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The Day of the Locust

Play trailer Poster for The Day of the Locust R,  1975,  2h 24m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 63% 35 Reviews Tomatometer 76% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the 1930s Los Angeles, Hollywood shines like a beacon to all the helpless people scattered across the city. In one crumbling apartment block, a blond bombshell (Karen Black) aspires to be an actress, an artist (William Atherton) looks for legitimacy, and a child actor performs a gross homage to Mae West. Cockfights and poverty prevail out of the glow of show business. Introverted accountant Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland) watches as society collapses under greed and ambition.
The Day of the Locust

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Although its source material's themes are sometimes beyond The Day of the Locust's grasp, this is a consistently watchable adaptation that gains its own emotional power.

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Critics Reviews

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Budd Wilkins Slant Magazine Dec 12, 2023
With impeccable detail and merciless wit, John Schlesinger’s The Day of the Locust presents 1930s Los Angeles as a nightmarish circle in Dante’s Inferno. Go to Full Review
Pauline Kael The New Yorker Oct 11, 2023
Having no emotional center, the film leaves little impression -- only a chill. Go to Full Review
Susan Stark Detroit Free Press Sep 12, 2021
John Schlesinger brings West's vision to the screen, monstrosity for monstrosity, sadness for sadness, and makes of it an immensely affecting motion picture. Go to Full Review
Armond White National Review Feb 8, 2025
The most impressive aspect of Schlesinger’s film is its sense of place: the sunny, awesomely relaxed, fetid warmth captured by Conrad Hall’s sumptuous cinematography. Go to Full Review
Emilie Black Cinema Crazed Dec 14, 2023
4/5
The film was clearly carefully planned, designed, with costume, art department and direction, as well as cinematography, and editing to make it something that stands out to this day. Go to Full Review
Steve Warren The Barb (Atlanta) May 9, 2023
This is the maximum downer, the most depressing film I've ever seen. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Finn S Apr 1, 2019 what a great and unique film
Finn W Feb 20, 2017 As filthy, dirty and depressing as its source material. Easily one of finest book to silver screen adaptations ever made. Screw its critics See more
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The Day of the Locust

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Schlesinger

Director

Donald Sutherland

Homer Simpson

William Atherton

Tod Hackett

Karen Black

Faye Greener

Burgess Meredith

Harry Greener

Geraldine Page

Big Sister

Movie Clips

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The Day of the Locust

The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Tod Hits Hollywood The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Tod Hits Hollywood 1:48 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Stage Collapses The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Stage Collapses 1:29 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Movie Theater The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Movie Theater 1:57 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Ice Cream Meltdown The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Ice Cream Meltdown 1:12 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Tod Meets Faye The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Tod Meets Faye 2:04 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Door to Door The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Door to Door 2:10 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Cockfight The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Cockfight 2:12 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Burning of Los Angeles The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - The Burning of Los Angeles 2:09 Now Playing The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Angry Mob The Day of the Locust: Official Clip - Angry Mob 2:06 Now Playing View more videos

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The Day of the Locust

The Day of the Locust (1975) The Day of the Locust (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1930s Los Angeles, Hollywood shines like a beacon to all the helpless people scattered across the city. In one crumbling apartment block, a blond bombshell (Karen Black) aspires to be an actress, an artist (William Atherton) looks for legitimacy, and a child actor performs a gross homage to Mae West. Cockfights and poverty prevail out of the glow of show business. Introverted accountant Homer Simpson (Donald Sutherland) watches as society collapses under greed and ambition.
Director
John Schlesinger
Producer
Jerome Hellman
Screenwriter
Nathanael West, Waldo Salt
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 7, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 6, 2014
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Mono
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