Picnic

Play trailer

Picnic

PG

1955

1h 55m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

55%

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).

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Derek Prouse

Sight & Sound

Mar 30, 2020

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

Go to Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

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

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Jan 7, 2023

[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...

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 22, 2022

7/10

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

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jul 14, 2021

B

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

Go to Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Film Culture

Feb 3, 2021

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

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

James M

@RT86981837 Jul 16, 2026

All time favorite. If you’ve ever been there you can see and feel it. The scene with Moonglow explains all.

See more

John L

@view2views Nov 26, 2025

This simple story telling will creep up on you like a warm sunny morning.....it is a story telling without end......

See more

Mike W

@MikeW269 Oct 15, 2025

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).

See more

Terry L C

@RT89337982 Aug 9, 2025

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.

See more

Sebastyen D

@RT43130243 May 5, 2024

A lot of ripped shirts for no apparent reasons.

See more

Lanfranco C

@Lanfrancobz Oct 4, 2023

Rebel Without a Cause 2.0

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Joshua Logan

Director

William Holden

Hal Carter

Kim Novak

Madge Owens

Rosalind Russell

Rosemary

Betty Field

Flo Owens

Susan Strasberg

Millie Owens

The Swimmer

100%

83%

The Swimmer

Watchlist

Model Shop

83%

47%

Model Shop

Watchlist

Kramer vs. Kramer

90%

89%

Kramer vs. Kramer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Kramer vs. Kramer

East of Eden

86%

90%

East of Eden

Watchlist

X, Y & Zee

29%

35%

X, Y & Zee

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings