The Longest Yard

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The Longest Yard

R

Released Aug 30, 1974

2h 1m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The warden tries to blackmail him into throwing the game, but the convicts have their own ideas and see the game as an opportunity to repay some of the brutality they have endured.

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Critics Consensus

Equal parts tough and funny, and led by a perfectly cast Burt Reynolds, The Longest Yard has an interesting political subtext and an excellent climax -- even if it takes too long to get there.

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

It's certainly crudely made, however, with Eddie Albert overplaying by even the broadest standards, and Aldrich cutting to him for reaction shots that have all the visual interest of stones hitting one on the head.

Sep 25, 2023

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Variety Staff

Variety

An outstanding action drama, combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life.

Aug 4, 2008

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

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.

Aug 4, 2008

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of the best and brightest films on Burt's resume.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 31, 2023

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Part of the problem is its length. At just over two hours, the final act drags like an actual football game playing out in real time.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 29, 2022

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

The Longest Yard" somehow became an iconic sports comedy without being particularly funny or containing any compelling football.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 10, 2020

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Prabudhjeet A

Watched it after the Adam Sandler remake, loved it. Entertaining

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/02/24

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John A

Brawny and comic tale of a delinquent NFL player coaching scraps to cohesion and victory within prison walls.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

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Brent A

50% rating ... Split on this film. Can'r decide if it was entertaining enough, or if it was boring and dragged.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/11/23

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StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 02 hours: and 01 minute related to American Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/14/23

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Stephen C

LOL, the funniest 02 hours: and 01 minute ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/18/22

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dave s

If you can get past the horribly-dated first twenty minutes of The Longest Yard, it's a pretty entertaining sports/prison movie. However, the beginning of the film is tortuous as it tries to draw humor from impaired driving, spousal abuse, assault, and resisting arrest, failing on all counts…and all before the opening credits end. Burt Reynolds plays Paul Crewe, a former star quarterback in the NFL, who finds himself incarcerated and forced to put together a team of inmates to plays against the guards. It's a slog over the first half, but picks up steam as gametime approaches, culminating in an entertaining showdown between the brutal guards and the revenge-minded prisoners. Reynolds is solid in the lead role and Eddie Albert is fantastic as the sadistic warden of the penitentiary. The football action, while often patently absurd, is actually well shot and you'll find yourself cheering for the underdogs before the credits roll.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Burt Reynolds

Paul Crewe

Eddie Albert

Warden Hazen

Ed Lauter

Captain Knauer

Michael Conrad

Nate Scarboro

James Hampton

Caretaker

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The Longest Yard: Official Clip - A 15 Minute Romp

1:22

The Longest Yard: Official Clip - The Longest Yard

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The Longest Yard: Official Clip - Game Ball

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The Longest Yard: Official Clip - Ball Breaker

2:11

The Longest Yard: Official Clip - An All-American Son of a Bitch

2:09

The Longest Yard: Official Clip - Team Recruitment

2:13

The Longest Yard: Official Clip - A Broken Nose

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The Longest Yard: Official Clip - Saturday Night Special

2:12

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The Longest Yard: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The warden tries to blackmail him into throwing the game, but the convicts have their own ideas and see the game as an opportunity to repay some of the brutality they have endured.

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Albert S. Ruddy
Screenwriter: Tracy Keenan Wynn
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 2h 1m

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