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The Founder

Play trailer 1:06 Poster for The Founder PG-13 Released Jan 20, 2017 1h 55m Biography History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Founder

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Ed Potton 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Luca B One of Michael Keaton Douglas's best and easily the best that I've seen him in any role ever. We are so used to seeing him in supernatural films, that we never get a realistic acting-side view of him. The way how we manipulates people, including Mac and Dick McDonald, was just heart-racing. He's incredible and this movie/story is so well-told. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/24 Full Review MDJ 2 Great movie I love how well their portrait thr 50's and it made me hate kroc but in the end without him we would never know mcdonalds Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/21/24 Full Review Audience Member A little slow in the middle and almost gave up, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Always fun to learn the origin story of a major corporation Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/12/24 Full Review Robert C I finally got around to seeing this movie after years of having it on my Netflix list. I thought that it would just piss me off to see Michael Keaton take advantage of the McDonald's brothers. But in reality if it weren't for Ray Kroc there probably would be no McDonald's restaurants today. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Alexander R I was very surprised by this film. Well shot, with good pacing and Michael Keaton playing a character that you love to hate. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/12/24 Full Review Ryan B Keaton plays Ray Kroc so well here as you watch a man down on his luck and trying to earn a better life for himself and his family get completely wrapped up in the capitalist system that is so prevalent and powerful today. Almost as if this movie is a prequel to modern society (at least in the west). A little slow at times but overall this is a fantastic movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Founder

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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, FilmNation Entertainment, Faliro House, The Combine
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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