Starting Over

"Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life... One way, or the other."

1979 1h 45m EN

😐

6.4

MID

🍅

78%

FRESH

👌

METACRITIC

⭐

6.4

IMDB

★6.4TMDB · 72🍅78%Rotten Tomatoes●64Metacritic★6.4IMDB · 3,343

ComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After divorcing his ambitious singer wife, a middle-aged man begins a new relationship with a teacher.

“Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life... One way, or the other.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Burt Reynolds
Phil Potter
Jill Clayburgh
Marilyn Holmburg
Candice Bergen
Jessica Potter
Charles Durning
Michael "Mickey" Potter
Frances Sternhagen
Marva Potter
Austin Pendleton
Paul
Mary Kay Place
Marie
MacIntyre Dixon
Dan Ryan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Alan J. Pakula
Writers: James L. Brooks
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 3.6× 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 Alan J. Pakula, shot by Sven Nykvist. 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 Marvin Hamlisch. 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 Marion Rothman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life... One way, or the other.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0079948 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Alan J. Pakula directs. Sven Nykvist behind the camera. Marvin Hamlisch scores. Marion Rothman 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 3.6× over at the box office.
247 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Alan J. Pakula, shot by Sven Nykvist. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Marvin Hamlisch. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Marion Rothman shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life... One way, or the other.".
8IMDB entry: tt0079948 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 72 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.