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Carnal Knowledge

Play trailer Poster for Carnal Knowledge R,  1971,  1h 36m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 89% 37 Reviews Tomatometer 72% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Nice guy Sandy (Art Garfunkel) and charming schemer Jonathan (Jack Nicholson) meet as college roommates in the late 1940s. Sandy woos and eventually marries the sweetly virginal Susan (Candice Bergen) without knowing that she had cheated on him with Jonathan. Years later, his marriage faltering, Sandy attempts to mimic Jonathan's promiscuous womanizing, while the misogynistic Jonathan finally tries his hand at monogamy with the gorgeous but emotionally needy Bobbie (Ann-Margret).
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Critics Consensus

Although it comes lopsidedly from the male gaze, Carnal Knowledge is a sexually frank and ferociously well-acted battle between the sexes.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Smith Slant Magazine Jul 21, 2025
Mike Nichols’s divisive fourth feature is a fascinating cultural artifact. Go to Full Review
Paul D. Zimmerman Newsweek Feb 12, 2020
Nichols has broken thoroughly now with his stage beginnings, integrating camera and action easily, using space and silence with the fluency of a man at home behind a lens. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Feb 8, 2008
A rather superficial and limited probe of American male sexual hypocrisies. Go to Full Review
David Harris Spectrum Culture May 12, 2026
In Carnal Knowledge, we are seeing the grotesque core of the male psyche, the embodiment of the minds that led women to stand up against them with the #MeToo movement. Go to Full Review
Joshua Ryan FandomWire Jul 17, 2025
7/10
Nichols, holding the rare honor of the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony winner), excels at bringing the best out of his performers. Go to Full Review
Frank J. Avella The Contending Jul 15, 2025
B
Feiffer has a way of capturing men and their inflated egos—that competitive nature—but also the disgusting way they see women, in such an honest manner that it’s often painful to watch. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Austen Jan 23, 2023 Dolore sunt veniam ab.
Laisha Jan 23, 2023 Magnam odio et quisquam ipsum natus quis.
Henriette Jan 23, 2023 Qui ut vel sed id odit delectus dignissimos.
Cody Jan 23, 2023 Ducimus sapiente velit exercitationem sed itaque veniam quidem.
Davin Jan 23, 2023 Excepturi enim atque dignissimos rerum fugiat fugit aliquam quisquam nobis.
Tod Oct 3, 2022 Amet quas molestiae rem odio nostrum molestias quos minima illo.
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Carnal Knowledge

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Cast & Crew

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Mike Nichols

Director

Jack Nicholson

Jonathan Fuerst

Art Garfunkel

Sandy

Ann-Margret

Bobbie

Candice Bergen

Susan

Rita Moreno

Louise

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Carnal Knowledge

Carnal Knowledge (1971) Carnal Knowledge (1971) Carnal Knowledge (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Nice guy Sandy (Art Garfunkel) and charming schemer Jonathan (Jack Nicholson) meet as college roommates in the late 1940s. Sandy woos and eventually marries the sweetly virginal Susan (Candice Bergen) without knowing that she had cheated on him with Jonathan. Years later, his marriage faltering, Sandy attempts to mimic Jonathan's promiscuous womanizing, while the misogynistic Jonathan finally tries his hand at monogamy with the gorgeous but emotionally needy Bobbie (Ann-Margret).
Director
Mike Nichols
Producer
Mike Nichols
Screenwriter
Jules Feiffer
Distributor
AVCO Embassy Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Criterion Collection, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Cosmos Films, AVCO Embassy Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 30, 1971, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 5, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$33.7K
Runtime
1h 36m
Sound Mix
Mono
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