A Perfect World

PG-13

Released Nov 24, 1993

2 hr. 17 min.

Drama

List

78%

32 Reviews

Tomatometer

84%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Butch (Kevin Costner), a escaped state prisoner from a Texas jail, kidnaps Philip (T.J. Lowther), a young, impressionable boy. As they embark on a trip across the American Southwest together, a surprising bond grows between the convict and his captive, even as law enforcement forces slowly catch up with them. An honorable Texas Ranger, Red Garnett (Clint Eastwood), understands Butch has a heart of gold, but must pursue him anyway out of duty to the law and a desire to protect the child.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Dec 05

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent A Perfect World on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Critics Consensus

Despite some formulaic touches, Clint Eastwood's haunting, ambiguous crime drama is smart and gritty, and features a bravura performance from Kevin Costner as a prison escapee on the run.

Read Critics Reviews

Eye C

An interesting approach of how the system fails and how the presumptions and prejudices doesn't helps to make a friendly society… oh and Kevin Costner is the best.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/23/24

Full Review

hampus s

one of the greatest movies ever made, deserves a much higher score

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Test T

I watched this on DVD recently. I enjoyed the story and found the film absorbing to watch. The acting is first rate and the character development is excellent. I particularly liked the contrast between the relationships which developed on either side of the law. Both sides had difficulties getting on at first, but ironically by the end of the film the hostage and his kidnapper formed the strongest bond. The stunts and action were effectively integrated within the plot which added excitement without losing focus on the story. Despite the long runtime, I found the film to pass by quickly, and thought it was well paced. Highly recommended.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/14/24

Full Review

matthias s

"A Perfect World" is a charming flick that skillfully weaves a tale of an unlikely bond between Kevin Costner's escaped convict character and a young boy, played brilliantly by T.J. Lowther. The film subtly explores the theme of missing fathers and the quest to find them, which adds a layer of emotional depth. The screenplay is well-crafted, keeping the audience engaged throughout the journey. I've always had a soft spot for Laura Dern, and she shines in her role. Costner's performance is excellent, as always, and the chemistry between him and the kid is heartwarming. The bittersweet ending left a mark, tugging at the heartstrings, but it didn't quite captivate me enough to warrant a higher rating. While the character dynamics are compelling, some aspects of the plot could have been more developed. Nonetheless, "A Perfect World" is worth a watch for its performances and the touching exploration of the father-son relationship.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Andrea C

On the road con un criminale che non si può odiare, per cui anzi si finisce a fare il tifo nonostante il suo lato dark che lo rende comunque molto credibile. Le ambientazioni ed i personaggi sono vari e danno colore e tono ad ogni sequenza, rendendo la fuga più centrale ancora dei personaggi e dei dialoghi. Questa scelta si rivela vincente, ponendo in secondo piano il ragazzino i cui dialoghi, se più centrali, avrebbero rallentato la pellicola ed annoiato. Il finale poi è romantico e commovente, trovata la perfetta location in un bellissimo prato verde, dopo la sequenza chiave a casa dell'ultima famiglia ad "ospitare" i due protagonisti.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

Full Review

Dhanu K

No country for broken boys! Definitely not Clint Eastwood's best work, but can't deny the fact that "A Perfect World" is a funny and sentimental drama, filled with a lot of heart and charisma that make it the most moving and uplifting film he has ever directed.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/22

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Clint Eastwood

Director

Kevin Costner

Robert 'Butch' Haynes

Clint Eastwood

Chief Red Garnett

Laura Dern

Sally Gerber

T.J. Lowther

Phillip Perry

Keith Szarabajka

Terry James Pugh

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

68%

55%

Guilty by Suspicion

20%

79%

Stealing Home

90%

90%

Million Dollar Baby

25%

73%

The War

59%

69%

Wrestling Ernest Hemingway

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Kevin Costner’s 10 Best Movies

"Scary Movie 4": Interview with Regina Hall

View more photos

Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

Hancock's surface-skimming script is too formulaic for the job. There's enough material here for a crisp 90-minute entertainment. At 2+ hours, the leisurely, mildly engaging A Perfect World barely sputters across the finish line.

Apr 7, 2008

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

In going beyond chase-yarn duty, Eastwood and Costner do themselves proud.

Jun 6, 2001

Full Review

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

It's an American masterpiece.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 26, 2013

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

It will not please everyone because it presents things in shades of gray and takes few easy outs.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 8, 2012

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Tells the tale of an escaped convict and his eight-year-old hostage and, in the process, considers the cycles of disappointment wrought on sons by questionable fathers: abusive ones, absent ones, even a well-meaning "daddy state." [Blu-ray]

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 5, 2012

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Butch (Kevin Costner), a escaped state prisoner from a Texas jail, kidnaps Philip (T.J. Lowther), a young, impressionable boy. As they embark on a trip across the American Southwest together, a surprising bond grows between the convict and his captive, even as law enforcement forces slowly catch up with them. An honorable Texas Ranger, Red Garnett (Clint Eastwood), understands Butch has a heart of gold, but must pursue him anyway out of duty to the law and a desire to protect the child.

Director: Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter: John Lee Hancock
Distributor: Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Malpaso Company
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 24, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.7M
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now