Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

The Barefoot Executive

Play trailer Poster for The Barefoot Executive G 1971 1h 36m Kids & Family Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Enthusiastic mailroom clerk Steven Post (Kurt Russell) hassles the uppity director of programming, Francis Wilbanks (Joe Flynn), on a daily basis with his ideas on how to salvage the ratings of their faltering television studio, but he's always shot down. Steven's girlfriend, Jennifer Scott (Heather North), is caring for a recently abandoned television-watching, beer-swilling chimpanzee named Raffles, and when Steven realizes that the chimp can predict television ratings, he hatches a new plan.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

The Barefoot Executive

Critics Reviews

View More
Howard Thompson New York Times 05/09/2005
2.5/5
In this genial but strained and arch frolic, the one real joke is not only "in" but it wears thin and even frantic. Go to Full Review
TV Guide 04/01/2012
3/4
This is a very funny satire of television. Go to Full Review
Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) 09/23/2005
3/5
A trenchant satire on corporate greed . . . oh, not really. Funny, silly chimp movie. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 12/18/2004
4/5
Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 11/15/2003
3/5
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 20 Funny in 1 hour and 36 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more steve d 01/07/2023 Only fun is from seeing young Russell. See more 03/17/2021 An executive is always never a bad idea even if he is barefoot. Or in this case differs from our DNA by 3%. Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista present a young Kurt Russell is a mailroom clerk with Raffles the chimp. Steven Post is always making suggestions to boots the ratings at a failing tv station but they are always ignored. His girlfriend Jennifer is taking care of an out-of-work chimpanzee. Both seem to be at rock bottom. But Steven discovers something remarkable; this chimp can actually predict TV ratings. So he may have something on the table to save the business. This is one of the many live-action Disney entries that puts together animal-buddy antics with family friendliness. But how long can Steven keep up the ruse making it to the top of the charts? Russell is so likable, I really like his girlfriend being so understanding, and this plot is funny. Even a young John Ritter here plays a disgustingly enjoyable tv executive. Plus this also serves as a funny satire of television, it's hard to know what people like watching these days. As soon as something comes on they cancel it. It's tough too to know what program will do better in the ratings and appeal to mass audiences. But even a chimp can predict our tastes. Maybe we can even make better decisions and not rely on corporate greed. This is a very good Disney live action flick that's giggle worthy and that's adorable to have a cute furry star at its center. See more r 9 08/05/2020 A film that deteriorates as it goes on. 'The Barefoot Executive' begins in entertaining fashion, as it sets up the plot with Steven (Kurt Russell) and chimp Raffles. It's all enjoyable enough, it's a cool and amusing concept. The first act is good. However, after a middling middle act it then produces a relatively terrible third act - with unnecessary focus put on the characters of Joe Flynn (Francis) and Wally Cox (Mertons). They definitely didn't know how to end this, the final lot of scenes are so pointless and predictable. That's a shame, as the opening chunk of the film is more than up to scratch. Russell gives another acceptable performance, Flynn is actually pretty solid when his character isn't shoehorned upfront. Heather North is alright as Jennifer, if a little plain. The chimp is as cute as you'd expect. It looked like a film that I would thoroughly like at first, sadly it got comparatively worse as it went on. I would still say it's better than a lot of other works from Disney, it just could've/should've been greater. See more 09/17/2013 Great premise - which I'm tempted to believe is based on real events. A great supporting cast which wasn't used to potential. See more 02/18/2010 (First and only viewing - Summer 2009) See more Read all reviews
The Barefoot Executive

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes 57% 41% The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Watchlist The Love Bug 78% 66% The Love Bug Watchlist The Shaggy D.A. 50% 39% The Shaggy D.A. Watchlist Herbie Rides Again 83% 54% Herbie Rides Again Watchlist Son of Flubber 88% 48% Son of Flubber Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Enthusiastic mailroom clerk Steven Post (Kurt Russell) hassles the uppity director of programming, Francis Wilbanks (Joe Flynn), on a daily basis with his ideas on how to salvage the ratings of their faltering television studio, but he's always shot down. Steven's girlfriend, Jennifer Scott (Heather North), is caring for a recently abandoned television-watching, beer-swilling chimpanzee named Raffles, and when Steven realizes that the chimp can predict television ratings, he hatches a new plan.
Director
Robert Butler
Production Co
Walt Disney Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 36m
Most Popular at Home Now