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The Old Man and the Sea

1958 · Movie · NR · 86 min · ★ 6.5 · 65% critics

AdventureDrama

After months without a catch, an aging Cuban fisherman heads far out to sea and finally hooks an enormous marlin. Alone in a small boat, he endures exhaustion, doubt, and the elements as he fights to bring his prize home, testing his resolve and sense of purpose.

Based on The Old Man and the Sea

IMDb

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Details
Years
1958
Release date
1958-10-07
Language
English
Rated
NR
Runtime
86 min
Critic score
65/100
TMDB rating
6.5/10 (165 votes)
Budget
$5,000,000
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a quiet, reflective struggle against nature with a determined lead and a simple premise; Not for you if you need fast pacing, lots of dialogue, or a consistently upbeat mood.

Pros: determined survival story; strong lead performance; faithful to the book | Cons: heavy narration; slow, repetitive stretches; effects feel dated

Themes

  • sea
  • human vs nature
  • cuba
  • mockery
  • fisherman

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1959
  • National Board of Review Award — Best Film
  • National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
  • Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1959 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actor · 1959 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
  • Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic or Comedy Score · 1959 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by John Sturges