The Dirty Harry Series started in 1971 with the release of Dirty Harry. The movie was a huge success, and four sequels followed it. The series is known for its gritty realism, intense action, and dark humor.
The movies are set in San Francisco, California, and follow the adventures of “Dirty” Harry Callahan, a police inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. The character was created by screenwriter Harry Julian Fink and is portrayed by actor Clint Eastwood in each of the five Dirty Harry films.
The Dirty Harry films are jam-packed with action, suspense, and humor. If you’re a fan of action movies, then you’ll definitely want to check out the Dirty Harry series.
Dirty Harry Series tells the story of “Dirty” Harry Callahan, a police inspector with the San Francisco Police Department. The character was created by screenwriter Harry Julian Fink and is portrayed by actor Clint Eastwood in each of the five Dirty Harry films.
The first Dirty Harry film, Dirty Harry, was released in 1971, and four sequels followed it.
The Dirty Harry movies are some of the most popular action movies ever made.
List of all Dirty Harry Movies in Order of Release
- Dirty Harry (1971)
- Magnum Force (1973)
- The Enforcer (1976)
- Sudden Impact (1983)
- The Dead Pool (1988)
Dirty Harry (1971)
Director: Don Siegel | Writers: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, and John Larch | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 42 minutes. | Release Date: December 23, 1971 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Holiday Inn Select Downtown Hotel – 750 Kearny Street, San Francisco, California, USA | Production Companies: The Malpaso Company | Budget: The budget of the movie was $4 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $36 million.
The first Dirty Harry movie was released in 1971 and was an instant classic. The movie follows Inspector Callahan as he tries to track down a psychotic killer who is terrorizing the city of San Francisco.
The movie was directed by Don Siegel and written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink, and stars Clint Eastwood, Andrew Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, and John Larch. The movie was a huge success and launched Clint Eastwood’s career.
A psychopathic killer shoots a young woman in a parking garage. When the police can’t find any leads, they give Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) the case. Harry is a tough, no-nonsense cop who doesn’t play by the rules. He’s also not afraid to bend the law to get results.
Harry’s investigation leads him to a group of criminals who are planning to kill a list of people. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan (John Mitchum), Harry sets out to stop the killers before they can strike again.
After two failed attempts to catch Scorpio, Harry finally tracks him down to a football stadium. Scorpio has taken a young boy hostage and is demanding a ransom. Harry tries to talk Scorpio down, but the killer is too far gone. Scorpio starts shooting at the crowd, and Harry is forced to kill him.
Magnum Force (1973)
Director: Ted Post | Writers: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, David Soul, Mitchell Ryan, and Robert Urich | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 2 hours and 4 minutes. | Release Date: December 25, 1973 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, mystery, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Cost Plus World Market – 2552 Taylor Street, San Francisco, California, USA | Production Companies: The Malpaso Company, Warner Bros. | Budget: The budget of the movie was $5 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $40 million.
The second Dirty Harry movie, Magnum Force, was released in 1973. The movie follows Inspector Callahan as he tries to track down a group of rogue police officers who are terrorizing the city of San Francisco.
The movie was directed by Ted Post and written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink and stars Clint Eastwood, Hal Holbrook, David Soul, Mitchell Ryan, and Robert Urich. The movie was a huge success and cemented Clint Eastwood’s status as a Hollywood action star.
Carmine Ricca, a mobster, is set free on a technicality. Inspector Callahan is unhappy about this and is even less happy when Ricca starts killing people. Harry’s investigation leads him to a group of dirty cops who are on the take from the mob. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan, Harry sets out to stop the dirty cops before they can kill again.
San Francisco cop “Dirty Harry” Callahan is on the tail of Carmine Ricca, a Mafia kingpin who has been set free on a technicality. When Ricca starts killing again, Callahan’s investigation leads him to a group of dirty cops who are on the take from the mob. With the help of his partner Inspector Al Quan, Callahan sets out to stop the dirty cops before they can kill again.
The Enforcer (1976)
Director: James Fargo | Writers: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Bradford Dillman, and Harry Guardino | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 36 minutes. | Release Date: December 22, 1976 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Edgewood Avenue, Mill Valley, California, USA | Production Companies: The Malpaso Company, Warner Bros. | Budget: The budget of the movie was $9 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $46 million.
The third Dirty Harry movie, The Enforcer, was released in 1976. The movie follows Inspector Callahan as he tries to track down a group of terrorists who are planning to bomb the city of San Francisco.
The movie was directed by James Fargo and written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink and stars Clint Eastwood, Tyne Daly, Bradford Dillman, and Harry Guardino. The movie was a huge success and further solidified Clint Eastwood’s status as a Hollywood action star.
Bobby Maxwell, with his gang, robbed a bank. But one of his gang upset that the take was small, killed a teller. Maxwell and his gang were captured by the police and sent to prison. Inspector Callahan is assigned to guard Maxwell while he’s in prison.
When Maxwell escapes from prison, Harry sets out to track him down. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan, Harry sets out to stop Maxwell and his gang before they can kill again.
People’s Revolutionary Strike Force has been robbing banks, and the latest one they hit was First National. They got away with $100,000, but one of Maxwell’s gang, an ex-con named Joey LaMotta, killed a teller.
When the police capture Maxwell and his gang, Callahan is assigned to guard him. But Maxwell escapes from prison, and Callahan is tasked with finding him. With the help of his partner Inspector Al Quan, Callahan sets out to stop Maxwell and his gang before they can kill again.
Sudden Impact (1983)
Director: Clint Eastwood | Writer: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, and Bradford Dillman | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 57 minutes. | Release Date: December 9, 1983 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Monterey Bay, California, USA | Production Companies: The Malpaso Company, Warner Bros. | Budget: The budget of the movie was $22 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $67 million.
The fourth Dirty Harry movie, Sudden Impact, was released in 1983. The movie follows Inspector Callahan as he tries to track down a serial killer who is terrorizing the city of San Francisco.
The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink, and stars Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, and Bradford Dillman. The movie was a huge success and further solidified Clint Eastwood’s status as a Hollywood action star.
Jennifer Spencer and her sister, Tracy, were raped by a group of men. The police could not find the perpetrators, and the case went cold. Years later, Jennifer is now a police detective. When a series of rapes occur, she realizes that the perpetrator is the same man who raped her and her sister.
Harry Callahan rejoins his job as a police inspector in San Francisco after being temporarily reassigned to Stockton. While investigating a murder, Harry and his partner, Al Quan, find themselves up against a gang of criminals who plan to kill a list of people. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan, Harry sets out to stop the killers before they can strike again.
Callahan is investigating the murders of two men who were killed with a coffee mug. The only clue he has is that the mug was from a local coffee shop. Callahan and his partner Al Quan go to the coffee shop and find out that the mug was part of a set that was given to customers who spent over $10.
They also find out that the owner of the coffee shop is on the list of people who are going to be killed. Callahan and Quan set out to stop the killers before they could strike again.
The Dead Pool (1988)
Director: Buddy Van Horn | Writer: Harry Julian Fink, Rita M. Fink | Stars: Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, Patricia Clarkson, and Jim Carrey | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: The runtime of the movie is 1 hour and 31 minutes. | Release Date: July 13, 1988 | Language: The language is English. | Genres: The movie genres are action, crime, mystery, and thriller. | Filming Locations: 550 El Camino Del Mar, Seacliff, San Francisco, California, USA | Production Companies: The Malpaso Company, Warner Bros. | Budget: The movie’s budget was $31 million. | Box Office: The film grossed $37 million.
The fifth and final Dirty Harry movie, The Dead Pool, was released in 1988. The movie follows Inspector Callahan as he tries to track down a group of criminals who plan to kill a list of celebrities.
The movie was directed by Buddy Van Horn and written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink, and stars Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, Patricia Clarkson, and Jim Carrey. The movie was a huge success and further solidified Clint Eastwood’s status as a Hollywood action star.
Rock singer Johnny Squares is found dead, and the police suspect that a fan killed him. Inspector Callahan is assigned to the case, and his investigation leads him to a group of criminals who are planning to kill a list of people. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan, Harry sets out to stop the killers before they can strike again.
During a Chinatown restaurant robbery, several shots are fired, and one of the bullets grazes Harry Callahan’s head. This gives Harry a concussion, and he is taken to the hospital. While Harry is in the hospital, several more people are killed.
Harry soon realizes that he is on a hit list and that someone is trying to kill him. With the help of his partner, Inspector Al Quan, Harry sets out to find the person who is trying to kill him.
Dirty Harry Movies In Order by IMDB Rating
| Movies | Rating on IMDB |
|---|---|
| Dirty Harry | 7.7/10 |
| Magnum Force | 7.2/10 |
| The Enforcer | 6.8/10 |
| Sudden Impact | 6.7/10 |
| The Dead Pool | 6.3/10 |
Other Popular Action Franchises
- Jason Bourne Movies
- Austin Powers Movies
- Jack Ryan Movies
- Hunger Games Movies
- Oceans Movies
- Fast and the Furious Movies
- Taken Movies
- Die Hard Movies
- Bond Movies
- Mission Impossible Movies
- Mad Max Movies
- John Wick Movies
FAQs
Are All of The Dirty Harry Movies Part of The Same Series?
Yes, all of the Dirty Harry movies are part of the same series. The first movie in the series, Dirty Harry, was released in 1971. The most recent movie in the series, The Dead Pool, was released in 1988.
What are the Dirty Harry movies about?
The Dirty Harry movies follow the adventures of Inspector Harry Callahan, a detective in the San Francisco Police Department. The movies are known for their action sequences and their use of profanity. The first movie in the series, Dirty Harry, was released in 1971.
What Is The Best Dirty Harry Movie?
The best Dirty Harry movie is Dirty Harry. The movie is considered to be a classic, and it is one of the most well-known action movies of all time. It stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector Callahan and features some of the most iconic cinema scenes.
Are The Dirty Harry Movies Connected?
Yes, the Dirty Harry movies are connected. They all follow the adventures of Inspector Callahan, and they all take place in the city of San Francisco.
Conclusion
Clint Eastwood is a fine artist, but his portrayal of “Dirty” Harry Callahan is what made him a legend. The first movie of the series is considered to be a classic, and it is one of the most well-known action movies of all time. It stars Clint Eastwood as Inspector Callahan and features some of the most iconic cinema scenes.
The series is known for its action sequences and its use of profanity. The movies are all connected and take place in the city of San Francisco. There is a spin-off movie called Sudden Impact, which follows the character of Inspector Callahan.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!
Hey, My name is Charles Eames, I am a designer, filmmaker, and lover of photographic arts. And I usually write about movies, Famous/Influential People. I am running this blog with my girlfriend Bernice.