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Poster for Real Life

Real Life

Seen it?

1979 | 99 min | Comedy

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (81% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A pushy, narcissistic filmmaker persuades a Phoenix family to let him and his crew film their everyday lives, in the manner of the ground-breaking PBS series "An American Family".

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    81% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $365K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 27K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Albert Brooks

  • Albert BrooksAlbert Brooks
  • Charles GrodinWarren Yeager
  • Frances Lee McCainJeannette Yeager
  • Lisa UretteLisa Yeager
  • Robert StirratEric Yeager
  • Matthew TobinDr. Howard Hill
  • J.A. PrestonDr. Ted Cleary
  • Mort LindseyMort Lindsey
  • Joseph SchafflerPaul Lowell - Realtor
  • Phyllis QuinnDonna Stanley - Gift Shop Owner