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Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field, Strother Martin, David Steinberg ... see more see more... , Joanne Woodward , Norman Fell , Myrna Loy , Pat O'Brien , Robby Benson , Carl Reiner , James Best , Jock Mahoney , Harry Caesar , Janice Carroll , Jerry Fujikawa , Peter Gonzales , Louise Letourneau , Walter Matthau , Kristy McNichol , Frank McRae , Robert Rothwell , Queenie Smith , David Spielberg , Alfie Wise , Bill Ewing , Patrick Moody , Ken Johnson , Jeremy Thomas , Ella B. May , Darren McDonald

At the beginning of The End, Wendell Sonny Lawson (Burt Reynolds) is informed by his doctor that he's dying from "the same thing Ali MacGraw had in Love Story." Lawson's first reaction is to cry uncon... read more read more...trollably, much to the discomfort of his fellow elevator passengers. He heads to a nearby church to confess all his sins, only to be distracted by the wide-eyed fecklessness of the novice priest (Robby Benson). Attempting to resolve a few issues with ex-wife Mary Ellen (Sally Field), daughter Julie (Kristy McNichol), and his parents (Myrna Loy and Pat O'Brien), Lawson finds that they're all too absorbed in their own problems to pay him any attention. At the end of his rope, Lawson decides to kill himself -- with the help of a nutty mental patient (Dom DeLuise). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

46% liked it

2,087 ratings

Critics

75% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Jeremy Thomas, Burt Reynolds

Release Date: May 5, 1978

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DVD Release Date: February 6, 2001

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Stats: 91 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (91)

  • ajv2688
    January 5, 2011
    ajv2688
    A hilarious dark comedy with an all star cast, and directed by Reynolds. I love it, and I highly recommend it.
  • tsigur
    July 22, 2009
    tsigur
    This movie is terrible. It also shows that Burt Reynolds is an egotistical maniac. Bar none, it has the most unfunny racial humor I have ever heard. (Imagine Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, but not funny and every "joke" making you feel sleazy for being a white person). Then Dom ... read moreDeLuise (did he have something going on the side with Burt?) kept saying these retarded Polish jokes that I heard when I was a kid and they weren't funny then. Everyone in this movie is terrible (Sally Field LOOKS amazing in this film). I imagine Burt sitting back and watching the dailies and thinking what a funny guy he was while everyone of his ass-kissing crew sat around and chuckled along with him. It is rare when you can find a movie that shows the true soul of a filmmaker, and in the case of Burt Reynolds, he's a douschebag.
  • webalina
    July 22, 2007
    webalina
    Rating this from memories of long ago. Need to see it again. Rating may or may not change.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 19, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Not very funny. Burt Reynolds is a bit annoying and unsympathetic. Dom DeLuise is annoying as well. I wasn't too thrilled with this film.
  • mpghoul1973
    March 13, 2010
    mpghoul1973
    Flawed and a bit self indulgent but that didnt stop me from enjoying the hell out of this Burt Reynolds directed film. Reynolds plays a single father who finds out he's terminally ill. Given anywere from three months to a year to live. Not being able to cope with the thought of w... read moreithering away in bed Reynolds decided to kill himself. Reynolds and Deluise are halarious together. Deluise plays a psychiatric inmate who is trying to help Reynolds kill himself. Any time DeLuise is on screen the film is gut busting funny!
  • JimG944
    August 22, 2009
    JimG944
    This comedy movie has most of my favorite comedy actors from the 1970's. With so much talent, too bad the script was so lame and not funny. Reynolds plays a terminally ill patient trying to take "the easy way out". He gets help from Dom DeLuise who plays a mental patient. The bes... read moret parts of the movie ar the scenes with DeLuise and Reynolds. Not as funny as it should have been.
  • briandamage666
    October 2, 2008
    briandamage666
    The only movie that can make suicide funny. One of the best collaborations of Reynolds and DeLuise, if not the best.

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
February 5, 2010
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Reynolds deconstructs Reynolds thoroughly Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

Burt Reynolds directs and stars in this wonderful black comedy about a neurotic dying man. Dom DeLuise provides some hysterically funny moments as a zany mental patient.

Rob Thomas
April 8, 2004
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

An intermittently successful dark comedy with a few solid gags.

Ken Hanke
January 21, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Not nearly as bad as its reputation. It's even pretty interesting.

February 23, 2012
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

January 10, 2004
Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
June 27, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Lori Hoffman
February 13, 2004
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

No review available.

Nell Minow
February 8, 2004
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

No review available.

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The End Trivia

  • Anthony Hopkins delivers this line at the end of what movie? "I do wish we could chat longer, but... I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."  Answer »
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