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The Black Stallion

Name: The Black Stallion
Genre: Family, Adventure
Released: 1979-10-13
Cast: Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney, Teri Garr, Clarence Muse, Hoyt Axton

1979 | 118 min | Family, Adventure

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (90% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 14 times its budget. 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 adventure fans and families. If you loved Life of Pi, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Feel-good.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 58 min.
What might put you off: Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training the horse to race against the fastest ones in the world.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic
AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
AwardsSolid
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Box office & staying powerStrong
$38 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 107K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Carroll Ballard

Kelly RenoAlec Ramsey
Mickey RooneyHenry Dailey
Teri GarrAlec's Mother
Clarence MuseSnoe
Hoyt AxtonAlec's Father
Michael HigginsNeville
Ed McNamaraJake
Doghmi LarbiArab
Cass-OléThe Black Stallion
John BurtonJockey #1