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If...

Play trailer Poster for If... R 1968 1h 51m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 49 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Teenage rebel Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) returns to his upper-crust English public school, caught between the sadistic older boys known as the Whips and the first-year students, known as Scum, who are forced to do their bidding. The petty thefts and anti-social behavior of Travis and his two henchmen, Johnny (David Wood) and Wallace (Richard Warwick), soon attract the attention of both the Whips and the school's out-of-touch administration, and lead to an unexpected showdown.
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If...

If...

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Critics Consensus

Incendiary, subversive, and darkly humorous, If.... is a landmark of British countercultural cinema.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/06/2022
The ways in which Anderson tries to illustrate the desire for freedom are so mechanical and carry so little conviction that I think one may conclude that the heroes are shooting because he needs to discharge his rage. Go to Full Review Adam Nayman The Ringer 04/06/2020
From its title on down, If ... is a movie about the power and peril of imagination, and the seductive thrill of wishing that we might externalize our inner lives for all to see and fear. Go to Full Review Ben Walsh Independent (UK) 03/20/2020
5/5
If.... remains a relevant and visceral howl at the "Establishment". Go to Full Review Bianca Garner Filmotomy 10/10/2024
Despite the film being very much of its era, there is a strong sense that it exists in a world outside the constraints of time. Go to Full Review Harvey G. Cox Tempo (National Council of Churches) 01/06/2021
Especially in its fantasy episodes, If... celebrates the emergence of subjectivity, feeling, expression and imagination that means so much to young people today. Go to Full Review Paul Schrader Los Angeles Free Press 06/30/2020
The is an acute sense of disappointment about If, not only over the great film Anderson failed to create, but also the lesser film he passed by. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay B 09/22/2024 Kino. Must watch for any young man. See more Harsit p 08/27/2024 This need to be a must watch film See more Alec B 02/28/2024 One of those movies that really sees people as they are. Most remember the brutality of the ending but few remark on its enigmatic nature. See more Luiz E 07/21/2023 At first we were confused looking for its real meaning. The meaning I attach to the film is that the system became so oppressive that it brought about its own downfall. This goes far beyond a British school, it's no wonder that each chapter of this film can be attributed to various moments in human history. See more Leaburn O 09/19/2022 I didn't really get it. I understand this is about how bad public schools can be in the uk. It's also about being rebellious but then it trips into some American school shoot up disturbing fantasy stuff. I'm not sure how it all came together. Bit weird. That's the point but also not just weird, a bit unenjoyable. See more Paul G 08/24/2022 strange film title and a strange film. it starts off looking very dated, but once you go with it you don't notice the age after a short while. I would be interested to know who this was reviewed at the time as it is a curious film. I think I liked it? you could always see the direction it was going, so no surprises as such, but mostly well executed. See more Read all reviews
If...

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Cast & Crew

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Lindsay Anderson

Director

Malcolm McDowell

Mick Travis

David Wood

Johnny

Richard Warwick

Wallace

Robert Swann

Rowntree

Christine Noonan

The Girl

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If...

If... (1968) If... (1968) If... (1968) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Teenage rebel Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell) returns to his upper-crust English public school, caught between the sadistic older boys known as the Whips and the first-year students, known as Scum, who are forced to do their bidding. The petty thefts and anti-social behavior of Travis and his two henchmen, Johnny (David Wood) and Wallace (Richard Warwick), soon attract the attention of both the Whips and the school's out-of-touch administration, and lead to an unexpected showdown.
Director
Lindsay Anderson
Producer
Lindsay Anderson, Michael Medwin
Screenwriter
David Sherwin, John Howlett
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Memorial Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 1968, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Mono
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