Misunderstood
“For every kid who wants to be hugged. For every parent who wants to love and understand.”
Synopsis
A workaholic father becomes sole parent to his two young sons, and finds it hard to relate to them, consumed as he is with his own grief.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Gene Hackman in Misunderstood 1984 TV trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-11-30
Top Cast
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Gene Hackman
Ned Rawley
Henry Thomas
Andrew
Rip Torn
Will
Huckleberry Fox
Miles
Maureen Kerwin
Kate
Susan Anspach
Lilly
June Brown
Mrs. Paley
Helen Ryan
Lucy
Nadim Sawalha
Ahmed
Nidal Al-Askhar
Mrs. Jallouli
Khaled Akrout
Electronic Shop Owner
Rajah Gafsi
Ali-Baroutta Cafe Owner
Moheddine Mrad
Kassir
James R. Cope
Mr. Grace
Halima Daoud
Aisha
Raad Rawi
Doctor
Habiba
Girl on Donkey
Fathia Boudabous
Woman Red Light District
Release History & Theatrical Window
March 30, 1984
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$10M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$1.5M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.15x
-$8.5M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jerry Schatzberg
- Screenplay & Story
- Barra Grant
- Original Score
- Michael Hopper
- Original Title
- Misunderstood
- Country of Origin
- Italy, Tunisia, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 31m
- Production Budget
- $10M
- Worldwide Gross
- $1.5M
- Production Studios
- Vides Cinematografica, Accent Films B.V., PSO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jerry Schatzberg
Barra Grant, Florence Montgomery
Michael Hopper
Pasqualino De Santis
Marc Laub
Keith Barish, Craig Baumgarten, Tarak Ben Ammar
Department Leadership Roster
Jerry Schatzberg
Director
Joel Schiller
Production Design
Jo Ynocencio
Costume Design
Barra Grant
Screenplay
Tarak Ben Ammar
Producer
Michael Hopper
Original Music Composer
Pasqualino De Santis
Director of Photography
Marc Laub
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Misunderstood.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Gene Hackman Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Gene Hackman Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated September 26, 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Misunderstood
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Misunderstood about?
A workaholic father becomes sole parent to his two young sons, and finds it hard to relate to them, consumed as he is with his own grief.
Who directed Misunderstood?
Misunderstood was directed by Jerry Schatzberg.
Who stars in Misunderstood?
The principal cast of Misunderstood includes Gene Hackman, Henry Thomas, Rip Torn, Huckleberry Fox, Maureen Kerwin.
When was Misunderstood released and how long is it?
Misunderstood was released in 1983 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.
What was the box office and production budget of Misunderstood?
Misunderstood had a reported production budget of $10M and grossed $1.5M at the worldwide box office (0.15 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for Misunderstood?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Misunderstood was composed by Michael Hopper.
Is Misunderstood based on a book or true story?
Misunderstood is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Florence Montgomery".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Misunderstood?
Misunderstood holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).