Ordinary People

This article is about the film. For the novel it is based on, see Ordinary People (Guest novel). For other uses, see Ordinary People (disambiguation).

Ordinary People
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert Redford
Screenplay byAlvin Sargent
Based onOrdinary People
by Judith Guest
Produced byRonald L. Schwary
StarringDonald Sutherland
Mary Tyler Moore
Judd Hirsch
Timothy Hutton
CinematographyJohn Bailey
Edited byJeff Kanew
Music byMarvin Hamlisch
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 19, 1980 (1980-09-19)
Running time
124 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.2 million[1]
Box office$90 million

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford in his feature directorial debut. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent is based on the 1976 novel by Judith Guest. The film follows the disintegration of a wealthy family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the accidental death of one of their two sons and the attempted suicide of the other. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton.

Ordinary People was released theatrically on September 19, 1980, by Paramount Pictures to critical and commercial success. Reviewers praised Redford's direction, Sargent's screenplay, and the performances of the cast. The film, which grossed $90 million on a $6.2 million budget, was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the top ten films of 1980, and garnered six nominations at the 53rd Academy Awards, winning four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor for Hutton (the youngest recipient at age 20).[2] In addition, the film won five awards at the 38th Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, Best Actress (Moore), Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Hutton).

  1. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (May 30, 1981). "Pryor and Alda Proving Stars Still Sell Movies". The New York Times. p. 1.10. Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Academy Awards: Best Director Facts and Trivia". filmsite.org. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.