Lifeguard

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Lifeguard

PG

Released Jul 23, 1976

1h 36m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Southern California lifeguard Rick Carlson (Sam Elliott) has a real passion for his work, but, when he attends a high school reunion, he begins to feel that his peers have accomplished more than he has. He begins a romance with his former sweetheart, Cathy (Anne Archer), who is now a single mother with a young son. As their relationship progresses, Rick becomes even more confused about his life choices, and he starts to wonder if he should leave the beach behind and become a white-collar man.

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Robert Taylor

Boston Globe

As a bronze Apollo, the lifeguard is heroically beautiful, as a sentient being he is impossibly dumb. Nothing plus nothing equals nothing.

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit Free Press

The most Interesting thing about "Lifeguard" is the sight of Sam Elliott, who plays the title character.

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

Perry Stewart

Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com

The film, like its title character, is charming and unassuming - making no pretense of eloquence or importance, yet achieving both.

Jun 8, 2021

Full Review

Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

"Lifeguard" is uneven at times, but when it attempts to grasp the struggles of the main character and his emotional battles, it finds interesting places to go, boosted by fine acting from star Sam Elliott.

Rated: B

Mar 9, 2025

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Promoted by Paramount as a goofy sex comedy, Lifeguard is instead a serious, pensive film.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 2, 2025

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

[Daniel] Petrie almost allows the sensibility to drown the film, but his ability as a director maintains it afloat. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 11, 2023

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CodyZamboni Z

Solid comedy drama. Sam Elliot really loves being a lifeguard. Considers what else he can do with this life. Nice supporting cast, Anne Archer, and Parker Stevenson,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/25

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Brad G

Sun, surf, beautiful bodies, Cali..it has it all! Including dated misogynistic themes! As a look back in time or perhaps the need for a sunny respite during a cold winter Sunday..it's awesome!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/03/23

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Robert L

This movie has aged very well--much like its star, Sam Elliot! All the performances are delicate and believable--especially that of the (then) 22-year-old Kathleen Quinlan, who plays a much younger, sweet, naïve teenager. Her portrayal of puppy love angst is so emotionally tearful, you melt with her innocent grief at the ending of her first love. The film's themes--centering mainly on the American experience of early middle-age confusion over the sudden, unexpected, and always-unlooked-for loss of feckless youth, rings truer than most films that try to portray that painfully nostalgic feeling of having "aged out," no matter where it comes in the course of a human life span. It is also one of those rare cinematic dramas that is neither dark nor comic, yet feels close to the heart of anyone--and that's most of us--whose life has not gone as planned, or has not been very much planned at all. No guns, no car chases, no zombies, no grand conspiracies--and perhaps most surprisingly--no great spiritual revelations, either. There's maybe a little too much titillating nudity (very seventies, that) but otherwise it's a good, solid film about life, love, missed chances and everyday loss.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/22

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Audience Member

Because it remind me of back in the day

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

Former beach life guard until I was 28 and went back to college. TOTALLY relate.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Love this movie, saw it as a kid and thought lifeguard was greatest job, modeled young adulthood after movie, saw it again later as an adult....damn did miss the point of the movie when I was a kid

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Daniel Petrie

Director

Sam Elliott

Rick Carlson

Anne Archer

Cathy

Kathleen Quinlan

Wendy

Stephen Young

Larry

Parker Stevenson

Chris Randall

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Synopsis

Southern California lifeguard Rick Carlson (Sam Elliott) has a real passion for his work, but, when he attends a high school reunion, he begins to feel that his peers have accomplished more than he has. He begins a romance with his former sweetheart, Cathy (Anne Archer), who is now a single mother with a young son. As their relationship progresses, Rick becomes even more confused about his life choices, and he starts to wonder if he should leave the beach behind and become a white-collar man.

Director: Daniel Petrie
Producer: Ron Silverman
Screenwriter: Ron Koslow
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 23, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 24, 2016
Runtime: 1h 36m

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