Arthur
Seen it?1981 | 97 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won 2 Oscars, it made about 14 times its budget and it earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes). A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved The Apartment or Is This Thing On?, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Arthur is a 30-year-old child who will inherit $750 million if he complies with his family's demands and marries the woman of their choosing.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.5 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Academy Awards: Best Original Song. Won 4 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Original Song – Motion Picture. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Comedy – Written Directly for the Screen. Also nominated for 2 more Oscars, 1 more Golden Globe and 2 BAFTAs. Plus 4 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerVery strong
$95 million worldwide on a $7 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 248K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Steve Gordon
- Dudley MooreArthur Bach
- Liza MinnelliLinda Marolla
- John GielgudHobson
- Geraldine FitzgeraldMartha Bach
- Jill EikenberrySusan Johnson
- Stephen ElliottBurt Johnson
- Ted RossBitterman
- Barney MartinRalph Marolla
- Thomas BarbourStanford Bach
- Anne DeSalvoGloria