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Brubaker

Brubaker (1980)

  • 79% of critics liked it
    (19 reviews)

  • 72% of users liked it
    (6,308 ratings)

Fact-based drama starring Robert Redford as Henry Brubaker, the new inmate at a run-down Southern prison that's become notorious for corruption and violence. After he witnesses several instances of gross misconduct and defuses a tense confrontation with a crazed inmate (Morgan Freeman), Brubaker… More

R,
Directed By
Genres
Drama
In Theaters
Jun 20, 1980 Wide

Critic Reviews

  • James Plath, Movie Metropolis

    I never felt that I was wasting my time watching 'Brubaker,' only that it could have been a more dramatic and taut prison movie-which is odd, because it's directed by Stuart Rosenberg ('Cool Hand Luke').

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Inspired by fact, this politically conscious prison drama is well written (script was Oscar nominated), but only decently acted by Redford, who might not have been the right choice.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    It was hard to sit through two hours of such brutality and misery and say you enjoyed it.

  • Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

    Redford is the main attraction, obviously, even though his princely good looks -- like the movie's 'idealistic crusader against the Establishment' earnestness -- are almost too much of a good thing.

  • Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

    intense and a bit cliched

Read all 7 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

  • Red L


    Brubaker is a prison drama - a little like Shawshank Redemption, but in this one, it is Brubaker that is fighting corruption in prison. It is almost too idealistic, but it is always cool when corruption is stifled.

  • Mister C


    Classic Robert Redford from the early 80's. A gripping movie from the director of "Cool Hand Luke".

  • Lady D


    Based on the real life story of Tom Murton, this sure is a worthy tale to tell, however I found the whole film pretty boring and I have to say Robert Redford did absolutely nothing for me acting wise.

  • Byron B


    Good message. Sure, the end is somewhat sappy. Redford as Brubaker plays a good reformer. I've read another review that said this is very similar to Serpico, but in prison. I agree, both great movies about fighting corruption.

  • Jeffrey M


    It's no Cool Hand Luke (Rosenberg's earlier film), but Brubaker is still a great prison drama. Depressing as it may be, it's a fact-based story, featuring an umcomprimising idealist played powerfully by Redford. I appreciated the film's willingness to not strain… More

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

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