The Onion Field

Name: The Onion Field
Genre: Crime, Drama
Released: 1979-09-09
Cast: John Savage, James Woods, Franklyn Seales, Ted Danson, Ronny Cox

1979 | 122 min | Crime, Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.0 out of 10 from audiences. 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 crime-drama fans. If you loved Changeling, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Dark and gritty.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 2 min.
What might put you off: Rated R: meant for adults.
Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

An LA police officer is murdered in the onion fields outside of Bakersfield. However, legal loopholes could keep his kidnappers from receiving justice, and his partner is haunted by overwhelming survivor's guilt.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesBelow par
6.0 out of 10
AwardsBelow par
1 win and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals
Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 70K people sought it out in the past year