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California Split

1974Movie1 h 48 minR

ComedyDrama
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.1Metacritic857.0Rotten Tomatoes87%83%

A melancholic, moving comedy movie about everyday modern life and sports, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

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Not for warmth, scares or laughs.

Movies with

Story

…Being the story of two bet-on-anything guys who happily discover something called a "winning streak."

Carefree single guy Charlie Waters rooms with two lovely prostitutes, Barbara Miller and Susan Peters, and lives to gamble. Along with his glum betting buddy, Bill Denny, Charlie sets out on a gambling streak in search of the ever-elusive big payday. While Charlie and Bill have some lucky moments, they also have to contend with serious setbacks that threaten to derail their hedonistic betting binge.

Feels like

  • Gritty Character Study
  • Gambling Drama
  • Realistic Portrayal
  • Friendship & Addiction
  • Existential Melancholy
  • Improvised Feel
  • 70s Cinema
  • Cult Classic
  • Psychological Depth

Cast

18 of 18

Crew

Directed by
Robert Altman
Written by
Joseph Walsh
Produced by
Robert Altman, Joseph Walsh
Music by
James E. Webb, Kay Rose, Randy Kelley

Everyone

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

Facts

August 7, 1974 · 1 h 48 min · R

Released
August 7, 1974
Runtime
1 h 48 min
Age rating
R
Content
Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Comedy, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Box office
$5 million
Available in
24 countries

Tropes

Arc Words, Bittersweet Ending, Bromantic Comedy +9

  • Arc Words
  • Bittersweet Ending
  • Bromantic Comedy
  • Creepy Crossdresser
  • Dedication
  • Did I Mention It's Christmas?
  • Double-Meaning Title
  • The Gambling Addict
  • Happy Birthday to You!
  • One-Hour Work Week
  • Random Events Plot
  • Loan Shark

12 of 16 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

4 questions, like "Where can I stream California Split?"

Questions about California Split

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream California Split?

In the United States, you can rent or buy California Split from Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. It streams in 2 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is California Split worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.1, Rotten Tomatoes 87%, and Metacritic 85). Critics rate it higher (86 out of 100) than audiences (75).

Will California Split make me laugh?

Light

Now and then: the humor is mostly sharp wit (6 of 10) and dark humor (5 of 10).

Is California Split plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

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