Picnic

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Picnic

PG

1955

1h 55m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Charming Hal Carter (William Holden) turned to wandering after a failed acting career left him loose in the wind. Interested in reuniting with an old college friend, Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson), Carter bums a train ride to a tranquil Kansas town. Alan greets him warmly, and together they join the community in a picnic celebration of Labor Day. However, his welcome quickly sours when sparks ignite between him and Alan's girlfriend, Madge Owens (Kim Novak).

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Derek Prouse

Sight & Sound

If any integrity of intention was there at the beginning, it has somehow hopelessly miscarried.

Mar 30, 2020

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Clunky and awkward, with inane dialogue, it's a movie to show how attitudes have changed.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

[William] Holden is years too old for the role but oozes sex appeal and makes a swoony stud when he takes his shirt off (or when, better yet, it’s ripped from his back...

Jan 7, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Though the film sticks with few sets and characters, resembling its stage origins, it’s still effective as a theatrical relationship drama.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 22, 2022

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

For its day, Picnic caught the mood of an uptight America in what goes for an edgy 1950s drama.

Rated: B

Jul 14, 2021

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Andrew Sarris

Film Culture

All in all, Picnic is an interesting failure. It is always visually attractive even when it is artistically unfaithful to its theme.

Feb 3, 2021

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Mike W

A very good movie with great acting. Novak was outstanding. Two caveats: the picnic itself was a little over the top, and Holden's early character was too dorky (Director's fault).

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/15/25

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Terry L C

Absolutely the best of the best!!!! They story line the greatest. How many feel like Hal Carter with no parental help, his only friend from college turns on him, and a young lady falls in love with him...the only person who feels he is more than everyone else thinks he is.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/25

Full Review

Sebastyen D

A lot of ripped shirts for no apparent reasons.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/05/24

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Lanfranco C

Rebel Without a Cause 2.0

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/04/23

Full Review

Blobbo X

If take out RossalindRusell drunk make fool of self scenes and make William Powell or whatever his name is 20 years younger, movie not be bad. Novak is appealing as is Sue Strasberg.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/22/23

Full Review

klr d

Fairly risque for the 50s in American cinema. It's a solid and memorable melodrama that will stay with you. I'm surprised the consensus score isn't higher.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

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Joshua Logan

Director

William Holden

Hal Carter

Kim Novak

Madge Owens

Rosalind Russell

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Betty Field

Flo Owens

Susan Strasberg

Millie Owens

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Synopsis

Charming Hal Carter (William Holden) turned to wandering after a failed acting career left him loose in the wind. Interested in reuniting with an old college friend, Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson), Carter bums a train ride to a tranquil Kansas town. Alan greets him warmly, and together they join the community in a picnic celebration of Labor Day. However, his welcome quickly sours when sparks ignite between him and Alan's girlfriend, Madge Owens (Kim Novak).

Director: Joshua Logan
Producer: Fred Kohlmar
Screenwriter: William Inge, Daniel Taradash
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.0K
Runtime: 1h 55m

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