Ordinary People
“Everything is in its proper place... except the past.”
Synopsis
Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being supportive to Conrad. Calvin is trapped between the two trying to hold the family together.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Ordinary People (1980) 35mm film trailer, flat hard matte, 1440p
Type: Trailer • Published 2022-10-09
Top Cast
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Donald Sutherland
Calvin Jarrett
Mary Tyler Moore
Beth Jarrett
Judd Hirsch
Dr. Berger
Timothy Hutton
Conrad Jarrett
M. Emmet Walsh
Swim Coach
Elizabeth McGovern
Jeannine Pratt
Dinah Manoff
Karen
Fredric Lehne
Lazenby
James B. Sikking
Ray Hanley
Basil Hoffman
Sloan
Quinn K. Redeker
Ward
Mariclare Costello
Audrey
Meg Mundy
Grandmother
Elizabeth Hubbard
Ruth
Adam Baldwin
Stillman
Richard Whiting
Grandfather
Scott Doebler
Buck Jarrett
Carl DiTomasso
Van Buren
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 19, 1980
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 17, 2011
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$54.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
9.13x
+$48.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Redford
- Screenplay & Story
- Alvin Sargent
- Original Score
- Marvin Hamlisch
- Original Title
- Ordinary People
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $54.8M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Redford
Alvin Sargent, Judith Guest
Marvin Hamlisch
John Bailey
Jeff Kanew
Ronald L. Schwary
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Redford
Director
Ronald L. Schwary
Producer
Alvin Sargent
Screenplay
Bernie Pollack
Costume Design
John Bailey
Director of Photography
Marvin Hamlisch
Original Music Composer
Jeff Kanew
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ordinary People.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ordinary People.
Movie Collection
Academy Awards
Best Movie
North American Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
金球奖最佳剧情片
Golden Globe Best Drama 金球奖历届最佳剧情片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:13 UTC+8)*
奥斯卡历届最佳影片
Oscar Winning Films: Best Picture 奥斯卡历届最佳影片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:42:59 UTC+8)*
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ordinary People
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ordinary People about?
Beth, Calvin, and their son Conrad are living in the aftermath of the death of the other son. Conrad is overcome by grief and misplaced guilt to the extent of a suicide attempt. He is in therapy. Beth had always preferred his brother and is having difficulty being supportive to Conrad. Calvin is trapped between the two trying to hold the family together.
Who directed Ordinary People?
Ordinary People was directed by Robert Redford.
Who stars in Ordinary People?
The principal cast of Ordinary People includes Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton, M. Emmet Walsh.
When was Ordinary People released and how long is it?
Ordinary People was released in 1980 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
What was the box office and production budget of Ordinary People?
Ordinary People had a reported production budget of $6M and grossed $54.8M at the worldwide box office (9.13 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Ordinary People?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ordinary People was composed by Marvin Hamlisch.
Is Ordinary People based on a book or true story?
Ordinary People is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Judith Guest".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ordinary People?
Ordinary People holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).