Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Play trailer Poster for Whose Life Is It Anyway? R Released Dec 2, 1981 1h 58m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
70% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Bob Thomas Associated Press [Whose Life Is It Anyway?] is an engrossing drama despite its grim subject. Jul 25, 2019 Full Review Bruce McCabe Boston Globe The inadequately and misleadingly titled Whose Life Is It Anyway? is a brilliant emotional exercise which ambitiously and heroically wrestles with the most emotional issue of all -- death. Apr 28, 2018 Full Review Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News Who's Life is one of the year's best films, not to be missed. Rated: 4/4 May 27, 2020 Full Review Rick Chatenever Santa Cruz Sentinel Dreyfuss never seems to get far enough into his character to make his anguish -- or his decision to fight -- real. Nov 20, 2019 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) Shallowness drowns the ambition of the project. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 26, 2019 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 4/5 Oct 6, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (61) audience reviews
Audience Member Good storyline but it is sexist though with woman getting harassed 50% of the time. Has some cheesy acting (especially when they're speaking in medical terms). If you can get passed all that its pretty good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Is That Richard Dreyfuss I Admire: Nothing Similar to "Jaws" and Other Films He's Mentioned As His Best. Honestly, The Very Best Dreyfuss Theatrical Performance. A Must Of His Career. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Well acted and a difficult subject, the film challenged me to think more deeply about an agonizing situation. I will certainly watch it more than once. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Was one of the films I found profoundly important when it came out in 81. We did not have the rules and regulations as we do today over handicapped persons, care of people in hospital making their own decisions about their care rather than physicians, and I loved this film. It truely supported persons being their own boss over their life. I am a nurse and let me tell you this movie did represent what did go on!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Honestyl, I think this movie is overrated. The subject matter and the way it is touched upon is very moving and Dreyfuss is giving an excellent performance. However, the other actors and actresses are rather mediocre and their characters aren't written too well. And my biggest complaint: About half an hour or maybe even more could be cut from the movie entirely, there are so many scenes that don't further the story. We know he loves his girlfriend and misses the good times they had together and he misses creating art with his hands. It is hinted at early on he says it again when the doctor proposes that he could become a writer instead. There's no need to add a 3 minutes and 30 seconds dream/flashback-scene to the movie. It could lose a lot of fat that makes it unnecessarily slow. Such scenes don't make us feel for him more, they are just repetitive. Overall, I recommend watching it because it does what it does well very well. But I don't think anyone needs to rewatch it. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the rare instances where a good play was opened up on the screen and didn't suffer for the filmmakers having done so. Richard Dreyfuss gives a noteworthy performance. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Whose Life Is It Anyway?

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
The Seduction of Joe Tynan 75% 38% The Seduction of Joe Tynan Watchlist An Officer and a Gentleman 79% 81% An Officer and a Gentleman Watchlist TRAILER for An Officer and a Gentleman Sophie's Choice 74% 85% Sophie's Choice Watchlist Ordinary People 89% 88% Ordinary People Watchlist TRAILER for Ordinary People Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession 46% 74% Bad Timing: A Sensual Obsession Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All Whose Life Is It Anyway? photos

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ken Harrison (Richard Dreyfuss) is a well-known and respected sculptor, until a terrible car accident leaves him a paraplegic. His once positive outlook descends into depression as he comes to grips with the loss of his independence and his art. Even as he develops a relationship with Clare Scott (Christine Lahti), all he wants to do is end his life, but U.S. law forbids assisted suicide. Dr. Harrison (John Cassavetes) vows to keep Ken alive -- while Ken's lawyer fights for his right to die.
Director
John Badham
Production Co
SLM Production Group, Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 1981, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 58m
Most Popular at Home Now