Marathon Man

Marathon Man (1976)

  • 80% of critics liked it
    (35 reviews)

  • 81% of users liked it
    (20,652 ratings)

Doc Levy (Roy Scheider) is an American secret agent who has been running interference between the U.S. government and escaped Nazi war criminal Szell (Laurence Olivier). Believing that Doc has stolen a valuable cache of gems, Szell emerges from his South American hiding place and heads for New York.… More

Play Trailer

R, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By
John Schlesinger
Written By
William Goldman
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Drama
In Theaters
Oct 6, 1976 Wide
On DVD
Aug 28, 2001
Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Schlesinger's stylish political thriller features Olivier as an old, nasty Nazi, in a splashy role that earned him Oscar nomination.

  • David Gurney, Common Sense Media

    Film's notorious torture scene means adults only.

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    If this doesn't turn you against going to the dentist, nothing will. Terrifying, pulsating film w/Hoffman.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Needlessly complicated glossy thriller.

  • Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

    Scheider looks great as the well-dressed cool guy and Olivier turns in his most notoriously frightening performance.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Chris W


    This is Marathon Man, a suspense thriller directed by John Schlesinger and written by William Goldman, based on his novel of the same name. The story concerns "Babe" Levy, a history PhD candidate and avid runner who becomes unwillingly involved in a dangerous web of… More

  • Drew S


    I love the unusual air of mystery that surrounds Marathon Man, but considering how much trouble I'm having thinking of anything else productive to say about it, I'm assuming that's more or less where the appeal ends. Its age both champions and betrays it, as it was… More

  • Lady D


    A very drawn out film, but quited a tortourous one for it?s time, despite not showing any real gore. For me my anticipation for watching this film exceded my enjoyment for it.

  • familiar s


    Bad plot, worse performances (including Hoffnan's) & worst execution.

  • Daniel M


    This is really a film of two halves. The first half is largely inconsequential, un-compelling tosh. It consists of little vignettes and scenes which simply set up what happens later, and a lot of the threads that are introduced aren't fully resolved. Right up until the dental… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

See full cast

Trailers & Clips