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The Survivors

Play trailer Poster for The Survivors R Released Jun 22, 1983 1h 44m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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9% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When Sonny Paluso's (Walter Matthau) gas station is blown up and Donald Quinelle (Robin Williams) loses his cushy executive job, the two men meet on the unemployment line. Demoralized by how long it is, they repair to a diner, where they witness a murder by Jack Locke (Jerry Reed), a notorious hit man. Sonny and Donald soon realize that Locke is now targeting them, and the latter cracks up under the pressure, enrolling in an extreme survivalist school to learn how to defend himself.
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The Survivors

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety An aimless, unfocused social comedy, The Survivors misfires on just about every level. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Time Out It's a bland piece of merchandise. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It's an aimless, self-indulgent, confusing comedy that never comes to grips with its material. Rated: 1.5/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review TV Guide Williams, Matthau, and Reed struggle with the material and generate some bright moments, but overall The Survivors is a bewildering, frustrating movie. Rated: 2/4 Jun 17, 2013 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Dumb, forced comedy wastes talents of Robin Williams and Walter Matthau. Rated: 2/5 Dec 19, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jun 26, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brian M Perhaps the most underrated comedies of 1980’s. Critics did not get this movie about working class Americans struggling to survive in a high pressured, cold, American landscape where government provides little help. It is a conservative comedy that simultaneously mocks conservatism. It is as relevant in Trump’s America as it once was in Reagan’s America. The pretentious critics did not get it in 1983 and would not get it now. Watch movie with an open mind and if you have ever worked a job you will laugh. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/07/25 Full Review Bucky D One of my favorite comedies from the 80's. Jerry Reed was great as the bad guy. Robin Williams was hilarious. He had so many memorable lines. The gunfight in the forest and the scene where Matthau puts the hot gun in Williams hand are some of my favorites. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Aaron H I've seen this movie 3 or 4 times over the years. It is one of my favorite movies. Robin Williams, Walter Matthau and Jerry Reed are hilarious. It rambles a bit, but it is fantastic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review Devin J Disappointing that this got panned by professional critics so hard, there are a lot of great one-liners in this movie, and it is more of a thinking, social satire comedy then just all out laughs. Glad that actually people seem to like it more but still surprised it's below 50% Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/25/23 Full Review william d This is one of the first films I watched after signing up for premium cable TV for the first time almost forty years ago. Watching it again reminded me of how thrilling it was to get uncut, unedited movies right on the TV, but that's not the point I want to make. The point is I thought this movie was funny back then and I think it's funny now. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Tim N A much better movie than it gets credit for. Robin Williams is as over the top as always (almost like he's doing stand up) but Walter Matthau is as fantastic as always. I just enjoy watching it to see his reactions to the absurdity. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/27/22 Full Review Read all reviews
The Survivors

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Ritchie

Director

Walter Matthau

Sonny Paluso

Robin Williams

Donald Quinelle

Jerry Reed

Jack Locke

James Wainwright

Wes Huntley

Kristen Vigard

Candice Paluso

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The Survivors

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Sonny Paluso's (Walter Matthau) gas station is blown up and Donald Quinelle (Robin Williams) loses his cushy executive job, the two men meet on the unemployment line. Demoralized by how long it is, they repair to a diner, where they witness a murder by Jack Locke (Jerry Reed), a notorious hit man. Sonny and Donald soon realize that Locke is now targeting them, and the latter cracks up under the pressure, enrolling in an extreme survivalist school to learn how to defend himself.
Director
Michael Ritchie
Producer
William Sackheim
Production Co
Rastar Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 22, 1983, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 21, 2010
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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