The Natural

PG

Released May 11, 1984

2h 14m

Drama

List

83%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

25,000+ Ratings

On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey). After 16 years, Hobbs returns to pro baseball as a rookie for the last-place New York Knights. Despite early arguments with his manager, Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley), Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and the Knights start winning. But this upsets the Judge (Robert Prosky), their owner, who wants Hobbs to lose games, not win.

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Critics Consensus

Though heavy with sentiment, The Natural is an irresistible classic, and a sincere testament to America's national pastime.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Being a baseball fan involves repeatedly experiencing exquisite pain and exquisite joy. Well, there's a lot of both in The Natural.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 19, 2013

Full Review

Empire Magazine

An otherwise fine sports fantasy is dragged down by an overindulgence in sentimentality.

Mar 25, 2011

Full Review

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Levinson must have felt he had to swing for the fences. He can be forgiven for choking up with all The Natural's fans looking on dubiously. In fairness, the official scorer must credit him with a single. And Redford with an RBI.

Mar 21, 2011

Full Review

Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

It shouldn't work, but it does. It’s a great-looking movie with a true movie star at its center and a cast chock-full of fantastic character actors (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

May 17, 2024

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...ultimately fares much, much better than the often astonishingly tedious Bernard Malamud novel on which its based...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 21, 2022

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Barry Levinson's 'The Natural' is a sports drama that gives me a pleasant time for two hours that roll like a pitcher's fastball in the postseason. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Feb 27, 2021

Full Review

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Michael H

The best baseball movie ever made IMO. Some outstanding individual performances by actors: Robert Redford, Wilford Brimley, Robert Duvall, and Kim Basinger just to name a few. Even a young Michael Madsen nailed his part. Some extra nostalgia for me personally, as it was mostly filmed in my hometown of Buffalo, NY. I coached a game or two at All-High Stadium, which was used to replicated Chicago/Wrigley and then of course War Memorial Stadium, aka The Old Rockpile; was where the Bills got their start and later in the late 80s I got to see the AAA Bisons play there. The music, the perfect slo-motion when he cracks that last homer and breaks the lights.... still get chills watching!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/26/24

Full Review

Mike B

Exceptional and moving.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

Full Review

Kevin P

Almost impossible for a baseball fan not to love this film. Even a non-baseball fan will enjoy the story and acting. Watch the movie 50 times and the last few minutes will still leave most with goosebumps.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/24

Full Review

Rob A

Iconic; one of the best sports films ever made and a signature role for Robert Redford!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

Fong Kok Hoong F

Adapted from Bernard Malamud's novel of the same name which is in turn based on the shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus and borrowing story elements from the quest of the Holy Grail of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Barry Levinson reworks the source material about a baseball talent and his odds against him to be a legend with absorbing mysticism and lyricism of a fable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Richard R

Like all the greatest "sports" movies, this one isn't about the sport. It's about trying, and overcoming, and not letting past failure keep you from success. More than anything, this one is about remembering who you are and becoming that person at any cost. My favorite sports movie, and my favorite Robert Redford film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/25/23

Full Review

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Barry Levinson

Director

Robert Redford

Roy Hobbs

Robert Duvall

Max Mercy

Glenn Close

Iris Gaines

Kim Basinger

Memo Paris

Wilford Brimley

Pop Fisher

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The Natural: Official Clip - The Final Homerun

2:13

The Natural: Official Clip - Savoy Special

2:06

The Natural: Official Clip - Batting Practice With Wonderboy

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - The Lady in White

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Knock the Cover Off the Ball

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Let it Ride

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Striking Out The Whammer

2:11

The Natural: Official Clip - A New Right Fielder

2:13

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Synopsis

On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey). After 16 years, Hobbs returns to pro baseball as a rookie for the last-place New York Knights. Despite early arguments with his manager, Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley), Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and the Knights start winning. But this upsets the Judge (Robert Prosky), their owner, who wants Hobbs to lose games, not win.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: Bernard Malamud, Phil Dusenberry
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Pioneer Entertainment, RCA/Columbia
Production Co: TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 11, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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