Popeye poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Robin Williams, Shelley Duvall, Ray Walston, Paul L. Smith, Paul Dooley ... see more see more... , Linda Hunt , Richard Libertini , Donald Moffat , Macintyre Dixon , Roberta Maxwell , Donovan Scott , Allan F. Nicholls , Wesley Ivan Hurt , David Arkin , Alan Autry , Margery Bond , Robert Fortier , Dennis Franz , Geoff Hoyle , Susan Kingsley , David McCharen , Wayne Robson , Klaus Voormann , Michael Christensen , Ray Cooper , Ned Dowd , Roberto Messina , Van Dyke Parks , Julie Janney , Pietro Torrisi , Peter Bray , Sharon Kinney , Hovey Burgess , Noel Parenti , Paul Zegler , Allison Caine , William Irwin , Joe Bristol , Bill Irwin

Based on the long-running comic strip created by E.C. Segar (and less on the animated cartoons created by Max Fleischer, which were decidedly different in tone and approach), Popeye follows the sailor... read more read more... man with the mighty arms (played by Robin Williams in his first major film role) as he arrives in the seaside community of Sweethaven in search of his long-lost father. Popeye meets and quickly falls for the slender Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall, in the role she was born to play), but Olive's hand has already been promised to the hulking Bluto (Paul Smith), of whom Olive can say little except, well, he's large. Eventually, Popeye and Olive are brought together by Swee' Pea (Wesley Ivan Hurt), an adorable foundling, and Popeye finally meets his dad, Poopdeck Pappy (Ray Walston). Director Robert Altman in no way tempered his trademark style for this big-budget family opus, crowding the screen with a variety of characters and allowing his cast to overlap as much dialogue as they want. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

38% liked it

54,113 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

28 critics

PG, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Robert Altman

Release Date: December 12, 1980

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 24, 2003

Get It:

Stats: 1,755 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Popeye robin williams & shelley duvall robin williams & shelley duvall Paul L. Smith as "Bluto"
Upload a Photo | View All Popeye Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (1,755)

  • FilmFanatik
    November 9, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    People have tried to dissuade me into believing that Robert Altman's 1980 adaptation of the beloved character and story of Popeye is nothing more than a pure Hollywood fiasco. While I'm sure that there may be some truth to that, I can't honestly say that I really enjoy it. Sure t... read morehere's a pace that doesn't work and a story that isn't as fulfilling as you'd hope it to be, but there's some fun hiding in there. I think Robin Williams does a great job bringing the character to life, but the best performance of the film is Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. She was such a perfect choice to play that character and she just pulls it off effortlessly. This is really a live action cartoon, and I like it because of that. It may seem silly and strange at times, but I enjoy it. Watch for an early Dennis Franz during the first big fight scene at the restaurant.
  • aSpaceCowboy
    March 2, 2011
    aSpaceCowboy
    My god was this bad! It was like watching Carousel if Robin Williams was the main character. It had very little to do with the series of short cartoons. While it does imitate features of a cartoon, Popeye doesn't seem to be what it imitates. The characters are here but the charm ... read moreisn't. Robin Williams tends to sneak in some of his own jokes that I still can barely understand with that corncob pipe in his mouth. I was hoping the songs would at least me cool and catchy. Harry Nilsson has written some of the favorite songs: "One", "Coconut", "Cuddly Toy". These songs are just bad from the lyrics to the singing. Not rememerable at all. The only song I remember other than "Popeye the sailor man..." was Shelly Duvall singing "But he's large". My eyes just boggled. That was one horribly written song and sung horribly too.

    The plot has got to be the worst though. It almost feels like an origin story of Popeye, but that's not what's bad about it. What is so bad it that Popeye rides his boat into a slum town where everything is taxed...including being taxed. He is rejected by every hotel on town to stay at so he lives with this family that welcomes his...well, the mother welcomes him at least while everyone else gives him the cold shoulder. Bluto intends to marry Oliveoil but she runs away. Popeye stopped in town to look for his father, but his already given up...after one day...the two character cross paths and find an abandoned baby they call their own. No one seems to question how the two got a baby and Popeye and Oliveoil couldn't be happier with their new baby that Popeye names Sweet Pea. The baby has special talents and so Bluto steals it to look for treasure while Popeye's father is his prisoner? THIS WHOLE THING DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!
  • ajv2688
    January 8, 2011
    ajv2688
    I saw this movie when I was a kid, and I'd love to see it again sometime soon. I remember it being very funny, so I gave it four stars. Plus, Robin Williams plays Popeye, that's cool.
  • ythelastman89
    November 17, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Definitely one of my favorite childhood movies. This brings all the goofy and amazingly bizarre elements of the cartoons and throws it into live action. What's odd is that this comes off as so genuine and lovable. You just wouldn't expect this type of movie to have such power and... read more emotional weight. Robin Williams is pitch perfect as Popeye, no one else could even come close to bringing that character to life. Bluto and Shelly Duvall's Olive Oyl are also some great contributions. It's impossible to not take something from Popeye and admire it just a little. The sets are outrageously detailed and unique, the story manages to highlight the character in full and Robert Altman's respect for the source material is really nice to see.
  • SirPant
    September 22, 2009
    SirPant
    This is a very messy film but I really loved it as a child.
  • TheMachinist
    July 1, 2009
    TheMachinist
    "Heeeelp! Heeeelp!"

    Robert Altman as the director. Robin Williams in his first feature film role. You'd think that the end result would be somewhat entertaining. Well, 'Popeye' was a real torture and honestly one of the worst films I've ever seen.

    Popeye comes to a place called... read more Sweethaven to find his father, meets Olive Oyl and all of a sudden adopts a kid called Sweetpea. And every now and then the cast starts to sing the most terrible songs ever performed on the big screen. I like musicals as much as the next new kid on the block but goddamn! These songs were probably arranged by a bunch of braindamaged monkeys. Fuck me sideways and pull a roll of quarters from my ass!

    The cast is a bunch of apathetic nutcases. The acting, all of them together and not to name a few, is one of the worst ever witnessed by my eyes. Their voices, their looks... Awful. I should probably get some therapy for this but I'm pretty sure that I'll cry myself to sleep today. There's absolutely nothing good in this film. No wait, the moment when the screen goes blank. I enjoyed that. Very much.

    Now you may ask; "You moron! Why didn't you just push the stop button?" Not my thing, I always watch the movie 'til the end. Even if it would suck more ass the all the asses in the world and beyond. Do not watch this movie!
  • DrZeek
    June 23, 2009
    DrZeek
    Popeye: Another thing I got is a sensk of humiligration. Now, maybe you swabs can pool your intelligensk and sees that I'm axking you for an apologeky.

    So this movie happened.

    Sitting on my shelf, in the pile consisting mostly of movies other people bought me, me and the boys ... read moredecided to watch Popeye, a movie I forgot existed. Not only does is it directed by Robert Altman and stars Robin Williams in his debut film role and Shelly Duvall, the film is also a musical. Let the fun begin!

    Certainly a lot of effort went into the production design, as a whole town was built to create the sets for this movie. Along with careful choreography and extras use to get across this light-hearted musical theme. All of this going into the film that is treated very much like a cartoon.

    Basically, the story involves Popeye coming into town looking for his pappy, only to fall for the skinny Olive Oyl. Unfortunately, Popeye must also deal with the brute known as Bluto and a newly arrived baby on the scene.

    Now, I'm not a fan of musicals and it doesn't help when only a couple of the songs actually have comprehensible lyrics, however, that's not a huge problem for this film. The big problem comes from the fact that its almost two hours long. Its a huge stretch to suffer through Williams playing this character and Shelly Duvall and her teeth complaining and screaming for Popeye.

    Its well made, I guess, but hell if I wanna watch it again anytime soon.

    Popeye: Oh, what am I? Some kind of barnacle on the dinghy of life?
  • barrys
    May 24, 2009
    barrys
    Popeye in its first and only live action movie was kinda disappointing to me. I mean I like the movie but I notice a lot of errors and flaws that makes you think why they did this movie. The story and the plot is kinda cheesy, the fx's are terrible specially at the end with the o... read morectopus that looks totally fake at first sight. The cast is good but their performances not so much, the only one that is worthy is Robin Williams as Popeye and only because he is a natural comedian and knows how to lift a character. Anyway I review it with 3 1/2 stars because it made me remember one of my favorite cartoons and because Williams is one of my favorite actors.
  • RCCLBC
    June 12, 2008
    RCCLBC
    I recently re-watched this, having seen it in the theaters when I was a kid and remembering that I had liked it. Which having grown up watching Popeye cartoons was no surprise.

    I enjoyed it this time around as well, but for different reasons. I'm a sucker for good set design... read more, creative costumes, actual people & objects being used in special effects / stunts as opposed to the over-use of CGI. Part of this films charm is that it was made this "old fashioned" way, yet it is still very stylized and visually appealing. The sets were so amazing and well built that they are still there in Malta nearly 30 years later and have become a sort of tourist destination!

    It does have it's weak points, but all in all it is an enjoyable little romp and the cast does a great job at bringing the cartoon characters to life. And one of the few films where Robin Williams doesn't bug the crap out of me!
  • deano
    January 11, 2008
    deano
    This adaptation of the famous comic strip by director Robert Altman is the cinematic equivalent of the old "good news" routine. The good news is that Robin Williams makes a terrific Popeye, and Shelley Duvall was born to play Olive Oyl. This is so wonderfully weird to look at and... read more so much fun at times.

View All Popeye Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
April 16, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

The plotting of this 1980 feature -- outsider in a hostile environment -- is personal to Altman, though few of the feelings survive the clutter. Full Review

April 16, 2007
Variety

It is more than faint praise to say that Popeye is far, far better than it might have been, considering the treacherous challenge it presented. But avoiding disaster is not necessarily the same as suc... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

He takes one of the most artificial and limiting of art forms -- the comic strip -- and raises it to the level of high comedy and high spirits. Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

A thoroughly charming, immensely appealing mess of a movie, often high-spirited and witty, occasionally pretentious and flat, sometimes robustly funny and frequently unintelligible. Full Review

M. Faust
January 2, 2011
M. Faust, Common Sense Media

An eccentric take on Popeye and friends. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
February 21, 2010
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

A lot of it is klutzier than you may remember it being, and it leads to a wretched climax involving the fakest-looking octopus since Ed Wood's Bride of the Monster. Full Review

Stefan Birgir Stefansson
July 10, 2007
Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is

I reeeeeaaaaaaalllllllyyyyyy hated this movie...

April 16, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A good idea gone down the drain under Altman's spotty direction. Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

You wonder how on earth Altman did it; equally often, you feel you are watching a wacky masterpiece, the like of which you've never seen before. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

Most people hate this rambling, Robert Altman-directed comic strip movie, but I loved it as a kid and I still love it. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Hook
    Hook (60%)
  • The Goonies
    The Goonies (54%)
  • The Visitation
    The Visitation (50%)
  • Beautiful Girls
    Beautiful Girls (40%)

More Movies like Popeye

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Poopdeck Pappy: Children! You give them everything they want. Give them candy and a lot of toys and what do you get in return? You get a lot of noise: Nah nah nah nah nah, nah, my poppa's a mean old man!
    • Popeye: I'm a very tolerant man except when it comes to holding a grudge.
Submit a Fact | View All

Popeye : Watch Free on TV

Popeye Trivia

  • What actor links the movies "Popeye", "Seize the Day", "Moscow on the Hudson", "Good Morning, Vietnam" and "Jacob the Liar"?  Answer »
  • This 1980 movie "Popeye", which quickly disappeared from theaters due to overwhelming critical distain and a slumping box office, was the screen debut of this now very successful actor:  Answer »
  • Only one live version of "Popeye" exists in film, and a host of actors were slated to play the roles. Name the one famous comedian who played the role of Popeye himself.  Answer »
  • What was Robin Williams' first movie?  Answer »
More Popeye Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Popeye Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Popeye to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Popeye News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

IzzyStradlin Skin by IzzyStradlin
150 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins