The film gained mixed to negative critical reception upon its release . Its domestic ( including rentals ) and worldwide gross of $ 5.9 million and $ 9 million respectively did not recoup its costs . A considerable number of critics , as well as the director himself , attributed the film 's commercial failure to its release at roughly the same time as '' Star Wars '' , which instantly became a pop-culture phenomenon . The film has enjoyed a critical re-evaluation , and some critics have lauded it as an overlooked masterpiece , perhaps " the last undeclared one of the American '70s " . Director Friedkin considers '' Sorcerer '' among one of his favorite works , and the most personal and difficult film he has made . Tangerine Dream 's electronic music score was also acclaimed , leading the band to become popular soundtrack composers in the 1980s . After a lengthy lawsuit filed against Universal Studios and Paramount , Friedkin started supervising a digital restoration of '' Sorcerer '' , with the new print premiering at the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 29 , 2013 . Its remastered home video release on Blu-ray came out on April 22 , 2014
70th Venice International Film Festival
70th Venice International Film Festival
Sorcerer (film)