ORDINARY PEOPLE

This intense examination of a family being torn apart by tension and tragedy earned Robert Redford the Academy Award® for Best Director and marked his first time directing after more than 20 years as a superstar in front of the camera. Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) are an upper-middle-class couple whose “ordinary” existence is irrevocably shattered by the death of their oldest son in a boating accident. Their younger son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton), struggles against suicide and guilt as a result of the drowning, while empathetic psychiatrist Tyrone Berger (Judd Hirsch) provides him a lifeline to survival. In addition to Redford’s Oscar®, the film walked away with Best Adapted Screenplay for Alvin Sargent’s widely praised script, Best Supporting Actor for Hutton’s pained yet compassionate performance (notably, his feature film debut at just 20 years old; he is the youngest-ever winner of the award) and Best Picture. Moore and Hirsch were recognized with nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. (Note adapted from Paramount Pictures.) DIR Robert Redford; SCR Alvin Sargent, from the novel by Judith Guest; PROD Ronald L. Schwary. U.S., 1980, color, 124 min. RATED R

In Memoriam: Robert Redford (1936–2025)

Run Time: 124 Minutes

Opening Date: Friday, March 06, 2026

Genre: Drama

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