The Longest Yard
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: August 30, 1974 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
61
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
The Longest Yard is an outstanding action drama, combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life. Burt Reynolds asserts his genuine star power, here as a former football pro forced to field a team under blackmail of warden Eddie Albert. Read full review
75
Rolling StoneRob LeDonne
This Burt Reynolds offering is a look at both prison life and the sport, and offers two hallmarks of classic 70's cinema: gritty, no holds barred action – and Reynolds' chest hair. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
Deftly employing split-screen and slow-motion techniques, Aldrich makes the most of Tracy Keenan Wynn's incisive script, aided by fine cinematography and tight Oscar-nominated editing. Read full review
70
The New YorkerPauline Kael
For all its bone-crunching collisions, it's almost irresistibly good-natured and funny.
60
TimeRichard Schickel
What saves it, aside from good performances by Burt Reynolds and a thundering herd of supporting grotesques, is, of all things, a tough, tiny nut of valid social criticism. Read full review
60
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
The themes are dignity and compromise, freedom and betrayal; if it all gets bogged down occasionally in its macho-violence trip, it's nevertheless very exciting, very witty, and elevated above its action-movie status by Aldrich's deliberate references to Nixon in Albert's characterisation of the warden. Read full review
40
The New York TimesNora Sayre
Though The Yard is a terrible picture, I'll admit to having unwillingly enjoyed some of the football practice and parts of the final game —even though it's much too long. Read full review
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