Carny

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Carny

R

Released May 23, 1980

1h 47m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

51%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson) are partners in a traveling carnival who scam customers into wasting money on their dunk-tank act. At one of its small-town destinations, the carnival attracts 18-year-old Donna (Jodie Foster), a teenager bored with her annoying boyfriend and her job as a waitress. Donna joins the carnival as an exotic dancer and learns the ins and outs of carny life, but the developing love triangle between her, Frankie and Patch threatens to destroy their show.

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Carny is bursting with more information about American carnivals that it can contain, surrounding a plot too thin to support it.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

The characters -- despite the broad mean streaks the script gives them -- emerge as soft and sentimental, and the plot is mired in a tired love triangle (Foster-Gary Busey-Robbie Robertson) that doesn't go anywhere.

Jan 1, 2000

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Michael Bronski

Gay Community News (Boston)

Carny is an odd, ugly, but satisfying mixture of lots of things...It’s a double-edged metaphor that turns to explain itself: the sex is as much as the hustle as the hustle is of the sex.

Jul 13, 2022

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Quentin Tarantino

The New Beverly

The missed and fumbled opportunities add up to an ultimately unsatisfying experience.

Jun 22, 2020

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The ambiance turns out to be much richer than the narrative.

Rated: B+

May 7, 2010

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Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Rated: 3/5

Sep 1, 2005

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steve d

Foster makes it worth your time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

robbie was kinda hot back in the day lol

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

After a long hunt finally got to watch it 4/5

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

A moderately entertaining behind-the-scenes carnival film. I didn't much care for the ending though.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson) work in a traveling carnival, hustling the locals for money and a few one-night stands. Along comes Donna (Foster) who literally decides to run away and join the circus. Naturally, tensions build between the longtime friends. While the last quarter of the film doesn't exactly line up with the rest, there's still some good characters and atmosphere to enjoy.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

.When I was a kid I remember going to the traveling carnival when it had its oddities & side shows. It was sorta like a surreal nightmare w/ rides. They even had the clown that used to hurl insults @ the patrons in the dunk tank. I remember watching him in awe wanting someone to dunk him because I felt like he had it coming. In Carny Gary Busey has a meaty role of the man in the cage where danger is ever present when you are goating the piss out of the customers. It's multifaceted & engrossing. In fact the entire underbelly of the carny world is. I would actually rate this one a little higher but it loses it's way in the last 25 minutes or so & in turn feels a bit long in the tooth. A under-appreciated little gem otherwise

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Robert Kaylor

Director

Gary Busey

Frankie

Jodie Foster

Donna

Robbie Robertson

Patch

Meg Foster

Gerta

Kenneth McMillan

Heavy St. John

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Synopsis

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson) are partners in a traveling carnival who scam customers into wasting money on their dunk-tank act. At one of its small-town destinations, the carnival attracts 18-year-old Donna (Jodie Foster), a teenager bored with her annoying boyfriend and her job as a waitress. Donna joins the carnival as an exotic dancer and learns the ins and outs of carny life, but the developing love triangle between her, Frankie and Patch threatens to destroy their show.

Director: Robert Kaylor
Producer: Robbie Robertson
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 23, 1980, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2017
Runtime: 1h 47m

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