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Trailer

The Great Santini

1979Movie1 h 55 minPG

Drama
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Metacritic647.5Rotten Tomatoes95%75%

A moving, melancholic drama movie about everyday modern life and family, with standout performances and characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.

As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.

Feels like

  • Family Drama
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Marine Pilot
  • Father-Son Conflict
  • Psychological Depth
  • Character-Driven
  • Emotional Intensity
  • Strong Performances
  • 1970s American Cinema

Cast

23 of 23

Crew

Directed by
Lewis John Carlino
Written by
Lewis John Carlino, Pat Conroy
Produced by
Charles A. Pratt
Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 26, 1979 · 1 h 55 min · PG

Released
October 26, 1979
Runtime
1 h 55 min
Age rating
PG
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$4 million
Box office
$5 million
Available in
27 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Abusive Parents, Alliterative Name, Attack Hello +5

  • Abusive Parents
  • Alliterative Name
  • Attack Hello
  • The Film of the Book
  • Militaristic Myopia
  • Taking You with Me
  • Tagline
  • Military Brat

From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream The Great Santini?"

Questions about The Great Santini

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Great Santini?

PlexTubi TV

In the United States, The Great Santini is free with ads on Plex and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 1 other country.

Is The Great Santini worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 7.2, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 64).

Is The Great Santini okay for kids?

PGViolenceStrong language

Yes: it's rated PG in the United States for violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is The Great Santini plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and pathos (8 of 10) more than on its plot.