Pickup on South Street (1953)
Kernel Score: 81% · 315 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Thriller, Crime
Released: 1953-05-27
Runtime: 80 minutes
Where to watch Pickup on South Street
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
In New York City, an insolent pickpocket, Skip McCoy, inadvertently sets off a chain of events when he targets ex-prostitute Candy and steals her wallet. Unaware that she has been making deliveries of highly classified information to the communists, Candy, who has been trailed by FBI agents for months in hopes of nabbing the spy ringleader, is sent by her ex-boyfriend, Joey, to find Skip and retrieve the valuable microfilm he now holds.
Pickup on South Street parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that this classic film noir centers on a pickpocket, a Cold War spy plot, and a former prostitute character.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Film noir crime thriller involving pickpocketing and espionage with some tension and threat.
- Sex, romance & nudity: A little — References a character's past as a prostitute, though not depicted explicitly.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Pickup on South Street
If you liked Pickup on South Street, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Asphalt Jungle (1950) — 84%
- Oliver Twist (1948) — 85%
- Pickpocket (1959) — 81%
- The Killing (1956) — 86%
- Odd Man Out (1947) — 82%
- Stray Dog (1949) — 86%
- Out of the Past (1947) — 85%
- The Stranger (1946) — 81%
Director
Cast
- Richard Widmark as Skip McCoy
- Jean Peters as Candy
- Thelma Ritter as Moe Williams
- Murvyn Vye as Captain Dan Tiger
- Richard Kiley as Joey
- Willis Bouchey as Zara
- Milburn Stone as Detective Winoki
- Parley Baer as Headquarters Communist in Chair (uncredited)
- Chet Brandenburg as Fight Spectator (uncredited)
- Frank Kumagai as Lum (uncredited)
Pickup on South Street FAQ
Is Pickup on South Street good?
Pickup on South Street has an 81% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 315 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Pickup on South Street?
In the US you can stream Pickup on South Street on FlixFling, watch it free with ads on Plex, Mometu and Tubi and rent it from FlixFling.
Is Pickup on South Street OK for kids?
Pickup on South Street is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that this classic film noir centers on a pickpocket, a Cold War spy plot, and a former prostitute character.
What movies are like Pickup on South Street?
If you liked Pickup on South Street, try The Asphalt Jungle, Oliver Twist, Pickpocket and The Killing.