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The Best of Times

Play trailer Poster for The Best of Times PG-13 1986 1h 44m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
29% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 44% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Married banker Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) has lived his life regretting a botched play he made in a high school football game. His friend Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell), who threw the pass that Jack dropped, is deeply in debt from operating his car garage. With Reno, Jack hatches a plan to reunite all the players from the old game and replay it, hoping that this time he can make amends. When the game eventually happens, Jack again finds himself at the center of a key play.
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The Best of Times

Critics Reviews

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Paul Attanasio Washington Post Jan 4, 2018
... what it really resembles, more than anything, is a teen comedy populated by adults. Go to Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times May 21, 2003
2/5
Such a rouser that it almost makes up for the incomplete passes and stopped runs that precede it. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Oct 24, 2023
2/4
Here’s a “feel-good” movie more likely to make one “feel-annoyed” by the utter predictability of it all. Go to Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Oct 6, 2005
3/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 26, 2005
2/5
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com May 31, 2005
2/5
Nostalgic fantasy about replaying that high school game with all the jock pals. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mickey B @Mickerdoo Aug 31, 2026 Wild how much power our formative years can have on us. Russell is a believable hometown hero. With a tame Williams underdog. See more thiago S @Thiagostone Apr 29, 2026 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 Dave M. @davemaze Dec 21, 2025 A well crafted story about characters and regrets. In a town that places emphasis on athletics, they underestimate Jack's intelligence and ability to manipulate. Extremely funny but also has some depth. See more Daniel C @RT85531442 Nov 20, 2025 It's really funny. Kind of dark funny at times. It gets small town life pretty right, Robin Williams is great. It's got more character depth than almost anything written these days (even for a small comedy). My wife and I re-watched it for the first time in many years. Definitely a lost classic worth checking out. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 14, 2025 Funny in 1 hour and 44 minutes. Rated PG-13. See more Wirmer F @RT63183145 Jun 8, 2025 one of the all time greatest sports comedies. panned by critics. ignored by audiences. but adored by those who are lucky enough to remember it. See more Read all reviews
The Best of Times

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Cast & Crew

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Roger Spottiswoode

Director

Robin Williams

Jack Dundee

Kurt Russell

Reno Hightower

Pamela Reed

Gigi Hightower

Holly Palance

Elly Dundee

Donald Moffat

The Colonel

Movie Clips

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The Best of Times

The Best of Times: Official Clip - Marriage and Football The Best of Times: Official Clip - Marriage and Football 2:38 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - The Dance The Best of Times: Official Clip - The Dance 3:02 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - White Shoes The Best of Times: Official Clip - White Shoes 2:28 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - Me or the Game The Best of Times: Official Clip - Me or the Game 3:00 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - Let's Go Jack The Best of Times: Official Clip - Let's Go Jack 2:38 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - Welcome Aboard, Reno The Best of Times: Official Clip - Welcome Aboard, Reno 2:47 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - Talking About the World The Best of Times: Official Clip - Talking About the World 2:05 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - I Can Get Open The Best of Times: Official Clip - I Can Get Open 3:51 Now Playing The Best of Times: Official Clip - Practice Aerobics The Best of Times: Official Clip - Practice Aerobics 1:59 Now Playing View more videos

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The Best of Times

The Best of Times (1986) The Best of Times (1986) The Best of Times (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Married banker Jack Dundee (Robin Williams) has lived his life regretting a botched play he made in a high school football game. His friend Reno Hightower (Kurt Russell), who threw the pass that Jack dropped, is deeply in debt from operating his car garage. With Reno, Jack hatches a plan to reunite all the players from the old game and replay it, hoping that this time he can make amends. When the game eventually happens, Jack again finds himself at the center of a key play.
Director
Roger Spottiswoode
Producer
Gordon Carroll
Screenwriter
Ron Shelton
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 31, 1986, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.8M
Runtime
1h 44m
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