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—— After Earth May 31
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100% The Kings of Summer May 31

Norma Rae (1979)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 1

audience

77

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 6,746

My Rating

Movie Info

Norma Rae finds Sally Field cast in the title role, a minimum-wage worker in a cotton mill. The factory has taken too much of a toll on the health of Norma Rae's family for her to ignore her Dickensian working conditions. After hearing a speech by New York union organizer Reuben (Ron Leibman), Norma Rae decides to join the effort to unionize her shop. This causes dissension at home when Norma Rae's husband, Sonny (Beau Bridges), assumes that her activism is a result of a romance between herself

Apr 17, 2001

20th Century Fox Film Corporat

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All Critics (20) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (19) | Rotten (2) | DVD (7)

Photographed in murky yellows and browns by John Alonzo, this 1979 film is sluggish and vague, trivializing its subject in a wash of unearned sentimentality.

January 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment (1)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Norma Rae is that rare entity, an intelligent film with heart.

January 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
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Nicely performed by a strong cast, especially Field and Leibman, it's often mawkishly soft, but surprisingly touching.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Norma Rae is a seriously concerned contemporary drama, illuminated by some very good performances and one, Miss Field's, that is spectacular.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Inspiring pro-union story is good watch-together fare.

February 1, 2012 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

Sally Field won her first Oscar playing union activist Norma Rae.

February 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Sally Field won her first Oscar for her performance in the title role, a complex portrayal of an working-class southern woman.

January 11, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A beautifully made, splendidly acted film that more than achieves its aims.

September 19, 2007 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

The closure is consistent and satisfying, standing in opposition to conventional Hollywood happy endings: Norma Rae and Jewish labor leader part as equals, with a respectful handshake rather than embrace or kiss; both have benefited from the friendship

September 14, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com
EmanuelLevy.Com

Does it get any better than Sally Field?

March 11, 2006
Moviehole

Harrowing union vs corporation film has Oscar winning Field.

October 30, 2004

Audience Reviews for Norma Rae

A fantastic social drama, and still relevant today too! Field is perfect, and she even won an award for this performance, so if you're a fan don't miss this one. It's a really good movie.
September 6, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

Sally Field makes her outstanding performance (she won her first Best Actress Oscar) as a southern textile work attempting to unionise the mill with the aid of organiser Ron Leibman. Film is based on a true story and has good eyes and ears for authenticity. Entire case is first rate.
March 8, 2007
deano
Dean McKenna

Super Reviewer

    1. Norma Rae: I'm always fine. I'm a horse.
    – Submitted by Wellington O (6 months ago)

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