If...

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If...

R

Released Mar 9, 1968

1h 51m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

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.

Jul 6, 2022

Full Review

Adam Nayman

The Ringer

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.

Apr 6, 2020

Full Review

Ben Walsh

Independent (UK)

If.... remains a relevant and visceral howl at the "Establishment".

Rated: 5/5

Mar 20, 2020

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

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.

Oct 10, 2024

Full Review

Harvey G. Cox

Tempo (National Council of Churches)

Especially in its fantasy episodes, If... celebrates the emergence of subjectivity, feeling, expression and imagination that means so much to young people today.

Jan 6, 2021

Full Review

Paul Schrader

Los Angeles Free Press

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.

Jun 30, 2020

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Jay B

Kino. Must watch for any young man.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/22/24

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Harsit p

This need to be a must watch film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/27/24

Full Review

Alec B

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/24

Full Review

Luiz E

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Lindsay Anderson

Director

Malcolm McDowell

Mick Travis

David Wood

Johnny

Richard Warwick

Wallace

Robert Swann

Rowntree

Christine Noonan

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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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