Chris Makepeace, Adam Baldwin, Matt Dillon

The son (Chris Makepeace) of a hotel manager (Martin Mull) finds himself the target of the school bully (Matt Dillon, in his breakthrough movie role). So he makes an offer to a school outcast--the big...( read more  read more... )gest kid in class (Adam Baldwin), who reputedly has actually killed someone. He'll pay him to be his bodyguard against the bully. But the business arrangement turns into friendship, even as the smaller boy learns his new friend's secret shame. The first film by director-producer Tony Bill, this one comes down a little too heavily on the feel-good notes (and includes a gratingly precious appearance by Ruth Gordon in her lovable eccentric mode) but works because of strong performances by its young cast. --Marshall Fine

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68% liked it

5,066 ratings

PG, 96 min.

Directed by: Tony Bill

Release Date: July 11, 1980

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DVD Release Date: January 29, 2002

Stats: 174 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (174)


  • October 16, 2007
    The film addresses the bullying in schools, a nightmare for those students that appear weak, or easy marks for these predators to make a name for themselves among their peers, at the others expense. When Clifford Peache, the son of a hotel manager in Chicago, changes schools, he ...( read more)meets his worst nightmare: Melvin Moody. Melvin terrorizes kids, especially those young and vulnerable. Clifford is the new target for Melvin to bring down and humiliate if he doesn't agree to do whatever he is told. Rick Linderman, the tall and strange guy in Cliff's class is the perfect candidate to be engaged as a body guard for all the kids being abused. In fact, Rick teaches Clifford a lesson when at the end he has to face the mean Melvin, who proves to be a coward, as all bullies are. In his debut performance, Adam Baldwin does a wonderful job portraying the alienated Ricky Linderman, who is seen as a hulking, violent "psychopath" by most of his peers. Baldwin's acting abilities are impressive and he touches the heart of the viewer by showing us Ricky's emotions. It smacks of realism. In fact, the movie not only smacks of realism, but of action and drama, too. Even the ending is realistic. It was a pleasant way to spend an hour and a half.
  • August 8, 2007
    We enjoyed this muchly as kids. It's a poignant movie like a super-version of an Afterschool special. I'm sure it would still go over well with kids today. I don't need to watch it again however.
  • May 18, 2006
    I liked this movie, it was pretty cool....Enjoyable and funny, at points.
  • November 6, 2009
    Cant believe I haven't heard of My Bodyguard till now.What a great movie
  • June 25, 2009
    I liked all the quirky characters in this, and the interesting story, it all goes together well.
  • June 17, 2009
    Not very good at all, but love Adam Baldwin as the wounded 'bad boy'.
  • January 5, 2009
    nominated for best picture by NBR
  • October 26, 2008
    At the time, I would have enjoyed beating the hell out of the guys who took their insecurities out on me, but I'm not sure that's a right proper message to send in any film, actually. Still, Adam Baldwin is on Chuck. . .
  • October 11, 2008
    i wanna find it here so i can watch it
  • July 9, 2008
    I must have seen this on cable 50 times when I was a kid. I never got sick of it, but then I was only ten.

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My Bodyguard Trivia


  • I had my breakthrough in a Tony Scott film, I played a Lieutenant on a submarine, I played a bodyguard, an assassin, a back-stabbing, ruthless boss in a Coen brothers film, played a warden, a political adviser, and I am a television icon. Who am I?  Answer »
  • I was a bodyguard for Dakota Fanning and my little boy had a serious heart problem  Answer »
  • In the movie " My Bodyguard" circa 1981, who played the part of "Moody", the local bully ?  Answer »
  • Clifford Peache is the new kid [My Bodyguard] in what school ?  Answer »

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