Paper Moon

Play trailer

Paper Moon

PG

1973

1h 42m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal team up as slick con-artists Moses Pray and Addie Loggins in the 1930s Kansas. When Moze is unexpectedly saddled with getting the 9-year-old Addie to relatives in Missouri after the death of her mother, his attempt to dupe her out of her money backfires, and he's forced to take her on as a partner. Swindling their way through farm country, the pair is nearly done in by a burlesque dancer and an angry bootlegger.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Expertly balancing tones, Paper Moon is a deft blend of film nostalgia and finely tuned performances -- especially from Tatum O'Neal, who won an Oscar for her debut.

Read Critics Reviews

Jake Cole

Slant Magazine

11/26/2024

Peter Bogdanovich’s 1973 dramedy Paper Moon offers a kind of synthesis of his prior two critical and commercial hits.

Go to Full Review

Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

01/23/2024

The picture demonstrates that in the head of a writer given to swooning and to creating swoons a criminal may seem an admirable character.

Go to Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

08/08/2022

The problem with Paper Moon is that it’s hollow at the center. The central relationship, involving a small-time con man and a tough little girl who practice a Bible-selling racket in the Midwest during the Depression, remains undeveloped and unaffecting.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 23

3/5

"Paper Moon" attempts to inject some family and heart into its road movie and con artist story to so-so effect.

Go to Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

06/17/2025

With Paper Moon, Bogdanovich funneled the comedy of What’s Up, Doc? and crossed it with the dusty, melancholy DNA of The Last Picture Show to create his last truly great film.

Go to Full Review

Chance Solem-Pfeifer

Willamette Week

01/22/2025

The genius of Tatum O’Neal’s performance in Paper Moon begins with her thousand-yard stare.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Valentine

09/03/2023

i loved seeing it on 16mm, great movie and theater 3

See more

Trevor S

@PopcornPopper Feb 5

A movie that is entertaining to watch the 10th time as it was the first time. An unforgettable film.

See more

Shane C

@RT13112589 Aug 16

I really like this movie 5/5

See more

john h

@RT11274104 06/07/2025

A period film set in the "radio days" of Earth that is moved by the duo Ryan and Tatum O'Neal.

See more

Christian K

@ckacar 05/20/2025

A remarkable throwback production, the lead pair work perfectly together and a 10-year old is acting circles around everyone.

See more

Lars N

@movie_douche 04/20/2025

This is how you do nostalgia. I couldn't believe it was made in '73. What a vision and a wonderfully heartfelt story to boot.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Peter Bogdanovich

Director

Ryan O'Neal

Moses Pray

Tatum O'Neal

Addie Loggins

Madeline Kahn

Trixie Delight

John Hillerman

Deputy Hardin

P. J. Johnson

Imogene

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Too Young to Smoke

1:48

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Together Again

2:05

Paper Moon: Official Clip - 200 Dollars

2:13

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Parting Ways

1:48

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Bible Salesmen

2:09

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Escaping the Cops

2:11

Paper Moon: Official Clip - $20 Bill

2:09

Paper Moon: Official Clip - Calling the Shots

2:13

View more videos

Citizens Band

100%

66%

Citizens Band

Watchlist

Harold and Maude

86%

93%

Harold and Maude

Watchlist

Meatballs

71%

58%

Meatballs

Watchlist

Airplane!

97%

89%

Airplane!

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Airplane!

Crocodile Dundee II

12%

38%

Crocodile Dundee II

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rachel Weisz’s Five Favorite Films

Five Favorite Films with Max Winkler

New "Shrek" Title; New "Shrek" Story

View more photos

Synopsis

Real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal team up as slick con-artists Moses Pray and Addie Loggins in the 1930s Kansas. When Moze is unexpectedly saddled with getting the 9-year-old Addie to relatives in Missouri after the death of her mother, his attempt to dupe her out of her money backfires, and he's forced to take her on as a partner. Swindling their way through farm country, the pair is nearly done in by a burlesque dancer and an angry bootlegger.

Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Producer: Peter Bogdanovich
Screenwriter: Joe David Brown, Alvin Sargent
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, The Directors Company, Saticoy Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 9, 1973, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2010
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)