Back to trending
The Great Santini

The Great Santini

Drama · 1979

As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.

Movie details

The Great Santini

“The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.”

1979 Drama 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Great Santini?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

I Never Sang for My Father

I Never Sang for My Father

Drama · 1970

A man living in the towering shadow of his aging father finds it difficult to start a new chapter in his life by marrying his girlfriend and moving to California.

Chasing Mavericks

Chasing Mavericks

Drama · 2012

Surfer Jay Moriarity sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.

The Long, Hot Summer

The Long, Hot Summer

Drama · 1958

Accused barn burner and conman Ben Quick arrives in a small Mississippi town and quickly ingratiates himself with its richest family, the Varners.

Dangerous Minds

Dangerous Minds

Drama · 1995

Former Marine Louanne Johnson lands a gig teaching in a pilot program for bright but underachieving teens at a notorious inner-city high school. After having a terrible first day, she decides she must throw decorum to the wind. When Johnson returns to the classroom, she does so armed with a no-nonsense attitude informed by her military training and a fearless determination to better the lives of her students -- no matter what the cost.

Giant Little Ones

Giant Little Ones

Drama · 2019

Two popular teen boys, best friends since childhood, discover their lives, families, and girlfriends dramatically upended after an unexpected incident occurs on the night of a 17th birthday party.

Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men

Drama · 1939

An intellectually disabled giant and his level headed guardian find work at a sadistic cowboy's ranch in depression era America.

Dad

Dad

Drama · 1989

A busy executive learns during a meeting that his mother may be dying and rushes home to her side. He ends up being his father's caretaker and becomes closer to him than ever before. Estranged from his own son, the executive comes to realize what has been missing in his own life.

Rebel Without a Cause

Rebel Without a Cause

Drama · 1955

After moving to a new town, troublemaking teen Jim Stark is supposed to have a clean slate, although being the new kid in town brings its own problems. While searching for some stability, Stark forms a bond with a disturbed classmate, Plato, and falls for local girl Judy. However, Judy is the girlfriend of neighborhood tough, Buzz. When Buzz violently confronts Jim and challenges him to a drag race, the new kid's real troubles begin.

The Fabelmans

The Fabelmans

Drama · 2022

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

East of Eden

East of Eden

Drama · 1955

In the Salinas Valley in and around World War I, Cal Trask feels he must compete against overwhelming odds with his brother for the love of their father. Cal is frustrated at every turn, from his reaction to the war, how to get ahead in business and in life, and how to relate to his estranged mother.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lewis John Carlino

Written by

Lewis John Carlino

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall

Bull Meechum

Blythe Danner

Blythe Danner

Lillian Meechum

Michael O'Keefe

Michael O'Keefe

Ben Meechum

Lisa Jane Persky

Lisa Jane Persky

Mary Anne Meechum

Julie Anne Haddock

Julie Anne Haddock

Karen Meechum

Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews

Matthew Meechum

Stan Shaw

Stan Shaw

Toomer Smalls

Court is in session

Put The Great Santini on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.