One of the greatest movies of all time by one of the best directors ever, which just so happens to be one of the greatest action films ever made (that’s a lot of hyperbole) is a hit on free streaming. The action genre has certainly come a long way over the past seven decades. The sleek kills of John Wick and Extraction are a far cry from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s explosive Commando, and they both feel incredibly modern compared to the likes of The Great Escape and classic westerns like Stagecoach. But, despite the major changes, there’s something about a classic action movie that never fails to entertain, and, in 1959, Alfred Hitchcock delivered one of his best: North by Northwest.
North by Northwest is currently streaming for free on Tubi, and it’s shooting up the streaming charts. The hit action thriller is the second most popular movie on the free streaming platform, behind Kevin Bacon’s 1996 crime/drama, Sleepers. Written by Ernest Lehman and directed by Hitchcock, North by Northwest featured a who’s who of Hollywood royalty, including Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, and Leo G. Carroll. Cary Grant stars as Roger O. Thornhill, an ad executive who is mistaken for a government agent and hunted by a mysterious and dangerous spy. Check out the official synopsis below:
“This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm’s associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm’s henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.”
Given its lauded status, it should really go without saying that North by Northwest was a gigantic hit when it was released in 1959. The film grossed $13.4 million domestically upon its release. While that might not sound like much, when adjusted for inflation, it’s roughly $150 million. The movie was also a major critical success, being nominated for three Oscars and holding a near-perfect 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘North by Northwest’ Is a Perfect Action Movie… According to a Legendary Director
It’s not just fans and critics that adore Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest; the film has also received very high praise from some contemporary Hollywood royalty. The film has been recognized as an inspiration by many famous directors, but it was Guillermo Del Toro who heaped the movie with hyperbole-filled praise.
Participating in the Turner Classic Movies selection for March 2025, Del Toro selected North by Northwest as one of his choices (alongside The Quiet Man, An American in Paris, and Being There). Del Toro said:
“The thing with North by Northwest is that it’s a very modern film, not only in its color and design, and the fact that it’s almost a musical without music, done very pointedly for MGM in VistaVision. But also by the fact that his action is diagrammatic and as crisp and as clean as anything that anyone can direct now or ever…. This is one of the canonical films of Alfred Hitchcock. The most perfect action film ever made in my opinion.”