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Tommy

Play trailer 2:15 Poster for Tommy PG 1975 1h 51m Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
After seeing his stepfather murder his father during an argument over his mother, young Tommy goes into shock, suddenly becoming psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind. As a teenager, Tommy stumbles upon a pinball machine and discovers he is a natural prodigy at the game. Fame and fortune follow for Tommy, as he becomes a pinball champion and later the messiah of a religious cult, which views his pinball skills as a miraculous sign of divine intervention.
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Tommy

Tommy

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Critics Consensus

Tommy is as erratic and propulsive as a game of pinball, incorporating The Who's songs into an irreverent odyssey with the visual imagination that only director Ken Russell can conjure.

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Critics Reviews

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Martin Knelman Globe and Mail Oct 8
Russell smashes everything he touches, but there's no affirmation; he smashes because he enjoys destruction. Go to Full Review Phil Strassberg Arizona Republic Apr 24
Not all the "arias" work, though all are given spectacular, kaleidoscopic production values under Russell's shrewd and resourceful direction. Go to Full Review Charles Champlin Los Angeles Times 03/19/2025
"Tommy" is an overwhelming, thunderous, almost continuously astonishing achievement, coherent and consistent from first frames to last. Go to Full Review Charles Brock Florida Times-Union Feb 3
Ken Russell tackles The Who's bestselling rock opera and comes up with a sense-assaulting, visually stunning movie. Go to Full Review Lou Cedrone Baltimore Sun Oct 7
As imaginative and exciting as it is stunning. Go to Full Review Tom Hutchinson Radio Times Aug 31
3/5
Stridency, both vocal and visual, is all, and Roger Daltrey's Tommy is flattened by the weight of celebrity (Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Jack Nicholson and Tina Turner), but it's still worth watching just for its reputation. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tina 5d I saw this 50 years ago. Excellent sound and cinematography! See more Brian G 6d Powerful music is the best character in the film, right alongside Ann Margret. Tommy provides a strange combination of experiences: on one hand, it is mesmerizing, captivating, and compelling, full of moments and images that are iconic or disturbing--while on the other hand, it is drawn-out, far-fetched, and simply nonsensical. One thing is for certain, though: it is unforgettable. See more Patty E 6d I never liked the Champagne scene. Despite, the movie is a great piece of Rock History See more noam S @RT97959893 1d A good and easy movie to watch on sutrday when you don't have nothing else to watch. But not a classic movie, very simpel story which half of it is complete stupaid. although the music is very fun, the colors are good. But other than that not very good movie. Nice movie, not a worst movie but only nice See more mark G @Mark_Alan_G. 1d Obviously not for everyone, representative of a very different time, culture-wise and music wise. Very ambitious to say the least. There are some scenes that you will find tiring but they're also other scenes that come off as being rather brilliant. And Margaret, Oliver Reed, and Roger Daltrey are outstanding and Russell's direction is cutting edge. See more Sphinx T @RT33731817 3d As good as it could be, but a rock musical about the ramifications of incest is not very 21st century. Greatly improved by a stunning cast of extras, many of them local Art students - we enjoyed every minute. See more Read all reviews
Tommy

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Cast & Crew

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Ken Russell

Director

Roger Daltrey

Tommy

Ann-Margret

Nora

Oliver Reed

Frank Hobbs

Elton John

The Pinball Wizard

Eric Clapton

The Preacher

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Tommy

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Tommy

Tommy (1975) Tommy (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After seeing his stepfather murder his father during an argument over his mother, young Tommy goes into shock, suddenly becoming psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind. As a teenager, Tommy stumbles upon a pinball machine and discovers he is a natural prodigy at the game. Fame and fortune follow for Tommy, as he becomes a pinball champion and later the messiah of a religious cult, which views his pinball skills as a miraculous sign of divine intervention.
Director
Ken Russell
Producer
Robert Stigwood, Ken Russell
Screenwriter
Ken Russell
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Hemdale Film Corporation [us]
Rating
PG
Genre
Musical
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 19, 1975, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Surround
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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