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Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Play trailer Poster for Jonathan Livingston Seagull G 1973 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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8% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Based on the book by Richard Bach. A seagull's pursuit of perfection leads him to a higher awareness.
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Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Now there's nothing wrong with uplift, except that exhortations customarily are banal. That is, the end is nearly destroyed by the means. Dec 11, 2007 Full Review Time Out Staff Time Out Richard Bach's best-selling parable for freshmen becomes on screen a very spelled-out allegory, complete with flat voice-overs and pretentious Neil Diamond soundtrack. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This has got to be the biggest pseudocultural, would-be metaphysical ripoff of the year. Rated: 1/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review John Simon Esquire Magazine The film, at any rate, closely resembles every other predigested, semiliterate, mistily mystagogic piece of hope-mongering with which seekers after Great Life-giving Truths in small packages have been traditionally gulled. Jul 23, 2020 Full Review Dick Lochte Los Angeles Free Press Religious symbolism is heaped on top of Hallmark greeting card profundity. Dec 31, 2019 Full Review Antonio Lara El Pais (Spain) A movie especially recommended to the ornithologists. [Full Review in Spanish] Jul 23, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Frederick M I watched this in 2025 actually today which is 24th October 2025. I know this movie is more than 50 years old now I remember reading the book and how good it was at the time. I have read some really positive reviews and I'm happy that people found a film terrific but for me, it was more a distraction. Too much music for no reason. I actually skipped through that part. Also, at the time I presume being self-aware with something that wasn't a big thing at the time, but even then the movie doesn't really present the book very well. On top of that for a topic that is meant to be so peaceful and empowering, there were so many legal disputes. Everybody wanting a piece of the pie instead of actually doing what the book were hoping to present. The director says he's made to direct this movie but then totally fcks it up. Always respect the author. What I didn't like is that the film talks about perfection. Perfection is impossible but empowerment to create the greatest perfection possible is. There is no such thing as perfection. But there is always empowerment to create the best sustainable quality. This matters now more than ever and we still aren't doing what we should about that. What we could do about that. I find humanity so addicted to disempowerment. It's really sad. For what it's worth, read The Alchemist. I think it's a much better book that people can connect with for a more empowering outcome. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 10/25/25 Full Review Jorge A Mesmo com o passar dos anos ainda revejo com alguma emoção toda a sua história, todo aquele cenário, a banda sonora, Neil Diamond, toda a verdade no recanto mais íntimo da alma humana descrita por, Richard Bach. Obra prima atemporal que nos faz refletir na plena liberdade, a frase impactante de toda a a história; "Não se preocupe em tomar a decisão certa, pois ela não existe.! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/24/23 Full Review s r I loved this book and although the story is the same, it just goes to show that it's very easy to mess up a film. It's on the internet. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The best inspiring movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A relic from the 1970's about an existential seagull; the cinematography and Neil Diamond's soundtrack may appeal to some. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review deke p We went for a walk in Big Sur at Pfeiffer Beach on a day they were filming this. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Jonathan Livingston Seagull

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Movie Info

Synopsis Based on the book by Richard Bach. A seagull's pursuit of perfection leads him to a higher awareness.
Director
Hall Bartlett
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
001
Rating
G
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 23, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Runtime
1h 39m
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