Ordinary People

Name: Ordinary People
Genre: Drama
Released: September 18, 1980
Duration: 124 min
Rating: 86
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore

1980

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 18 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 61 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Ordinary People

Now Playing: Ordinary People

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: September 18, 1980 | R

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore

Summary: In Robert Redford's directorial debut, the accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the austere mother (Mary Tyler Moore), the compassionate, well-meaning father (Donald Sutherland), and the guilt-ridden younger son (Timothy Hutton).

Director: Robert Redford

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 124 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Gene Siskel

Wonderful performances by Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, and Timothy Hutton. [19 Dec 1980, p.2-10]

100

Richard Schickel

An austere and delicate examination of the ways in which a likable family falters under pressure and struggles, with ambiguous results, to renew itself. This is not very show-bizzy stuff, but for once, a movie star has used his power to create not light entertainment or a trendy political statement, but a work that addresses itself quietly and intelligently to issues everyone who attempts to raise children must face. Read full review

100

Roger Ebert

Each character in this movie is given the dramatic opportunity to look inside himself, to question his own motives as well as the motives of others, and to try to improve his own ways of dealing with a troubled situation. Two of the characters do learn how to adjust; the third doesn't. It's not often we get characters who face those kinds of challenges on the screen, nor directors who seek them out. Ordinary People is an intelligent, perceptive, and deeply moving film. Read full review

Bruce McCabe

Moore's conception of the character is compelling. She rivets us. She's assisted by the superb performances Redford has elicited from her co- stars, Sutherland and Timothy Hutton, who plays Conrad, the guilt-ridden surviving brother of the dead boy. [26 Sep 1980]

Empire Staff [Not Credited]

This is thoughtful and beautifully observed work, from the social backdrop and the tell-me-what-you're-feeling analysis sessions to the painful performances including Mary Tyler Moore playing against type as the chillingly repressed mother. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Whatever social statement Ordinary People was making about its time has evaporated during the intervening years, leaving behind an open, honest drama lacking the emotional punch that would make it unforgettable today. Ordinary People should be devastating, but it's not. By any standards, it's still a good movie, but three decades have stripped away any pretense of greatness. [21 Feb 1999] Read full review

Dave Kehr

The film looks austere and serious, rather as if it had been shot inside a Frigidaire, and the oppressiveness of the images tends to strangle laughter, even at the most absurd excesses of Alvin Sargent's script. Read full review

SEE ALL 18 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

georgeauk

May 1, 2021

This is the greatest family drama of all time. Just think they made the mother the villain! Talk about taking a chance. Besides Elliott in ET, Timothy Hutton gives the greatest juvenile performance of all time. I mean come on, he won the Oscar. Mary Tyler Moore took such a chance taking thisThis is the greatest family drama of all time. Just think they made the mother the villain! Talk about taking a chance. Besides Elliott in ET, Timothy Hutton gives the greatest juvenile performance of all time. I mean come on, he won the Oscar. Mary Tyler Moore took such a chance taking this role. This beat Raging Bull for the Best Picture Oscar, and why? Because it made people feel, deeply. The ending comes out of nowhere. Kramer vs. Kramer and American Beauty don't even come close to this FILM.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

toddgold38

Jul 22, 2023

Ordinary People remains burned into my mind as one of the most powerful, gripping, and important movies I still can say that I have ever seen. When I first saw it as a young teenager, I finally realized what a movie could be and do. I've always loved this film and I always will--it’s one ofOrdinary People remains burned into my mind as one of the most powerful, gripping, and important movies I still can say that I have ever seen. When I first saw it as a young teenager, I finally realized what a movie could be and do. I've always loved this film and I always will--it’s one of THOSE movies that if you allow yourself a little vulnerability, it can easily change your life forever....… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

FranzHcritic

Jan 27, 2014

An absolutely blunt, realistic portrayal of American families. The story of how one seemingly 'perfect' family falls into despair as a string of tragedies befall them. Timothy Hutton and Mary Tyler Moore act out in two of what seems to be the perfect performances of the late 20th century.An absolutely blunt, realistic portrayal of American families. The story of how one seemingly 'perfect' family falls into despair as a string of tragedies befall them. Timothy Hutton and Mary Tyler Moore act out in two of what seems to be the perfect performances of the late 20th century. Donald Sutherland is the one who plays the most normal of the family, but Hutton and Tyler Moore have such a complexity to their respective roles it's impossible to believe she didn't win and he only received Best Supporting Actor, but I guess it's better than losing to De Niro in Raging Bull. I don't understand how he hasn't done anything at all recently.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

aurora1

Nov 28, 2015

In 1981 Timothy Hutton won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for ORDINARY PEOPLE, the first movie directed by Robert Redford. The problem is... Hutton's character, Conrad Jarrett, was the protagonist of the story, so he should have won the Oscar for Best Actor! It looks like the AcademyIn 1981 Timothy Hutton won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for ORDINARY PEOPLE, the first movie directed by Robert Redford. The problem is... Hutton's character, Conrad Jarrett, was the protagonist of the story, so he should have won the Oscar for Best Actor! It looks like the Academy Awards' jury didn't want to act rudely towards Donald Sutherland, playing the role of Hutton's father, thus an actor much older than the 20 year old Timothy. Let's say that this was a severe case of excessive politeness. I hope Timothy Hutton again finds a movie as powerful as Ordinary People, and to finally win the Oscar he deserves.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Voodoo123

Dec 29, 2022

Slow paced but moving drama with superior cinematography and intelligent screenplay. The superior cast elevate the basic plot.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Feb 11, 2020

I'd just said a few days ago that Quiz Show is Robert Redford's best film to date and I stand by that statement, even though this is also a very good film.

But that's not the point, the point is that I need someone to explain to me how this film was considered in any way superior to TheI'd just said a few days ago that Quiz Show is Robert Redford's best film to date and I stand by that statement, even though this is also a very good film.

But that's not the point, the point is that I need someone to explain to me how this film was considered in any way superior to The Elephant Man and Raging Bull in the Oscars and how the hell Redford won the director's award over Lynch, Scorsese and Polanski.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Broyax

Oct 10, 2018

Robert Redford le mauvais acteur, s'est mis à la réalisation et il a sévi plusieurs fois à cet égard... il s'est spécialisé dans le genre nunuche à deux de tension et tous ses films se ressemblent et se rassemblent sous la bannière de la niaiserie, de l'hébétude et du drame à la petiteRobert Redford le mauvais acteur, s'est mis à la réalisation et il a sévi plusieurs fois à cet égard... il s'est spécialisé dans le genre nunuche à deux de tension et tous ses films se ressemblent et se rassemblent sous la bannière de la niaiserie, de l'hébétude et du drame à la petite semaine plus ou moins sirupeux...

Ainsi, ce premier film n'est-il qu'un vague téléfilm à deux balles qui a pour cadre un psychodrame familial dont l'ennui et la lourdeur dépassent largement la guimauve qu'il tente d'y insuffler. Il a étalé, il a étiré au maximum ce qui ne peut pas l'être ou ce qui tiendrait à peine en un épisode de télénovela ou de Santa Barbara (ça te barbera...).

D'ailleurs, on ne sait pas pourquoi on regarde ça ni pourquoi on devrait regarder ça, car ça sonne tellement creux, c'est si ridicule qu'on arrive pas à y croire... On reste là, sidéré, mortifié devant tant de vide, un vide que Robert tente de meubler comme un crevard pendant deux plombes !… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS