Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

90% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings

With flaws that outweigh his talent, reporter Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas) has bounced across the country from job to job. Winding up in New Mexico, Tatum gets work from the local newspaper, but finds that there's not much in the way of pressing news. However, when Tatum catches wind of a treasure hunter (Richard Benedict) trapped in a mineshaft, he turns the story into a media sensation. Soon Tatum is using unscrupulous tactics to draw out the situation, an approach that comes back to haunt him.

Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Ace in the Hole

Ace in the Hole

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Spearheaded by an excellent Kirk Douglas, Ace in the Hole is an incisive and sardonic satire that, much like its opportunistic hero, never lets moral compunction get in the way of a good story.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (42) Critics Reviews
Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Adam Nayman The Ringer Ace in the Hole is as vicious and irreverent as classic Hollywood ever got, bowing to nobody in its righteous cynicism. Apr 15, 2019 Full Review Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Roger Ebert RogerEbert.com In a lesser movie, Tatum would share our sympathy for the pathetic man. Here, he's on a parabola in that direction but wants it to intersect with the moment of his own greatest fame. Rated: 4/4 Feb 22, 2019 Full Review Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Ruthe Stein San Francisco Chronicle Ace in the Hole is a revelation, as timely now as when it was made. Aug 29, 2014 Full Review Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Vernon Young Arizona Quarterly In Ace in the Hole aesthetics would have been served by intelligence. Jan 22, 2024 Full Review Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm A fairly clear-cut moral parable... Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 14, 2024 Full Review Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Wilder and company offer up a biting exploration of unscrupulous predatory journalism and the insensitive lust to get ahead and be on top. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 19, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (558) audience reviews

Allen R Disturbing look at what humanity will turn to if they get a little attention. Kirk Douglas is fantastic as a reporter doing anything to make it the top even if it means making up the story. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/06/24 Full Review Steve D I found it melodramatic and unconvincing, Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/03/24 Full Review Sean S Billy Wilder, one of America's top five directors teaming up with Kirk Douglas at his peak. A cynical but truthful look at the tabloid news media industry. One of the very few 5/5 films. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/23 Full Review bao s Kirk as always makes it a movie worth watching. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/12/23 Full Review casnien v With flaws that outweigh his talent, reporter Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas) has bounced across the country from job to job. Winding up in New Mexico, Tatum gets work from the local newspaper, but finds that there's not much in the way of pressing news. However, when Tatum catches wind of a treasure hunter (Richard Benedict) trapped in a mineshaft, he turns the story into a media sensationThere is something so special about Billy Wilder's films, the way that he manages to capture you in the movie from the first second of the movie, is always so special and something I can't get enough of. The screenplay written by Billy Wilder and his team is so great, there is always tension and the characters feel like they are always developing in every scene. Technically the movie looks gorgeous in black and white again, especially with the wide shots of the whole area and sets, because that set was enormous. The shots in the mountain were incredible as well and felt very challenging and psychically to shoot, the way that Billy Wilder shot it. Kirk Douglas was of course the highlight of the movie, with a performance that I will not forget soon. The rest of the cast is great as well, however they definitely don't reach the same heights that Kirk Douglas reaches. The story is gripping from the first moment and ends with an iconic shot and one that will leave you thinking about the whole movie a second time. Ace In the Hole is not my favorite work by Billy Wilder, but certainly one that is worthy in his filmography! Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Stephen C LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 52 minutes ever recorded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Ace in the Hole

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Billy Wilder Director Kirk Douglas Charles "Chuck" Tatum Jan Sterling Lorraine Minosa Porter Hall Jacob Q. Boot Robert Arthur Herbie Cook Frank Cady Mr. Federber
Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

Movie Clips

View All videos

Ace in the Hole

Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Below-the-Belt Journalism Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Below-the-Belt Journalism 2:09 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - We've Got an Ace in the Hole Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - We've Got an Ace in the Hole 1:58 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Small Town Blues Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Small Town Blues 2:13 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Rattlesnake Hunt Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Rattlesnake Hunt 1:50 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Finding Leo Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - Finding Leo 2:13 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - I Know Newspapers Backward, Forward and Sideways Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - I Know Newspapers Backward, Forward and Sideways 2:13 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - A Big Human Interest Ending Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - A Big Human Interest Ending 2:12 Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - You Like Those Rocks Just as Much as I Do Ace in the Hole: Official Clip - You Like Those Rocks Just as Much as I Do 2:10 View more videos

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home

A Place in the Sun 82% 84% A Place in the Sun TRAILER for A Place in the Sun Sunset Boulevard 98% 94% Sunset Boulevard TRAILER for Sunset Boulevard The Heiress 100% 93% The Heiress The Lost Weekend 97% 90% The Lost Weekend Samson and Delilah 56% 59% Samson and Delilah Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Related Movie News

View All Related Movie News
Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién, Critic at Vulture/New York Magazine

Photos

View All Ace in the Hole photos

Ace in the Hole

Ace in the Hole (1951) Ace in the Hole (1951) Ace in the Hole (1951) Ace in the Hole (1951) Ace in the Hole (1951) View more photos

Synopsis With flaws that outweigh his talent, reporter Chuck Tatum (Kirk Douglas) has bounced across the country from job to job. Winding up in New Mexico, Tatum gets work from the local newspaper, but finds that there's not much in the way of pressing news. However, when Tatum catches wind of a treasure hunter (Richard Benedict) trapped in a mineshaft, he turns the story into a media sensation. Soon Tatum is using unscrupulous tactics to draw out the situation, an approach that comes back to haunt him.

Director
Billy Wilder

Producer
Billy Wilder

Screenwriter
Walter Newman, Lesser Samuels, Billy Wilder

Distributor
Paramount Pictures

Production Co
Paramount Pictures

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 29, 1951, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013

Runtime
1h 52m
Most Popular at Home Now
Ace in the Hole | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Duane Harber

Last Updated:

Views: 5352

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Duane Harber

Birthday: 1999-10-17

Address: Apt. 404 9899 Magnolia Roads, Port Royceville, ID 78186

Phone: +186911129794335

Job: Human Hospitality Planner

Hobby: Listening to music, Orienteering, Knapping, Dance, Mountain biking, Fishing, Pottery

Introduction: My name is Duane Harber, I am a modern, clever, handsome, fair, agreeable, inexpensive, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.