The Last Picture Show
Seen it?1971 | 119 min | Drama, Romance
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won 2 Oscars, people are still talking about it and it made about 22 times its budget. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics. If you loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Call Me by Your Name, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 59 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
- Made in 1971: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
High school seniors and best friends, Sonny and Duane, live in a dying Texas town. The handsome Duane is dating a local beauty, while Sonny is having an affair with the coach's wife. As graduation nears and both boys contemplate their futures, Duane eyes the army and Sonny takes over a local business. Each struggles to figure out if he can escape this dead-end town and build a better life somewhere else.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor, Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Won 3 BAFTAs: British Academy Film Awards: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, British Academy Film Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, British Academy Film Awards: Best Screenplay. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 4 more Golden Globes and 2 more BAFTAs. Plus 11 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$29 million worldwide on a $1 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 329K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Chemical Hearts
Weeknight WatchAnother high school drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Saturday SpecialAnother high school drama, and a Saturday Special.
Call Me by Your Name Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed romance.
Keith Weeknight WatchAnother high school drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
My Week with Marilyn Saturday SpecialAnother drama, and a Saturday Special.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Bogdanovich
- Timothy BottomsSonny Crawford
- Cybill ShepherdJacy Farrow
- Jeff BridgesDuane Jackson
- Cloris LeachmanRuth Popper
- Ellen BurstynLois Farrow
- Ben JohnsonSam the Lion
- Randy QuaidLester Marlow
- Clu GulagerAbilene
- Eileen BrennanGenevieve
- Sam BottomsBilly