Being There
1979 · Movie · PG · 130 min · ★ 7.6 · 89% critics
A sheltered gardener spends his life in one house and learns how the world works mostly through TV. When the old man he depends on dies, he’s thrown into the outside world with little understanding of everyday life, yet he ends up repeatedly crossing paths with powerful people.
Based on Being There
Where to watch
Rent from $3.99 or buy from $6.99.
2 hours to watch.
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1979
- Release date
- 1979-12-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
- Runtime
- 130 min
- Critic score
- 89/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (1,131 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy Being There if you want a sly, touching comedy about TV-driven perceptions and misunderstandings; Not for you if you need realistic behavior, laughs on demand, or clear plot momentum, and if you disliked Forrest Gump or similar character-based comedies.
Pros: charmingly understated; smart satire; standout lead performance | Cons: slow or confusing; far-fetched premise; uneven tone
Themes
- usa president
- washington dc, usa
- based on novel or book
- identity
- autism
- impotence
- botanist
- philosophical
- ambivalent
- baffled
- dignified
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1980
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1980 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1980 · nominated
Cast & crew
Peter Sellers
as Chance
Shirley MacLaine
as Eve Rand
Melvyn Douglas
as Benjamin Rand
Jack Warden
as President 'Bobby'
Richard Dysart
as Dr. Robert Allenby
Richard Basehart
as Vladimir Skrapinov
Ruth Attaway
as Louise
David Clennon
as Thomas Franklin
Fran Brill
as Sally Hayes
- DD
Denise DuBarry
as Johanna Franklin
Directed by Hal Ashby