De harde, maar coole detective John Shaft arresteert de racistische Walter Wade Jr. na een uit de hand gelopen ruzie. Maar Wade weet met gemak weer vrij te komen door de invloed en het geld van zijn rijke vader en door het feit dat de enige ooggetuige spoorloos verdwenen is. Als Wade twee jaar later opnieuw wordt opgepakt, zet Shaft alles op alles om die ene ooggetuige te vinden en Wade voorgoed achter de tralies te zetten.
| Directing | John Singleton | Director |
| Production | Mark Roybal | Producer |
| Production | Scott Rudin | Producer |
| Production | John Singleton | Producer |
| Sound | David Arnold | Original Music Composer |
| Camera | Donald E. Thorin | Director of Photography |
| Editing | John Bloom | Editor |
| Editing | Antonia Van Drimmelen | Editor |
| Production | Ilene Starger | Casting |
| Art | Patrizia von Brandenstein | Production Design |
| Sound | Isaac Hayes | Original Music Composer |
| Production | Paul Hall | Executive Producer |
| Crew | Amy Yanagisawa | Stunts |
| Crew | Jodi Michelle Pynn | Stunts |
| Crew | Rose Sias | Stunts |
| Crew | Angela Meryl | Stunt Double |
| Crew | Nick Gillard | Stunt Coordinator |
| Writing | John Singleton | Story |
| Writing | Shane Salerno | Story |
| Writing | Shane Salerno | Screenplay |
| Writing | John Singleton | Screenplay |
| Writing | Richard Price | Screenplay |
| Writing | Ernest Tidyman | Novel |
| Production | Steve Nicolaides | Executive Producer |
| Production | Adam Schroeder | Executive Producer |
| Production | Eric Steel | Co-Producer |
| Editing | Al Rodgers | Editor |
| Art | Dennis Bradford | Art Direction |
| Art | George DeTitta Jr. | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Ruth E. Carter | Costume Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Allan A. Apone | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Don Kozma | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Christine Leiter | Makeup Artist |
| Production | Joseph E. Iberti | Unit Production Manager |
| Production | Ramona Diaz Sanchez | Production Supervisor |
| Crew | Andrew Zolot | Post Production Supervisor |
| Directing | Julie A. Bloom | Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Vebe Borge | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Naomi Cromwell | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Bac DeLorme | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Nick Gillard | Second Unit Director |
| Production | Rosadel Varela | Trainee Production Coordinator |
| Production | Rosada Yarela | Trainee Production Coordinator |
| Directing | Eric Yellin | Second Second Assistant Director |
| Crew | Steve Kirshoff | Special Effects Coordinator |
| Visual Effects | Gray Miller | Animation |
| Editing | Terel Gibson | Assistant Editor |
| Directing | Mikayla Abromowitz | Script Supervisor |
| Production | David F. Bianculli | Production Assistant |
| Production | Liza Bigger | Production Assistant |
| Directing | Bruce Franklin | First Assistant Director |
| Crew | Jalil Jay Lynch | Stunts |
