Lifeguard

Play trailer

Lifeguard

PG

Released Jul 23, 1976

1h 36m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

53%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

71%

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

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

Full Review

Audience Member

Because it remind me of back in the day

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Audience Member

I love the critic who said "this is a nice little movie". Yes, it is.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

7 out of 10: Insanely cheesy but it has some appeal.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Daniel Petrie

Director

Sam Elliott

Rick Carlson

Anne Archer

Cathy

Kathleen Quinlan

Wendy

Stephen Young

Larry

Parker Stevenson

Chris Randall

The Great Gatsby

41%

47%

The Great Gatsby

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Great Gatsby

Urban Cowboy

71%

80%

Urban Cowboy

Watchlist

Bang the Drum Slowly

90%

63%

Bang the Drum Slowly

Watchlist

Reds

90%

82%

Reds

Watchlist

The Last Tycoon

33%

40%

The Last Tycoon

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now