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Popeye

1980
Comedy
Family/Kids
1h 54m
The sailor man travels to Sweethaven, falls in love with Olive Oyl, adopts Sweetpea and makes an enemy with Bluto. (imdb)
Directed by:
Robert Altman Robert Altman
Written by:
Jules Feiffer Jules Feiffer E.C. Segar
+1 more
Starring:
Robin Williams Robin Williams Dennis Franz Dennis Franz Wayne Robson Wayne Robson Ray Walston Ray Walston Shelley Duvall Shelley Duvall Paul Dooley Paul Dooley Linda Hunt Linda Hunt Richard Libertini Bill Irwin Bill Irwin Roberta Maxwell Roberta Maxwell Donovan Scott Paul L. Smith Paul L. Smith
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Franchise:
Popeye
Genres:
Comedy, Family/Kids, Fantasy, Adventure
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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Popeye

1980
Comedy
Family/Kids
1h 54m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 27.44% from 1113 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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beedubBeeDub
Rated 02 Nov 2018
78
40th
No, it's not great (everyone mumbles their lines, and the songs range from forgettable to annoying), but it's nowhere near as bad as its reputation. The casting is perfect, and the proceedings are goofy and fun in a decidedly cartoonish way. Give it another shot.
Rated 02 Nov 2018
lrampartllrampartl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
86th
Really cute and an effective cartoon-to-musical translation. They even have cartoony shoes with the bump on the toe. I don't understand the hate for this movie, but I think those folks take this waaay too seriously. It's great fun, and Robin Williams was the right man for the job.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
teknicolorteknicolor
Rated 29 Mar 2008
78
73rd
Ignore naysayers! This film was a great adaptation of the comic, musical numbers and all. In Williams' first movie performance, he takes over the Popeye persona perfectly. I couldn't imagine any other actor playing the part; the same goes for Duvall and Olive. The cast, sets, and idiosyncrasies of both people and plot make this movie totally rewatchable.
Rated 29 Mar 2008
doctor7doctor7
Rated 02 Feb 2009
31
18th
If you've ever needed proof that adapting something to the big screen may require changing it look no further than Popeye. Though admittedly true adaptations can work it certainly doesn't work here. While the entire movie looks and feels like a silly cartoon and Robin Williams, hate him as you may, does provide a perfect adaptation of Popeye, the movie itself is just painful for the most part. There are some occasionally genuine funny jokes but it's amid a sea of boring movie.
Rated 02 Feb 2009
frostyFrosty
Rated 13 Jul 2010
60
41st
Probably the worst idea in Cinematic history. That said it is hardly awful, anyone saying so clearly hasn't seen a truly awful film. Lucky them. In fact it is above average, especially the songs - unsuited to a musical format as they are.
Rated 13 Jul 2010
martrynmartryn
Rated 06 Oct 2011
36
7th
Some adaptations don't really work in live action. Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall are both solid casting choices. Sadly, that's the only positive thing about this film.
Rated 06 Oct 2011
frederFreder
Rated 04 Jul 2007
90
86th
Not for everyone . . . but manages to be true to the E.C. Segar original, while still being a Robert Altman movie, while still being charming. Williams may be justified in his frustration with this movie and what it could have been, but what it is ain't so bad. A wonderful cast, great locations and a sharp, respectful script by Jules Fieffer that draws its characters well. One of the best adaptations of a comic strip ever.
Rated 04 Jul 2007
indyatmnINDYATMN
Rated 01 Sep 2014
59
9th
Although Altman succeeds at creating some live-action versions of impossible "cartoonisms" (like screwing a character through the floor), he forgets that cartoons do those things better & faster. He also forgets that narrative films require things like structure & character development. Musically, it's DOA as well since Nilsson's lyrics are as simplistic & repetitive as the characters. What's truly unforgivable is the pacing, which conveys none of the necessary rat-a-tat-tat frenzy of a cartoon.
Rated 01 Sep 2014
3names3Names
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
30th
Well, this'll skew all my TCI's... I'm a part of the great minority who quite liked this film... Really great, and accurate, character work; and tremendous production values on a location set, for a comic-strip come to life... It delights me!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 14 Aug 2007
30
11th
Shelley Duvall was clearly born to play Olive Oyl, but that alone wasn't enough reason to make this flick. Awful musical.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 03 Mar 2012
70
19th
Not that bad...It's just so bizarre that I can't bring myself to hate it. I admire them for trying to recreate every single cartoon detail. Popeye's arms look terrifying but that's part of the charm. Sweethaven looks amazing. Shelley Duvall IS Olive Oyl and her singing is wonderfully bizarre and she's absolutely hilarious. Robin Williams, uh, loses himself in the role. Honestly, I forgot it was him. And Nilsson's songs..."He Needs Me" is fucking gorgeous and some of the other tunes are nice.
Rated 03 Mar 2012
battletoadBattleToad
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
17th
I can think of no number to fit the live action Popeye movie better than 50/100. Some things are good, like Robin Williams' true to the cartoon performance. Other things are bad, like Shelly Duvall singing. The cast is good for some characters and forgettable for others. The story is basically a handful of Popeye shorts crammed into 90 minutes, so it's basically cartoony and overdone. Crap!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
tripleshTripleSH
Rated 14 Aug 2007
25
16th
I must have missed something. Was the cartoon not good enough for you people that had to almost ruin Robin Williams' career?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
braddad68braddad68
Rated 03 Jan 2013
74
2nd
Incredible performance by Robin Williams but an awful and depressing movie.
Rated 03 Jan 2013
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 22 Dec 2009
45
2nd
How could a director this good make a film this bad?
Rated 22 Dec 2009
woodoowoodoo
Rated 21 Aug 2014
75
30th
Too strange and beautiful to be written off. Ultimately, it's an unsuccessful movie but it's not for a lack of trying; Altman is the perfect director for a mumbling, roaming protagonist, Williams is the perfect actor for a constantly ad-libbing cartoon, Shelley Duvall couldn't look and act more like Olive Oyl.
Rated 21 Aug 2014
mervtaylorMerv_Taylor
Rated 19 Jun 2012
50
18th
I just don't know what to make of this thing.
Rated 19 Jun 2012
agentsnipeAgentSnipe
Rated 14 Aug 2007
64
18th
I'll admit, I appreciate the silly cartoonishness of the picture. It captures the Popeye attitude. Popeye just isn't a 90-minute experience and is strange to consider as a Robert Altman movie. Also, the song "He Needs Me" as sung by Olive Oyl, is the most annoying song ever recorded.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
vengefulkbmVengefulKBM
Rated 25 Feb 2015
5
0th
So, so bad. There is a very small bit of likely-unintentional comedy to be gained out of how bad the songs are, but for the most part, this movie is so far beneath all involved, and misses every conceivable mark.
Rated 25 Feb 2015
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 19 Jun 2008
86
87th
Cute and amusing songs, and genuinely plausible performances of Popeye characters. I don't care what anyone says about this movie--that's an achievement right there. A fun movie.
Rated 19 Jun 2008
gtown1479gtown1479
Rated 28 Feb 2008
73
48th
Saw this a bunch when I was younger. i was always a fan. Not that interested in it anymore, but I will always give him the respect of eating all that spinach.
Rated 28 Feb 2008
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 02 Aug 2009
52
41st
Gets a lot of hate, when really it's just all round average. Williams does quite well.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
58
15th
I adore Shelley Duvall, and she's the one saving grace of this irritating, tedious dreck. I can't imagine a more perfect Olive Oyl, and she lights up the screen every time.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
warrensmwarrensm
Rated 12 Aug 2014
21
14th
Robin Williams would take his first steps into the star position in this live-action adaptation of the popular animated cartoons. The transition was an absolute mess. The plot was ridiculous, the subplots were absurd, the visuals were corny, and director Robert Altman failed to capture the essence of the cartoons. Robin Williams, however, was a very energetic presence. That was the neat thing about some of his later flops. The movie may fail, but he won't.
Rated 12 Aug 2014
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 02 Mar 2007
20
4th
Poor.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 07 Jul 2020
38
3rd
Some of the casting choices work in this movie: Shellley Duvall, some of them do not: Robin Williams. The script is bad and the songs are not memorable. This film just does not work as a musical or a comedy. This film is not enjoyable for kids or adults. Overall this movie is a mess.
Rated 07 Jul 2020
chemtrailschemtrails
Rated 10 Oct 2009
15
4th
It's a conversation starter at least
Rated 10 Oct 2009
lachapellelachapelle
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
20th
Williams and company do a good job of transferring the spirit and feel of the original comics to the big screen. If you liked the old Popeye comics, especially the black and white ones, you'll enjoy this movie. Today's kids may not have a clue.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
wwallce4prezWWallce4prez
Rated 20 May 2020
45
10th
I can't say that there wasn't some weirdness that generated a few laughs, the sets weren't impressive, and that Altman's vision wasn't comic-strip-like. And while Shelly Duval and Robin Williams look the part, both of their performances are really just a series of sounds. The songs are absolutely awful and the first act is completely aimless to a point that is baffling for a big budget studio film. This is weird, even 40 years later.
Rated 20 May 2020
brightpointbrightpoint
Rated 14 Mar 2010
17
2nd
What good are those massive bloated up forearms of Williams if he isn't going to smack Shelley Duvall in the head with it.I'll gladly pay anyone Tuesday not to watch this drivel again.
Rated 14 Mar 2010
sellissellis
Rated 04 Jul 2009
72
39th
It's not that it's bad, it's just that you don't know what you're talking about.
Rated 04 Jul 2009
garlonussGarlonuss
Rated 15 Oct 2008
73
37th
A bit of an odd movie, but there are some hummable tunes and some funny little moments.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
rttntomatoesrttntomatoes
Rated 23 Dec 2013
57
30th
Altman's take on the iconic cartoon is messy and wildly uneven, but its robust humor and manic charm are hard to resist.
Rated 23 Dec 2013
overratedoverrated
Rated 28 Aug 2023
23
14th
I have no idea what the decision-making process was behind this. That being said, Shelley Duvall fucking kills it as Olive Oyl.
Rated 28 Aug 2023
sweekodenSweekoden
Rated 07 Sep 2010
55
38th
What, people genuinely hate this movie? Thought it was pretty fun/charming.
Rated 07 Sep 2010
recklessmessrecklessmess
Rated 12 Feb 2008
50
28th
It's horrible, but I still have a sweet spot for it.
Rated 12 Feb 2008
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 18 May 2008
25
8th
Soooooooo very bad.
Rated 18 May 2008
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 24 Sep 2010
41
11th
I hated the cartoon and although Williams is dead on and Duvall was practically born to play her part, I don't care for the movie either.
Rated 24 Sep 2010
victorfreezevictorfreeze
Rated 31 Aug 2009
6
3rd
No thanks!
Rated 31 Aug 2009
ununniliumUnunnilium
Rated 12 Apr 2020
18
8th
A *weirdly* bad movie. Made by career professionals, it feels like what you'd get from people unfamiliar with comedies & musicals, who don't know how to write scripts or lyrics. Over-the-top jokes and cartoonish characters pair with social-realist cinematography and gray-and-brown sets. Songs come by every five minutes, all badly written, all but one badly sung. The third act has the beautiful Malta sea and a giant octopus, but I'd only recommend this to people who like overanalyzing bad movies.
Rated 12 Apr 2020
yiannosYiannos
Rated 15 Jun 2019
73
78th
Popeye is one of the most insular/indulgent/aimless 'blockbuster' films ever made. It's an auteurist's oddball take on a general crowd pleaser, and Altman was undoubtedly a bizarre choice. However, despite dipping in the second act, it is not without its charms. The comedy is elaborately choreographed on remarkably constructed sets, and Williams and Duvall are perfectly cast as Popeye and Olive.The world of Sweethaven is wonderfully realised, and a few of the songs are memorably staged.
Rated 15 Jun 2019
vaudevillianVaudevillian
Rated 20 May 2020
95
80th
Stone. Cold. Masterpiece.
Rated 20 May 2020
bellamyrbellamyr
Rated 12 Jan 2008
66
32nd
Sadly this just doesn't work. Great piece of characterisation from Robin Williams and if anyone is believeable as Popeye he would be .. but really don't worry about it
Rated 12 Jan 2008
gravymaximusGravyMaximus
Rated 04 Mar 2008
0
2nd
D:
Rated 04 Mar 2008
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
53rd
Better than its reputation but still a strange movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
pianoopianoo
Rated 01 May 2009
30
15th
beautiful sets and costumes. Apart from that...
Rated 01 May 2009
aarona1caarona1c
Rated 24 Aug 2007
60
53rd
Why a musical? Why why why a musical? Why? Why why why? I love Popeye, I grew up Popeye, I have plans for a Popeye tattoo, I wanted to "be" Popeye when I was a kid. Why did they have to screw up this movie??? Why a musical? Why why why?
Rated 24 Aug 2007
hsncrspywlhsncrspywl
Rated 19 Feb 2015
79
64th
It's not a children's film in my eyes but it left a profound effect on me as a child, and as the director himself says, children "get it". It's entirely earnest in it's love for the source material, and has a strong sentimental core, but at the same time the film is full of adult material - the subversive quality of "He's Large", the endless biting at the taxman, at contemporary society. Sweethaven feels like a real place, like no other on earth - and the cartoon movement is done so casually.
Rated 19 Feb 2015
chadarnookchadarnook
Rated 21 Jun 2018
78
49th
Honestly, what a trip. Amazing sets, strangely literal songs (especially "He's Large" and "Everything Is Food"), and cartoon performances that land constantly in the uncanny valley. I laughed; I gaped. The best bad movie I've ever seen?
Rated 21 Jun 2018
war_machineWar Machine
Rated 05 Dec 2020
40
3rd
Forearmslol+Oengagedto B+keepsmumblingunderbreathlol+taxforeverything+Oannoying-songstoo+lookinforpapsince2+theyfindbaby-sweetpea+ithinkBtakesitcuzhecanpredictbetsandheownsbettingparlour-hasPdadtoo-crookwhobroughtbabytohimithink+eatingspinachwouldprovemyson-whineslikeababylool-wouldnteatasbaby-pretendedateit+Bwinningtilmakeshimeatspinach+nosailingshotmaybeirememberedapicetc
Rated 05 Dec 2020
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
0
5th
yuck.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
rittehRitteh
Rated 29 Jun 2015
78
81st
An 80s movie that stands the test of time. I saw this as a kid, but forgot that it was a musical. Shelley Duvall does a really good interpretation of Olive Oyl.
Rated 29 Jun 2015
omgramenOmgramen
Rated 19 Jan 2024
66
3rd
Robin Williams is the best part of the movie, and the only reason to watch it.
Rated 19 Jan 2024
arossaross
Rated 21 Nov 2016
53
7th
I did not enjoy this at all as a kid.
Rated 21 Nov 2016
mojopinmojopin
Rated 11 Sep 2007
0
10th
Robin Williams didn't do his career any favours with this waste of money and time
Rated 11 Sep 2007
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 09 Jan 2008
35
2nd
There aren't the correct words to describe how terrible this movie is.
Rated 09 Jan 2008
janusjanus
Rated 14 Dec 2008
50
19th
Cute songs and evocative production design, but sometimes a thing is just damn irritating, you know? I don't think this reflects poorly on Altman, however, as the film would've been so much worse without him.
Rated 14 Dec 2008
ktappektappe
Rated 07 Dec 2008
9
2nd
Robert Altman made one good movie: MASH. This proves he was a one-hit wonder: if he had to stoop to this, the he really wasn't that great, was he?
Rated 07 Dec 2008
amerigoamerigo
Rated 07 Sep 2007
57
7th
This film is terrifying for all the wrong reasons.
Rated 07 Sep 2007
jebJeb
Rated 26 Jul 2008
15
12th
Completely unnecessary.
Rated 26 Jul 2008
jakeaestheteJakeAesthete
Rated 08 May 2011
6
5th
This is either one of the greatest or worst movies ever made, i really can't decide yet. So fundamentally ill-conceived that it borders on sublime (either intentional or not), yet the serious talent involved never fails to shine through. It almost reminds me of a Guy Maddin movie actually, and now i totally understand why he got Shelley Duvall for Twilight of the Ice Nymphs. Also, the Harry Nilsson music is pretty great. And yet can i actually bring myself to call this a "good" movie? Not sure.
Rated 08 May 2011
doyler29doyler29
Rated 06 Mar 2024
70
42nd
The downside is the plot. It's serviceable, but there's far too little of it for a 2 hour film. Altman certainly lets some films float off into the ether, and that's a lot of the problem here. It's a charming film that's occasionally sublime, but it needs a lot more focus or a lot less running time. Still ... Klaus Voormann, Doug Dillard and Van Dyke Parks are in this film.
Rated 06 Mar 2024
bodaggerBo_Dagger
Rated 07 Mar 2011
0
13th
Thanks, Criticker, now I remembered that this movie existed.
Rated 07 Mar 2011
gogolitgogolit
Rated 16 Oct 2013
88
93rd
I love everything about this forgotten gem; the gruff and cosy handbuilt sea outpost setting, the drunken, mumbled harry nielson show tunes, the perfectly cartoonish characters, the perfect casting, the overall strange grimjoyous tone of the whole thing. Popeye is a wonderful comic character, one of our best. The criticisms of this film are phooey ('mumbled lines'? duh! 'poor singing'? duh!). This is exactly what a Popeye film should be, and miraculously is.
Rated 16 Oct 2013
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 08 Mar 2013
70
53rd
WANT TO SPEND A SUMMER IN SWEETHAVEN AND PROBABLY GET TETANUS
Rated 08 Mar 2013
rafaelbastosrafaelbastos
Rated 18 Sep 2010
78
37th
He's popeye the sailor maaaan!
Rated 18 Sep 2010
lennyneroLennyNero
Rated 29 Nov 2009
5
5th
Altman and Williams worst movie!
Rated 29 Nov 2009
barnowlBarnowl
Rated 10 Mar 2022
67
13th
Just a weird fuckin’ movie. It’s Robin Williams though.
Rated 10 Mar 2022
three-questions_ii???
Rated 01 Oct 2020
59
36th
He needs Me
Rated 01 Oct 2020
dustydDustyd
Rated 17 Sep 2007
65
49th
entertaining
Rated 17 Sep 2007
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 08 Oct 2007
25
15th
Certainly one of the worst adaptations.
Rated 08 Oct 2007

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