The Natural

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The Natural

PG

Released May 11, 1984

2h 14m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

48 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey). After 16 years, Hobbs returns to pro baseball as a rookie for the last-place New York Knights. Despite early arguments with his manager, Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley), Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and the Knights start winning. But this upsets the Judge (Robert Prosky), their owner, who wants Hobbs to lose games, not win.

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Critics Consensus

Though heavy with sentiment, The Natural is an irresistible classic, and a sincere testament to America's national pastime.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Being a baseball fan involves repeatedly experiencing exquisite pain and exquisite joy. Well, there's a lot of both in The Natural.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 19, 2013

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Empire Magazine

An otherwise fine sports fantasy is dragged down by an overindulgence in sentimentality.

Mar 25, 2011

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Levinson must have felt he had to swing for the fences. He can be forgiven for choking up with all The Natural's fans looking on dubiously. In fairness, the official scorer must credit him with a single. And Redford with an RBI.

Mar 21, 2011

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Dugout Dirt

The Natural has everything going for it--directing, acting, cinematography, and especially Randy Newman's iconic score.

Rated: 5/5

Dec 4, 2024

Full Review

Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

It shouldn't work, but it does. It’s a great-looking movie with a true movie star at its center and a cast chock-full of fantastic character actors (40th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

May 17, 2024

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...ultimately fares much, much better than the often astonishingly tedious Bernard Malamud novel on which its based...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 21, 2022

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Marcus W

Beautifully shot period piece standard underdog story but well done. Kim basinger really shines in this and Robert Redford is of course good in it. Some well trodden paths here but likeable , money bad virtue good etc. Hard to say bad things about it but hard to really justify it. Shot silkily smooth though.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/14/25

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Andrew K

Not being American, I always approach baseball movies with a certain amount of trepidation, I find them to be very hit or miss. Not this movie though, this was quality from the very start. Redford on top of his game (sic) and a great supporting cast including a small part for the late, great, Joe Don Baker. Yes, it's a bit sentimental but it's also an intriguing film, knowing nothing about it beforehand, I did wonder at one point if Redford would turn out to be a ghost, in Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter style. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out on Netflix, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Joshua m

Good to see these actors when they were much younger.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

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Michael H

One of the greatest baseball movies of all-time. Phenomenal film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/10/25

Full Review

Stephen Jules R

as a not sports nut but appreciator the natural is certainly one of the most enjoyable not overly sappy sex enthused silly as some baseball sports movie with an emphasis especially on great performances beautiful cinematography music the right amount of magic a good tone interesting concepts about money America and the big pictures around baseball..shady people good people etc...a fine film still very watchable

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/06/25

Full Review

Devra B

Wow, I’m not even a big sports fan but this movie was amazing. Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/21/25

Full Review

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Barry Levinson

Director

Robert Redford

Roy Hobbs

Robert Duvall

Max Mercy

Glenn Close

Iris Gaines

Kim Basinger

Memo Paris

Wilford Brimley

Pop Fisher

The Natural: Official Clip - The Final Homerun

2:13

The Natural: Official Clip - Savoy Special

2:06

The Natural: Official Clip - Batting Practice With Wonderboy

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - The Lady in White

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Knock the Cover Off the Ball

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Let it Ride

2:12

The Natural: Official Clip - Striking Out The Whammer

2:11

The Natural: Official Clip - A New Right Fielder

2:13

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Synopsis

On the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, young baseball phenom Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) is shot by the unstable Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey). After 16 years, Hobbs returns to pro baseball as a rookie for the last-place New York Knights. Despite early arguments with his manager, Pop Fisher (Wilford Brimley), Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and the Knights start winning. But this upsets the Judge (Robert Prosky), their owner, who wants Hobbs to lose games, not win.

Director: Barry Levinson
Producer: Mark Johnson
Screenwriter: Bernard Malamud, Phil Dusenberry
Distributor: TriStar Pictures, Pioneer Entertainment, RCA/Columbia
Production Co: TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 11, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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