A Star Is Born

R

Released Dec 17, 1976

2 hr. 20 min.

Drama

Romance

Music

List

37%

43 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A rock star on the decline, John Norman Howard has given in to drugs and excessive drinking, and his music has suffered as a result. Wandering into a club one night, John watches singer Esther Hoffman perform and is smitten. The two begin dating, and soon John lets Esther take the spotlight during his concerts. However, even as Esther finds fame and success with her singing, John continues his downward spiral.

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Critics Consensus

A lack of memorable music, chemistry between its leads, and an overlong runtime prompts this modish iteration of A Star is Born to fizzle out quickly.

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alan g

Worst of the remakes. Egotistical actors who think tgey are better than a rotten script but are not. Original still tge best.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/27/24

Full Review

Jeff M

Although the story is obviously timeless, having been filmed multiple times over the last 80 years, this version feely incredibly dated to me in almost every aspect. From the music to the fashion to the hairstyles and everything in between, this is definitely a 1970s film - and there's nothing wrong with that. I praise 80s movies all the time. It just stuck out to me more than the other versions. Not unlinked the 1954 version, this has Streisand written all over it, and unfortunately Kristofferson is not a strong enough actor to keep up with her. I did not believe that these two were in love, which makes the ultimate decision made by one of the characters at the end totally meaningless and without any emotional depth. I love Streisand - one could reasonably argue she is the greatest female vocalist ever - but I've always had a bit of an issue with her dramatic acting. It's hard to explain, but it's almost like she's afraid to break a nail - the words and actions are there, but there's a bit of a disconnect. A fight between the two leads after an infidelity by Kristofferson feels particularly awkward and badly acted. But criticism aside, I still found this very watchable and an interesting time capsule of the 1970s. And it's utterly fascinating to see Gary Busey seemingly human.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Alec B

I appreciate the attempt to make something that's truly different that the other two, but it doesn't really work. The Garland one is often a shameless showcase, but at least its one that meshes with its star's talents in a realistic way. Streisand, while obviously a fantastic performer, isn't really the right choice for a film set in the pop-rock world. She's got the voice, but she always looks out of place in the film (especially when she sings a "funk" number). It doesn't help that once Kristofferson and her become lovers it gets really boring.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Marvin H

Streisands voice is exquisite but the movie is dated and messy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/18/23

Full Review

Mike F

The story of a hard partying rock star who stumbles across the talented Barbara Streisand at a dive seemed interesting enough, however, the numerous full length bad songs were such that I found myself fast forwarding through them.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Daniela M

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. The story is so engaging and romantic. LOVED IT, the performances are great!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/23

Full Review

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Frank Pierson

Director

Barbra Streisand

Esther Hoffman

Kris Kristofferson

John Norman Howard

Gary Busey

Bobbie Ritchie

Oliver Clark

Gary Danziger

Paul Mazursky

Brian

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Pauline Kael

New Yorker

Streisand has more talent than she knows what to do with, and the heart of a lion. But she's made a movie about the unassuming, unaffected person she wants us to think she is, and the image is so truthless she can't play it.

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Charles Champlin

Los Angeles Times

A Star is Born rarely stops seeming manufactured; it can't disguise its manipulations or the process of the storytelling. You see the tangled strings, not the puppets.

Mar 6, 2019

Full Review

Jay Cocks

TIME Magazine

The trouble with rock 'n' roll in A Star Is Born is that there isn't any. The soundtrack is filled with homogenized harmonics passing for rock, but not a single song is good enough even to be counterfeit.

Mar 6, 2019

Full Review

Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

For all its faults, I enjoyed A Star is Born. It's a chemistry experiment, and the chemistry -- between the stars -- is good.

May 9, 2023

Full Review

Nat Freedland

Billboard

... In a way this lavish epic could be titled Funny Girl meets Rock 'N' Roll.

Mar 24, 2023

Full Review

Alison Fell

Spare Rib

Get the old message, girls, and in pounding stereo -- you still can't have a career and a man. Not that your man will actively hold you back -- he'll just destroy himself in protest.

Sep 22, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

A rock star on the decline, John Norman Howard has given in to drugs and excessive drinking, and his music has suffered as a result. Wandering into a club one night, John watches singer Esther Hoffman perform and is smitten. The two begin dating, and soon John lets Esther take the spotlight during his concerts. However, even as Esther finds fame and success with her singing, John continues his downward spiral.

Director: Frank Pierson
Executive Producer: Barbra Streisand
Screenwriter: John Gregory Dunne, Joan Didion, Frank Pierson
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Romance, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 17, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2014
Sound Mix: Surround

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