A Perfect World

A Perfect World (1993)

  • 81% of critics liked it
    (32 reviews)

  • 77% of users liked it
    (40,693 ratings)

Clint Eastwood, hot off of his Academy Award win for Unforgiven, directed this small character study, appearing in the guise of a cops-and-robbers action picture. The film takes place during the fall of 1963. Eight-year old Phillip Perry (T.J. Lowther), the son of a devout Jehovah's Witness… More

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PG-13,
Directed By
Written By
John Lee Hancock
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Nov 24, 1993 Wide
Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    In going beyond chase-yarn duty, Eastwood and Costner do themselves proud.

  • James Berardinelli, ReelViews

    A Perfect World is evidence that Hollywood is still capable of producing the kinds of moving, intelligent movies that have increasingly become the province of independent film makers.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    This is a movie that surprises you.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    Within its narrow, unambitious, commercial boundaries, the movie is highly watchable.

  • John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

    Don't expect a thrill ride, just a touching slice of life. (Blu-ray edition)

Read all 13 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Jeff "


    I'm very biased towards Clint Eastwood films. I believe that he is a terrific director and actor, and he's also one of my favorites actors. I thought that A Perfect World is a wonderful drama that is among Clint Eastwood's best. Not only does Eastwood direct, but he… More

  • Melvin W


    A Perfect World is a very good and very underrated Clint Eastwood film. Kevin Costner is great as Butch Haynes. It possibly is his greatest performance of his career. Lowther is very convincing in his role as Phillip and helps take the movie from good to great. The movie takes you… More

  • xGary X


    An escaped convict takes an 8 year old boy hostage and is pursued in the resulting manhunt by a motley assortment of lawmen headed by pragmatic good ol' boy Clint Eastwood. The fact that the central characters of this film are a desperate criminal and an 8 year old Jehovah's… More

  • Christopher A


    Walkin's for squares. Clint Eastwood delivers a moving tale about a boy kidnapped and held as hostage by an escaped convict. Devoid of a male role model, the boy bonds with Butch, played by an engaging Kevin Costner as they are hunted down by the law. As a child I loved… More

  • Jason O


    Two of my favorite actors in one movie: Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood, who not only acts but directs this one. It was just as good as I would've anticipated, maybe even better.

Read all 16 featured audience ratings

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