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The Best of Times

Play trailer Poster for The Best of Times PG-13 1986 1h 44m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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29% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Married banker Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) has lived his life regretting a botched play he made in a high school football game. His friend Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell), who threw the pass that Jack dropped, is deeply in debt from operating his car garage. With Reno, Jack hatches a plan to reunite all the players from the old game and replay it, hoping that this time he can make amends. When the game eventually happens, Jack again finds himself at the center of a key play.

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The Best of Times

Critics Reviews

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Paul Attanasio Washington Post 01/04/2018
... what it really resembles, more than anything, is a teen comedy populated by adults. Go to Full Review
Walter Goodman New York Times 05/21/2003
2/5
Such a rouser that it almost makes up for the incomplete passes and stopped runs that precede it. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 10/24/2023
2/4
Here’s a “feel-good” movie more likely to make one “feel-annoyed” by the utter predictability of it all. Go to Full Review
Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily 10/06/2005
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/26/2005
2/5
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 05/31/2005
2/5
Nostalgic fantasy about replaying that high school game with all the jock pals. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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thiago S @Thiagostone Apr 29 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Dave M. @davemaze Dec 21 A well crafted story about characters and regrets. In a town that places emphasis on athletics, they underestimate Jack's intelligence and ability to manipulate. Extremely funny but also has some depth. See more Daniel C @RT85531442 Nov 20 It's really funny. Kind of dark funny at times. It gets small town life pretty right, Robin Williams is great. It's got more character depth than almost anything written these days (even for a small comedy). My wife and I re-watched it for the first time in many years. Definitely a lost classic worth checking out. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 14 Funny in 1 hour and 44 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $5,800,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Wirmer F @RT63183145 Jun 8 one of the all time greatest sports comedies. panned by critics. ignored by audiences. but adored by those who are lucky enough to remember it. See more Karl H @RT04583125 04/22/2025 I can't believe the critics panned this. Obviously it's predictable, but Robin Williams in particular just nails it. He's at his funniest when he isn't trying to be funny. The interactions with his father-in-law are comedy gold. Much better than a lot of 80's movies. Just watch it and enjoy it. See more Read all reviews
The Best of Times

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The Best of Times

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Movie Info

Synopsis Married banker Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) has lived his life regretting a botched play he made in a high school football game. His friend Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell), who threw the pass that Jack dropped, is deeply in debt from operating his car garage. With Reno, Jack hatches a plan to reunite all the players from the old game and replay it, hoping that this time he can make amends. When the game eventually happens, Jack again finds himself at the center of a key play.
Director
Roger Spottiswoode
Producer
Gordon Carroll
Screenwriter
Ron Shelton
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 31, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.8M
Runtime
1h 44m