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The Natural

The Natural

Drama · 1984

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league.

Movie details

The Natural

“He lived for a dream that wouldn't die.”

1984 Drama 2h 17m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

An unknown middle-aged batter named Roy Hobbs with a mysterious past appears out of nowhere to take a losing 1930s baseball team to the top of the league.

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 Natural?

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.

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The Hill

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The Perfect Game

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Barry Levinson

Written by

Phil Dusenberry · Roger Towne

Robert Redford

Robert Redford

Roy Hobbs

Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall

Max Mercy

Glenn Close

Glenn Close

Iris Gaines

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger

Memo Paris

Wilford Brimley

Wilford Brimley

Pop Fisher

Barbara Hershey

Barbara Hershey

Harriet Bird

Robert Prosky

Robert Prosky

The Judge

Court is in session

Put The Natural 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.