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The Greatest Game Ever Played

Play trailer Poster for The Greatest Game Ever Played PG 2005 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 111 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as a caddy at the exclusive Brookline Country Club, Francis fine-tunes his skills during off hours. His father, Arthur (Elias Koteas), disapproves, but a few admirers help Francis enter the 1913 U.S. Open. The underdog competes against British star Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) and finds common ground with his boyhood idol. The film is based on a true story.
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The Greatest Game Ever Played

The Greatest Game Ever Played

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Critics Consensus

Despite all the underdog sports movie conventions, the likable cast and lush production values make The Greatest Game Ever Played a solid and uplifting tale.

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Critics Reviews

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Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 10/10/2005
B+
The most visually and emotionally dynamic film ever made about a game of golf — perhaps the most visually and emotionally dynamic possible film about a game of golf. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 10/08/2005
3/4
...the veteran British character actor is so good as Vardon I can't imagine another inhabiting the role so wonderfully. Dillane adds so many layers, so many idiosyncratic quirks, that the golfer comes to life the very first moment he takes the screen. Go to Full Review Mark Holcomb Village Voice 10/04/2005
Ouimet versus Vardon probably was the greatest golf game ever played, and Paxton and Frost do it justice, but I wouldn't sit through another simulated hole of it for Tiger Woods's salary. Go to Full Review Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope 09/07/2014
B
The game is full of suspense, twists and turns. The characters are fascinating. The locations, sets and costume designs are all first-rate. The story is held back by the Disney formula, but is strong enough to overcome it. Go to Full Review James Plath Movie Metropolis 06/16/2009
7/10
The characters model some wonderful behavior for youngsters%u2014things like tolerance, restraint, persistence, good manners, and good sportsmanship. Things that, sadly, seem to have gone the way of knickers. Go to Full Review Jules Brenner Cinema Signals 06/12/2009
2/5
I don't want to just take their word for it! Show me what was so special about this guy's game!! Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 5d The worldwide gross is $15,431,177.00. See more James B @RT54975811 Jan 10 This was a really good movie. I love sports movies when they are done really well, and this one is really worth a watch. I thought this one was a pretty good movie. See more Youssef K. @KingJoeyseph56 Dec 20 A very boring movie. Way too much dialogue. 🗑️😡 See more Justin M. @jmorris1187 Nov 14 Huge sports fan and I shouldn't have put this movie off as long as I did... thoroughly enjoyed! And im glad I didn't google the story before I watched... 5 of 5 as far a sports movies go. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jul 23 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Kenji C @RT65460218 03/15/2025 Meu filme favorito da vida com o filme que mudou a minha vida no caso essência e personalidade positivamente e um final que chorei e vi esse filme 4 vezes e as quatro são maravilhosas See more Read all reviews
The Greatest Game Ever Played

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Cast & Crew

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Bill Paxton

Director

Shia LaBeouf

Francis Ouimet

Stephen Dillane

Harry Vardon

Josh Flitter

Eddie Lowery

Peyton List

Sarah Wallis

Elias Koteas

Arthur Ouimet

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The Greatest Game Ever Played

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Movie Info

Synopsis Blue-collar Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) fights class prejudice while mastering golf, a game guarded by the upper crust. Employed as a caddy at the exclusive Brookline Country Club, Francis fine-tunes his skills during off hours. His father, Arthur (Elias Koteas), disapproves, but a few admirers help Francis enter the 1913 U.S. Open. The underdog competes against British star Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane) and finds common ground with his boyhood idol. The film is based on a true story.
Director
Bill Paxton
Producer
Larry Brezner, David Steinberg
Screenwriter
Mark Frost, Mark Frost
Distributor
Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co
Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
PG (Mild Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 30, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$15.3M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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