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Trailer

The Old Man and the Sea

1990Movie1 h 33 min

Drama
64
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb6.7Rotten Tomatoes–64%

A moving, slow-burning action movie.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs.

Movies with

Story

Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway. Santiago goes out on his usual fishing trip and makes a huge catch, the biggest of his life. Then a shark attacks and tries to steal his catch.

Feels like

  • Hemingway Adaptation
  • Man vs. Nature
  • Survival
  • Resilience
  • Epic Struggle
  • Melancholic
  • Philosophical
  • Classic Literature

Cast

8 of 8

Crew

Directed by
Jud Taylor
Written by
Ernest Hemingway, Roger O. Hirson
Produced by
Robert E. Fuisz
Music by
Bruce Broughton

Everyone

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

Facts

March 25, 1990 · 1 h 33 min · Violence

Released
March 25, 1990
Runtime
1 h 33 min
Content
Violence
Genres
Action, Drama, TV Movie
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom
Available in
2 countries

Tropes

"Shaggy Dog" Story, Doomed Moral Victor, Threatening Shark +9

  • "Shaggy Dog" Story
  • Doomed Moral Victor
  • Threatening Shark
  • Worthy Opponent
  • Cool Old Guy
  • Manly Tears
  • Minimalist Cast
  • Real Life Writes the Plot
  • Defeat Means Friendship
  • Author Appeal
  • Thinking Out Loud
  • Taxonomic Term Confusion

12 of 23 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Old Man and the Sea?"

Questions about The Old Man and the Sea

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is The Old Man and the Sea worth watching?

64
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 64 (IMDb 6.7).

Is The Old Man and the Sea okay for kids?

Violence

Yes: its content advisories are violence, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Is The Old Man and the Sea plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (8 of 10) and character depth (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Old Man and the Sea use?

"Shaggy Dog" StoryDoomed Moral VictorThreatening SharkWorthy OpponentCool Old GuyManly TearsMinimalist CastReal Life Writes the PlotDefeat Means FriendshipAuthor AppealThinking Out LoudTaxonomic Term Confusionand 11 more

TV Tropes lists 23 tropes for it, including "Shaggy Dog" Story, Doomed Moral Victor, and Threatening Shark.