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Availability last checked Oct 9, 2026.
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- Watch the movie with a subscription on BFI Player (HD).
What it's about
Gregory Ulas Powell is a disturbed ex-con who recruits Jimmy Lee "Youngblood" Smith, a petty thief, as his partner in crime. Powell panics one night when the two of them are pulled over by a pair of cops for broken brake lights. Powell decides to kidnap the cops, and Smith, as always, reluctantly goes along with Powell's crazy scheme. The group drives out to a deserted onion field in Bakersfield, California, and one officer is shot while the other escapes. The remainder of the film explores the nature of the American justice system, as well as the devastating psychological effects of this event, and the trial on the surviving officer.
Cast and crew
- Director
- Harold Becker
- Writer
- Joseph Wambaugh, Eric Roth
- Starring
- John Savage, James Woods, Franklyn Seales
Details
- Release date
- Feb 28, 1980
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Box office
- $9,890,597
- Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations
Where to Watch The Onion Field (1979) in the US — common questions
- Where to watch The Onion Field in the United States?
- The Onion Field is available with a subscription in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on BFI Player (HD).
- Can I stream The Onion Field or do I have to rent it in the United States?
- Watch the movie with a subscription on BFI Player (HD).
- Can I watch The Onion Field for free in the United States?
- We have not confirmed a free option for The Onion Field in the United States.
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