North by Northwest (1959)
Kernel Score: 88% · 4,440 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Thriller, Adventure
Released: 1959-08-06
Runtime: 136 minutes
Is North by Northwest worth watching?
Must-watch. An advertising man is mistaken for a spy and chased across America. Witty, glamorous and endlessly inventive, it's the template for the wrong-man thriller, and the crop-duster and Mount Rushmore sequences are still thrilling.
Watch it if you
- want a thriller that's also fun
- love classic Hollywood and Hitchcock
- like wrong-man chase stories
Skip it if you
- dislike older, slower filmmaking
- want gritty realism
Best for: Classic movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch North by Northwest
- Stream: YouTube TV
- Free with ads: Plex, Tubi
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
North by Northwest parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that North by Northwest is a classic Hitchcock thriller involving mistaken identity, espionage, and a famous crop-duster chase.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes tense chase sequences, an assassination plot, and peril, but violence is largely bloodless by classic-film standards.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like North by Northwest
If you liked North by Northwest, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Rear Window (1954) — 93%: Hitchcock's other great suspense film, set in one apartment.
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) — 86%: Hitchcock thriller of ordinary people caught in intrigue.
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) — 77%: Hitchcock's earlier espionage adventure.
- Three Days of the Condor (1975) — 82%: Smart 70s paranoia thriller.
- The Fugitive (1993) — 84%: Wrong-man chase thriller with big action.
- Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) — 83%: Modern spy spectacle with huge stunts.
Director
Cast
- Cary Grant as Roger Thornhill
- Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall
- James Mason as Phillip Vandamm
- Jessie Royce Landis as Clara Thornhill
- Leo G. Carroll as Professor
- Josephine Hutchinson as Mrs. Townsend
- Philip Ober as Lester Townsend
- Martin Landau as Leonard
- Adam Williams as Valerian
- Edward Platt as Victor Larrabee
North by Northwest FAQ
Is North by Northwest worth watching?
Must-watch. An advertising man is mistaken for a spy and chased across America. Witty, glamorous and endlessly inventive, it's the template for the wrong-man thriller, and the crop-duster and Mount Rushmore sequences are still thrilling.
Where can I watch North by Northwest?
In the US you can stream North by Northwest on YouTube TV, watch it free with ads on Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is North by Northwest OK for kids?
North by Northwest is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that North by Northwest is a classic Hitchcock thriller involving mistaken identity, espionage, and a famous crop-duster chase.
What movies are like North by Northwest?
If you liked North by Northwest, try Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Foreign Correspondent and Three Days of the Condor.