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Carny

Play trailer Poster for Carny R 1980 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.

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Carny

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/2004
2/4
Carny is bursting with more information about American carnivals that it can contain, surrounding a plot too thin to support it. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 01/01/2000
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. Go to Full Review Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) 07/13/2022
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. Go to Full Review Quentin Tarantino The New Beverly 06/22/2020
The missed and fumbled opportunities add up to an ultimately unsatisfying experience. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/07/2010
B+
The ambiance turns out to be much richer than the narrative. Go to Full Review Matthew Turner ViewLondon 09/01/2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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steve d 07/14/2020 Foster makes it worth your time. See more 12/29/2011 robbie was kinda hot back in the day lol See more 08/15/2011 After a long hunt finally got to watch it 4/5 See more 06/15/2011 A moderately entertaining behind-the-scenes carnival film. I didn't much care for the ending though. See more 04/12/2011 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. See more 12/02/2010 .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 See more Read all reviews
Carny

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Cast & Crew

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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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Carny

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Movie Info

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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