Rudy

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1:58

Rudy

PG

1993

1h 53m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) wants to play football at the University of Notre Dame, but has neither the money for tuition nor the grades to qualify for a scholarship. Rudy redoubles his efforts to get out of the steel mill where his father works when his best friend (Christopher Reed) dies in an accident there. Overcoming his dyslexia thanks to his friend and tutor, D-Bob (Jon Favreau), Rudy gains admission to Notre Dame and begins to fight his way onto the school's fabled football team.

Critics Consensus

Though undeniably sentimental and predictable, Rudy succeeds with an uplifting spirit and determination.

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Johanna Steinmetz

Chicago Tribune

Aug 23, 2016

3/4

Anspaugh, whose Hoosiers showed he knows from feel-good movies, directs this story as if he were conducting Bolero, carefully building climax upon climax as the story spirals to an underdog triumph every bit as tearful as that of Rocky.

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Jeff Shannon

Seattle Times

Aug 23, 2016

3.5/4

The film is so effective because Rudy is never seen as mock-heroic, and he's never lifted toward unrealistic achievement. He simply does the very best he can.

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Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Aug 23, 2016

Underneath its rah-rah spirit, the PG-rated Rudy is straightforward enough to raise, albeit unintentionally, some troubling questions.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Feb 6, 2025

7/10

Rudy is all heart, which provides a greater contrast in the face of continuing pitfalls, as well as a decent protagonist for this uplifting, encouraging tale.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 15, 2024

A+

A great example of how "Hollywooding" something up a little can turn a fantastic true story into something that can affect the viewer even more than just the truth. These are the kinds of films that can only be done in America.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 19, 2023

2.5/4

A likable if rather bland underdog tale, with director David Anspaugh and screenwriter Angelo Pizzo (who both scored with 1986’s meatier Hoosiers) dutifully checking off the boxes inherent in such Americana fare.

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Albus S

Apr 4, 2019

My leaders supervisors and managers are required to watch. My children and grandchildren are required to watch. To dream To endure To survive To plan To overcome Truly Goodness and mercy shall prevail

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Feb 2, 2019

The best inspiring sport movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Sean Astin as Daniel Ruettiger!

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Albus S

Feb 2, 2019

The acting was phenomenal and the story, while predictable, remains inspirational and powerful

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Rey W

Jan 23, 2019

One of, if not the best sports movies of all time

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Hagrid S

Oct 15, 2018

another one of Sean Astin's earliest roles to fame pre-'Lord of the Rings' a lovable supporting cast too: Robert Prosky, Ned Beatty, Lili Taylor, and Jon Favereau based on a true story he plays Rudy a dyslexic young man who dreams of playing football at the university of Notre Dame sadly everyone keeps reminding him he doesnt have the athletic build or the grades to qualify the tuition alone costs $1000 and he's stuck working at a steel mill but Rudy is determined to make his dream come true everything changes when he's willing to get good grades, his own colors, and affecting his teammates as well as his family a memorable performance by Sean Astin, some of the best music composed in a sports film, and a very uplifting spirit of confidence having dreams is what makes life tolerable, not everyone is meant to go to college, dreamers can't be doers, does chasing a dream make everything miserable?, do you have to be good enough for yourself or for others? a treasure of inspiration to be remembered

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Albus S

Sep 8, 2018

One of those inspiritional type movies where "never give up" is the main theme. I'd heard about this movie for the longest time and finally got around to checking it out. There are a lot of jerks throughout the story here. I know it goes along with the whole story of everyone not giving the guy a chance, but damn.. rude much? Not my favorite sports movie, I wouldn't even put this in my top 10, but it's a decent one.

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David Anspaugh

Director

Sean Astin

Rudy Ruettiger

Ned Beatty

Daniel

Charles S. Dutton

Fortune

Robert Prosky

Father Cavanaugh

Lili Taylor

Sherry

Rudy: Official Clip - Rudy's Victory

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Rudy: Official Clip - I've Been Ready for This My Whole Life

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Rudy: Official Clip - Last Game of the Season

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Rudy: Official Clip - This Is for Rudy, Coach

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Rudy: Official Clip - Fortune's Truth

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Rudy: Official Clip - Football Tryouts

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Rudy: Official Clip - Rudy Sacks O'Hara

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Rudy: Official Clip - First Practice

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Synopsis

Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Astin) wants to play football at the University of Notre Dame, but has neither the money for tuition nor the grades to qualify for a scholarship. Rudy redoubles his efforts to get out of the steel mill where his father works when his best friend (Christopher Reed) dies in an accident there. Overcoming his dyslexia thanks to his friend and tutor, D-Bob (Jon Favreau), Rudy gains admission to Notre Dame and begins to fight his way onto the school's fabled football team.

Director: David Anspaugh
Producer: Robert N. Fried, Cary Woods
Screenwriter: Angelo Pizzo
Distributor: Columbia Tristar, TriStar Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1993, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $20.7M
Runtime: 1h 53m
Sound Mix: Surround

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