Jeremiah Johnson

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Jeremiah Johnson

PG

Released Sep 10, 1972

1h 47m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

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22 Reviews

89%

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10,000+ Ratings

A Mexican-American War veteran, Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford), heads to the mountains to live in isolation. Woefully unequipped for the task at hand, Johnson is fortunate to come across a seasoned mountain man (Will Geer) willing to teach him the necessary survival tactics. As life continues in the mountains, Johnson finds himself a native bride (Delle Bolton) and an adopted son (Josh Albee). However, their peaceful existence is threatened when Johnson incurs the ire of the Crow Indians.

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Critics Consensus

Jeremiah Johnson's deliberate pace demands an investment from the viewer, but it's rewarded with a thoughtful drama anchored by a starring performance from Robert Redford.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Maybe Redford and [Pollack] really believe they’re doing something different from the conventional new, brutally ‘‘realistic’” Westerns, because Jeremiah Johnson crawls through the wilderness at a snail’s pace and is stretched out with ponderous lore.

Sep 29, 2023

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Don Druker

Chicago Reader

The dialogue is spare, the scenery the real star. Satisfying and impressive.

Nov 17, 2017

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Marcel Meyer

Austin Chronicle

A gritty, cinematic tall tale that resonates across geography, time, and the loneliest regions of the solitary heart.

Nov 17, 2017

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Richard Schertzer

ScreenAnarchy

You won't be able to take your eyes off this epic masterpiece for one second. It takes you on a thrill-ride of your life and never lets go.

Jul 25, 2023

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Christopher Hudson

The Spectator

Anyone who likes looking at Robert Redford or mountain landscapes or both will be very happy.

Nov 17, 2017

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Sky Cinema

Episodic in structure, the film is kept constantly interesting by its director who fills the screen with colourful little anecdotes

Nov 17, 2017

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Michael S

It's like poetry; This movie is a western of its own breed. Yeah, its slow. Yeah, it doesn't have a lot of dialogue. However it does have great scenery, music, and memorable characters. The slow burn is SO GOOD! Also, don't forget this movie is based on a real life person.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/21/24

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Lewie J

What on Earth? Utter drivel. A story less bore. A man gets soaked in a freezing river, fails to light a fire, miraculously dries overnight. Shoots a marauding bear with a long barrel rifle in a wooden cabin. I could go on.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

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Cindy E

I absolutely HATE movies that are cliché, dragging an audience through the hard life on the frontier and how rotten people were. Since there are an awful lot of us here, descendent from these people, not everyone died! Not the way they seem to do in these movies! This story meandered SLOWLY around from tragedy to tragedy. And then the main character meanders off at the end. Which made me wonder what the F did I just watch?! This movie came out when I was a kid and I did not watch it till I was an older adult. I had always heard about it so when it came on Movies! one day I watched it. What a waste of time!!! I have a feeling it was popular because of Robert Redford's popularity. Certainly NOT because of the storyline!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/02/24

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Marlin G

A classic, with such little dialogue it's hard to think you could be engaged in a movie without it yet you're grasp for more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

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Thomas S

Excellent scenery and acting with Redford in his prime

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/23

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Joel H

Jeremiah Johnson is an oddly soothing film. Despite the hardships and life-threatening obstacles Robert Redford's character faces, there's a continual sense of hope, courage & perseverance throughout this story. This movie resonated with me, as well, despite the fact I'm not really the outdoorsy type and would never choose the isolated existence of a mountain man. I'll admit that I finally chose to watch this movie because of the famous GIF circulating around the internet, but I'm really glad I did. I may never live the life that Johnson did, but it made me appreciate the life I have a little more.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

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Sydney Pollack

Director

Robert Redford

Jeremiah Johnson

Will Geer

Bear Claw

Stefan Gierasch

Del Gue

Allyn Ann McLerie

Crazy Woman

Charles Tyner

Robidoux

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Synopsis

A Mexican-American War veteran, Jeremiah Johnson (Robert Redford), heads to the mountains to live in isolation. Woefully unequipped for the task at hand, Johnson is fortunate to come across a seasoned mountain man (Will Geer) willing to teach him the necessary survival tactics. As life continues in the mountains, Johnson finds himself a native bride (Delle Bolton) and an adopted son (Josh Albee). However, their peaceful existence is threatened when Johnson incurs the ire of the Crow Indians.

Director: Sydney Pollack
Producer: Joe Wizan
Screenwriter: John Milius, Edward Anhalt
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 10, 1972, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Dec 21, 1972
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 47m

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