The Natural
1984 · Movie · PG · 137 min · ★ 6.9 · 72% critics
An unknown middle-aged baseball hitter with a mysterious past appears and joins a struggling 1930s team, turning a losing season into a real shot at the league’s top. Driven by mythic second chances and unexpected momentum, his arrival energizes teammates and tests everyone around him.
Based on The Natural
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Streaming on MGM+.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1984
- Release date
- 1984-05-11
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 137 min
- Critic score
- 72/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (663 votes)
About
You’ll like The Natural if you enjoy uplifting baseball fables, period charm, and big emotions on and off the field; Not for you if fantasy feels off, like with Field of Dreams or Rudy.
Pros: heartwarming sports fable; strong ensemble cast; memorable music and look | Cons: fantasy/reality blend divides; some pacing drags; unresolved questions
Themes
- corruption
- sports
- baseball
- attempted murder
- talent
- redemption
- child prodigy
- femme fatale
- lightning bolt
- hdd
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1985 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1985 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1985 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1985 · nominated
Cast & crew
Robert Redford
as Roy Hobbs
Robert Duvall
as Max Mercy
Glenn Close
as Iris Gaines
Kim Basinger
as Memo Paris
Wilford Brimley
as Pop Fisher
Barbara Hershey
as Harriet Bird
Robert Prosky
as The Judge
Richard Farnsworth
as Red Blow
Joe Don Baker
as The Whammer
Michael Madsen
as Bump Bailey
Directed by Barry Levinson