The Founder

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The Founder

PG-13

2017

1h 55m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

245 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

The true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Kroc soon maneuvers himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a multi-billion dollar empire.

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Critics Consensus

The Founder puts Michael Keaton's magnetic performance at the center of a smart, satisfying biopic that traces the rise of one of America's most influential businessmen -- and the birth of one of its most far-reaching industries.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Hancock's bland biopic offers a sanitised and sympathetic take on the burger chain's beginnings and the man who turned it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

Rated: 2/5

Feb 19, 2017

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

One of the many pleasures in John Lee Hancock's study of the man who made McDonald's an empire is its reminder that even the simplest ideas need to be invented.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 17, 2017

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Ed Potton

The Times (UK)

The man, played with dark relish by Michael Keaton, has the fabulous name of Ray Kroc (there is a suitably reptilian air to his grin as he says things such as: "Contracts are like hearts. They're made to be broken").

Rated: 3/5

Feb 16, 2017

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

This is definitely a film to watch – not only as a real “eye-opener” into the success of the world’s most recognisable fast-food chain, but also for Keaton’s dedicated and enthusiastic performance.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 12, 2024

Full Review

Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

John Lee Hancock's The Founder is the perfect movie for a country that has just chosen a vapid brand for its chief executive.

Apr 6, 2023

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Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

Thanks to a strong, character-focused script by Robert Siegel (The Wrestler) and engaging performances across the board, it all turns out to be pretty riveting stuff.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 1, 2022

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Caleb S

I think this is worth a watch, especially because no person in the world hasn’t heard of McDonald’s. It’s fascinating to learn its history. Plus, the whole movie’s tone was yellow and red (at least it felt like it was) which I thought was pretty artistic.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/25

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Sebastian D

A Hustle Biopic That Skips. The Founder is a brisk biopic that hustles through Kroc's rise but skimps on the ruthless underbelly, turning a tale of American avarice into a glossy, sanitized sprint. Michael Keaton’s Kroc crackles with opportunistic glee, but the script stumbles, flattening the McDonald brothers into caricatures and glossing vengeance with pat montages. What could have been a devastating dissection of capitalism devolves into repetitive deal-making and predictable betrayals, the 2016 biopic trend wasted on a narrative that teases ethical fury but settles for feel-good frenzy. The period visuals charm, but the pacing lurches, and the ending's catharsis feels hollow, squandering a sharp premise on a saga that bites off more than it chews.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

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VITALII H

Based on the true story. One day someone told me that McDonald's is a real estate company and the most of the revenue cones from that, not from what they serve. I didn't quite get that but after watching this movie it all made sense. This movie is very well executed, the acting was great and I'm glad that this movie exists. It shines the light on the incredible story, that needs to be heard, behind one of the largest fast food chains in the world.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

Leaburn O

A wonderfully amoral biopic of Ray Kroc, the ahem founder of McDonalds. It was well made, refusing to shirk the shady history of the protagonist. Very enjoyable and the time flew by. Watched on Amazon Prime.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/17/25

Full Review

Lynneth S

Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Ray Kroc became the centerpiece of the movie, highlighting the nuances of his character—from a persistent salesman to a greedy and morally questionable entrepreneur. Overall, it was a great film that depicted the events behind McDonald’s rise to a multibillion-dollar empire as raw and unbiased as possible.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

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Stephen C

Based on a true story in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $12,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

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John Lee Hancock

Director

Michael Keaton

Ray Kroc

Nick Offerman

Dick McDonald

John Carroll Lynch

Mac McDonald

Laura Dern

Ethel Kroc

Linda Cardellini

Joan Smith

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Synopsis

The true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman), who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers' speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Kroc soon maneuvers himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a multi-billion dollar empire.

Director: John Lee Hancock
Producer: Don Handfield, Jeremy Renner, Aaron Ryder
Screenwriter: Robert D. Siegel
Distributor: Weinstein Co.
Production Co: The Weinstein Company, Faliro House, The Combine, FilmNation Entertainment
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 20, 2017, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.8M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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