollywood liked it so much that it remade it in 1975 as Rooster Cogburn, with John Wayne opposite Hepburn.

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THR Staff

The Hollywood Reporter

02/20/2017

The African Queen is top flight entertainment, delightful, different, always interesting.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

10/15/2024

5/5

…not all old films are good films, but The African Queen still passes muster with vibrant flying colours in 2024…arguably the first modern action movie, this is no ersatz jungle cruise, but a bona fide classic..

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Ian Kane

Epoch Times

09/27/2024

4/5

...the film masterfully blends action and humor, with more sentimental moments. Its exotic locales were filmed on location in Africa.

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Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

01/16/2024

The intense drama, humor, romance and authenticity which African Queen packs make it solid film fare.

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D B.

@Honor Feb 2

One of a kind. Must see

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Richard S.

@shepado Jan 30

One of the best! The developing relationship between Bogie and Kate is beautiful.

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Blu B

@RT43513976 Sep 7

A Classic Adventure Flick. It's kind of amazing with this and Sierra Madre how integral Bogie is to the devlopment of the adventure genre. Really well made all around with really good direction. It has bits of war, romance, comedy, and action all packed together. This must've been a treat to see in 51' as I really can't think of much like it before it. Hepburn is really good but the best thing in this is Bogart without question. He's got so much charisma, charm, personality, and really good chemistry with Hepburn. The special effects are really well done and very clean. A mixture of just doing it, clever editing, minitures, and set design. 80% of this film is on location and it looks really good. Such a memorable locale. If there is one issue that holds it back for me is it wears a lot of hats. Comedic, serious, being leisurely, and fast. On top of that sometimes it can feel like it's tighter in it's writing in certain points more than others. It can feel like going down the river stuff just happens to an extent. But it's really well done overall and anyone who is a fan of any actors in this, Huston, adventure flicks, or an offbeat romance should check this out. Oh and man the opening at the church boy talk about the term cacphony. lol

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Andrew M

@RT74562588 07/28/2025

Aside from the scenes of the Africans, this is a must see classic. burn was great, but Bohar was superlative. hard to believe that it was Bogart.

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Topher S

@RT65664524 01/25/2025

Romantic tale of adventure

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JJJJJJ J

@RT10868636 12/31/2023

Maybe in its time it was good but by modern standards it just falls flat. The plot seems cliche and predictable and there really seems to be nothing special about it. This film is by no means terrible it just has nothing really good about it. Unfortunately not worth its time.

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John Huston

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Charlie Allnut

Katharine Hepburn

Rose Sayer

Robert Morley

Reverend Samuel Sayer

Peter Bull

Captain of Louisa

Theodore Bikel

First Officer

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The African Queen: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

After religious spinster's (Katharine Hepburn) missionary brother is killed in WWI Africa, dissolute steamer captain (Humphrey Bogart) offers her safe passage. She's not satisfied so she persuades him to destroy a German gunboat. The two spend most of their time fighting with each other rather than the Germans. Time alone on the river leads to love.

Director: John Huston
Producer: S.P. Spiegel
Screenwriter: C.S. Forester, James Agee, John Huston, John Collier
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Horizon Films, Romulus Productions
Rating: PG (Some Violence|Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 20, 1952, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

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