Full Moon in Blue Water

Play trailer

Full Moon in Blue Water

R

Released Nov 23, 1988

1h 37m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

25%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

27%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Floyd (Gene Hackman), the owner of a bar in a coastal Texas town, has not recovered from the disappearance -- and presumed death -- of his wife in a swimming accident a year earlier. As a result, his bar is losing money, and Floyd does not see that his depression is affecting the livelihoods of his employees and loved ones. Faced with a large bill for back taxes, Floyd considers selling the bar, unaware that a new construction project in the works could quickly turn things around.

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Funny and appealing, this is the kind of quiet and assured Hollywood movie that used to be more common in the 50s; the local flavor is caught perfectly, and every member of the cast shines.

Nov 1, 2016

Full Review

Time Out

Low-key stuff with an assortment of eccentric rednecks, probably better suited to the small screen.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

In spite of the participation of a number of talented people, Full Moon in Blue Water is almost as immediately forgettable as its title.

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

With the vast majority of the movie unfolding at the bar, this might as well have been a play, albeit one nobody would have wanted to see.

Rated: 1.5/4

Mar 11, 2025

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An insufferable sentimental comedy that resembles too much a TV sitcom to make for good cinema.

Rated: C+

Jun 4, 2018

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 23, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alan W

Slapstick comedy at its worst. Thought I was watching a good movie but that evaporated by the moment. Awful plot and finale.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Steve D

It is all fairly lifeless given the talent involved.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/04/23

Full Review

Martin B

Watch it because it's Hackman and Garr in their prime. Otherwise it's a retched movie I have no idea why these two great actors did. It was a different time but I was there and no woman would put up with what Hackman's character pulled. Especially for a very hot Garr in her prime. Great backdrop but it's all wasted. Mostly having to watch the lead watch film on his dead wife while insulting the woman that seemed to care. That and the property deal all illogical. Perhaps you could say the ending made the first half frustration worth it. I don't agree.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Insiders try to swindle a coastal bar off it's struggling owner with inside information just before a new bridge gets approved which stands to greatly boost business. Decent story and good cast. Just ok though. Never liked the title of this film.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A lot of layback and unpleasantness with some good moments. The impression was given that the sun was never going to shine on Gene Hackman throughout the whole movie. In fact, the happiest thing is going on while the end credits roll. Blue Water is a town.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

quiet little movie where love isn't simple but it isn't a mess either.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Peter Masterson

Director

Gene Hackman

Floyd

Teri Garr

Louise Taylor

Burgess Meredith

The General

Elias Koteas

Jimmy

Kevin Cooney

Charlie O'Donnell

Class Action

78%

51%

Class Action

Watchlist

Rain Man

88%

90%

Rain Man

Watchlist

The Boost

40%

50%

The Boost

Watchlist

Drugstore Cowboy

97%

85%

Drugstore Cowboy

Watchlist

Clean and Sober

61%

62%

Clean and Sober

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Floyd (Gene Hackman), the owner of a bar in a coastal Texas town, has not recovered from the disappearance -- and presumed death -- of his wife in a swimming accident a year earlier. As a result, his bar is losing money, and Floyd does not see that his depression is affecting the livelihoods of his employees and loved ones. Faced with a large bill for back taxes, Floyd considers selling the bar, unaware that a new construction project in the works could quickly turn things around.

Director: Peter Masterson
Producer: David Foster, John Turman, Lawrence Turman
Screenwriter: Bill Bozzone
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Turman-Foster Company, Trans World Entertainment (TWE), David Foster Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1988, Original
Box Office (Gross USA): $254.5K
Runtime: 1h 37m