The Natural
He lived for a dream that wouldn't die.
1984 • 137 min • Drama
Synopsis
An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league.
Our family guide
Best from age 10- 100 Reviewers · 3 · 53%
- 69 Audience · 682 · 47%
An unknown baseball player with a mysterious past joins a struggling team in the 1930s, leading them toward a championship. He faces challenges from within and outside the sport as his past catches up to him.
- Violence & peril
- 4/10
- Language
- 2/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 4/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 3/10
- Scary moments
- 3/10
Heads up
- A character is shot and wounded
- References to gambling and drinking
- Some suggestive situations
What it models well
- Perseverance and talent
- Redemption and second chances
- Integrity in competition
Talk about it after
- The choices people make and their consequences
- How a person's past can affect their present
- The difference between heroes and villains
- What true success looks like
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for The Natural. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
Where to watch
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- Plex
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Spectrum On Demand
PlexBuy
- Amazon Video
- Apple TV Store
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Fandango At Home
Links go straight to each service. Some are affiliate links that support Movie Knight at no cost to you. Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB.
Top billed cast
Director: Barry Levinson • Crew: Roger Towne, Phil Dusenberry
Trailers & clips
Reviewer notes
RecommendedIf you ever saw how Josef von Sternberg photographed Marlene Dietrich then you'll appreciate a similar style of camera adulation from Barry Levinson with Robert Redford in this touching adaptation of Bernard Malamud's complex and characterful novel.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersMany, many years ago when I was a bit of a sports fan, I remember reading stories about scouts who had seen athletes in the olden days like Roy Hobbs. Players who could hit a ball a mile or throw a hundred mile per hour fastball, but who never made it to the big league for some reason. But of course, this movie is based on a novel by Bernard Malamud, though there are hints of actual events here and there.…
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersThe Wonder of Wonderboy. The Natural is directed by Barry Levinson and adapted to screenplay by Roger Towne & Phil Dusenberry from the novel written by Bernard Malamud. It stars Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Wilford Brimley, Barbara Hershey, Robert Prosky and Richard Farnsworth. Music is by Randy Newman and cinematography by Caleb Deschanel.…
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Details
- TMDB audience
- 6.9/10 (682)
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $28,000,000
- Box office
- $48,000,000
- IMDb
- tt0087781
