The Electric Horseman

"He's a washed-up loser. But sometimes losers can be heroes..."

1979 2h 2m EN

😐

6.1

MID

🍅

62%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

6.4

IMDB

★6.1TMDB · 173🍅62%Rotten Tomatoes●64Metacritic★6.4IMDB · 10,649

DramaRomanceComedyWestern

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A former champion rodeo rider is reduced to using his saddle skills to promote a breakfast cereal in a gaudy Las Vegas show. When he's asked to perform with a $12 million horse, he discovers it is being doped to remain docile. He flees into the desert astride the beast in an act of defiance. A story-hungry female reporter gives chase.

“He's a washed-up loser. But sometimes losers can be heroes...”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Robert Redford
Sonny
Jane Fonda
Hallie
Valerie Perrine
Charlotta
Willie Nelson
Wendell
John Saxon
Hunt Sears
Nicolas Coster
Fitzgerald
Allan Arbus
Danny
Wilford Brimley
Farmer

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sydney Pollack
Writers: Robert Garland
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Made its money back 4.9× over at the box office.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

47 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sydney Pollack, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Sheldon Kahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Robert Redford and Jane Fonda and Valerie Perrine carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He's a washed-up loser. But sometimes losers can be heroes...".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0079100 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sydney Pollack directs. Owen Roizman behind the camera. Dave Grusin scores. Sheldon Kahn cuts. Made its budget back several times over at the box office. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Made its money back 4.9× over at the box office.
247 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Sydney Pollack, shot by Owen Roizman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Dave Grusin. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Sheldon Kahn shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Robert Redford and Jane Fonda and Valerie Perrine carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "He's a washed-up loser. But sometimes losers can be heroes...".
8IMDB entry: tt0079100 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.