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The Great Santini

Play trailer Poster for The Great Santini PG,  1979,  1h 58m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 95% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 75% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Bull Meechum (Robert Duvall) is a great fighter pilot -- so great that he dubs himself "The Great Santini." While his take-no-prisoners attitude and willingness to fight has served him well in the military, he's unable to turn it off at home. Eventually his competitive nature and abusive behavior take their toll on his relationships with his wife (Blythe Danner) and his rebellious 18-year-old son (Michael O'Keefe) after a friendly father-and-son basketball game turns ugly.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 23, 2004
4/4
The Great Santini is a movie to seek out and to treasure. Go to Full Review
Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Mar 29, 2026
2.5/4
... has a literally commanding Duvall at the center of it. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 5, 2025
3.5/4
This is one of those special films that moves effortlessly between tension, tears, and laughs ... Robert Duvall's performance runs neck-and-neck with his Lonesome Dove turn as his career best. Go to Full Review
Leonard Klady Winnipeg Free Press Aug 19, 2021
The Great Santini is great. It's a raw, uncompromising film which leaves the audience emotionally drained but richer for the experience. Go to Full Review
Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News May 27, 2020
4/4
By all means, see The Great Santini, one of the most rewarding film experiences this or any other year. Go to Full Review
Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Apr 9, 2007
C
Two-dimensional and minor. Go to Full Review
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The Great Santini

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Cast & Crew

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Lewis John Carlino

Director

Robert Duvall

Lt. Col. `'Bull'` Meechum

Blythe Danner

Lillian Meechum

Michael O'Keefe

Ben Meechum

Lisa Jane Persky

Mary Anne Meechum

Julie Anne Haddock

Karen Meechum

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The Great Santini

The Great Santini (1979) The Great Santini (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Bull Meechum (Robert Duvall) is a great fighter pilot -- so great that he dubs himself "The Great Santini." While his take-no-prisoners attitude and willingness to fight has served him well in the military, he's unable to turn it off at home. Eventually his competitive nature and abusive behavior take their toll on his relationships with his wife (Blythe Danner) and his rebellious 18-year-old son (Michael O'Keefe) after a friendly father-and-son basketball game turns ugly.
Director
Lewis John Carlino
Producer
Charles A. Pratt
Screenwriter
Lewis John Carlino
Distributor
Orion Pictures
Production Co
Bing Crosby Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 26, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 8, 2015
Runtime
1h 58m
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