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Atlantic City

Play trailer Poster for Atlantic City R 1981 1h 44m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
When Sally Matthews (Susan Sarandon) leaves her Canadian home to relocate to Atlantic City, she aspires to a prosperous career in the gambling industry. With her criminal husband (Robert Joy) on her trail, however, it appears that she can't escape from trouble, until she finds an unlikely savior in Lou Pascal (Burt Lancaster), an aging small-time mobster. By becoming involved with Sally, Lou finds a way to achieve the success he's dreamed of, but his plan may endanger both their lives.
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Atlantic City

Atlantic City

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Critics Consensus

Bittersweet and reflective, Atlantic City is a modest romance given raw power by Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon's heartfelt performances along with director Louis Malle's eccentric eye for detail.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/12/2023
Lancaster uses his big, strong body so expressively that if this were a stage performance the audience would probably give him a standing ovation. I don’t see how he could be any better. Go to Full Review Eric Hynes Village Voice 10/07/2012
[Sarandon is] shirtless before she even has a name, but her desire to be ogled is granted dignity and power; gradually and unassumingly, she upstages a terrific Burt Lancaster. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 10/07/2012
A shimmering success. Go to Full Review Sean Burns Crooked Marquee 07/16/2022
Lancaster was never more moving onscreen than when he was lying to himself, and there are shades of his shattering performance as John Cheever’s 'The Swimmer' in Lou’s tall tales of his glory days. Go to Full Review Michael Ventura L.A. Weekly 12/29/2021
Atlantic City is a rough and tender film, a dreamer's film, and beautifully made. A small film that plays for high stakes and ends with the wheel still rolling. Go to Full Review Niall Browne Movies in Focus 06/24/2021
4/5
The bleak cinematography and subtle score give Atlantic City a hypnotic quality and it obviously inspired Bruce Springsteen's track of the same name from his Nebraska album - in fact lines from the song are "borrowed" from Guare's screenplay. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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R H. @bobby17 Mar 20 One of my favorite movies been watching this since it came out. See more Evelyn X @yiyi1111 Feb 11 The story begins with a young man who steals drugs and dies shortly after. The protagonist, an elderly man who gets involved, is actually quite decent. He manages to earn money by selling the remaining drugs and builds a connection with his beautiful neighbor, who happens to be the young man's widow. Later, when the old man sees the woman being threatened by a gangster, he shoots the pursuer and makes a run for it, seeming strangely proud of his actions. The woman, meanwhile, remains pragmatic; she knows the importance of money and refuses to depend on anyone. Although her attempt to become a dealer fails, she still hopes to start a new life with the cash. Finally, there is the bedridden elderly lady. After receiving a massage from the woman’s sister, she regains some mobility. Despite having experienced fame, fortune, and beauty in her past, it remains a mystery why she ultimately chooses to do something so dangerous for the old man at the end of the film. See more Vincent S. @Vin_E_At_The_Movies Nov 12 A small treasure of a Character study and crime classic with outstanding performances by Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon who announced her arrival here. Atlantic City becomes a third character in this small masterpiece. See more Convention D @RT76878079 04/03/2025 If you where ever in Atlantic City in the late 1980's this about the way it was. Great Cast, Burt is my cousin,. Realistic. A Street City movie. See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni 12/18/2024 Bittersweet tale of two souls connecting, One trying to escape her situation, and one trying to get back his mojo from his glory days, With a backdrop of a city in transition, Out with the old, in with the new. Sympathetic performances from Lancaster and Sarandon, provides rooting interest in both their plights. See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 02/16/2024 A really good gritty underworld tale from the down at heel Atlantic City. Fast paced and a lot to enjoy in the screenplay. Really enjoyed this one. Watched this one n DVD. See more Read all reviews
Atlantic City

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Louis Malle

Director

Burt Lancaster

Lou

Susan Sarandon

Sally

Kate Reid

Grace

Michel Piccoli

Joseph

Hollis McLaren

Chrissie

Movie Clips

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Atlantic City

Atlantic City: Official Clip - Teach Me Stuff Atlantic City: Official Clip - Teach Me Stuff 1:51 Atlantic City: Official Clip - I've Never Been to Florida Atlantic City: Official Clip - I've Never Been to Florida 2:03 Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Didn't Protect You Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Didn't Protect You 1:56 Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Want My Money! Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Want My Money! 1:53 Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Watch You Atlantic City: Official Clip - I Watch You 2:05 Atlantic City: Official Clip - Gunned Down Gangsters Atlantic City: Official Clip - Gunned Down Gangsters 1:31 Atlantic City: Official Clip - Watching Her Atlantic City: Official Clip - Watching Her 1:53 Atlantic City: Official Clip - Don't Forget to Ditch the Car Atlantic City: Official Clip - Don't Forget to Ditch the Car 2:07 Atlantic City: Official Clip - Hard Ten, Soft Three Atlantic City: Official Clip - Hard Ten, Soft Three 1:39 View more videos

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Atlantic City

Atlantic City (1980) Atlantic City (1980) Atlantic City (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When Sally Matthews (Susan Sarandon) leaves her Canadian home to relocate to Atlantic City, she aspires to a prosperous career in the gambling industry. With her criminal husband (Robert Joy) on her trail, however, it appears that she can't escape from trouble, until she finds an unlikely savior in Lou Pascal (Burt Lancaster), an aging small-time mobster. By becoming involved with Sally, Lou finds a way to achieve the success he's dreamed of, but his plan may endanger both their lives.
Director
Louis Malle
Producer
Denis Héroux, Gabriel Boustani, Justine Heroux
Screenwriter
John Guare
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount, Selta Films
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 3, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2010
Runtime
1h 44m