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Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross, William Daniels, Elizabeth Wilson ... see more see more... , Murray Hamilton , Brian Avery , Norman Fell , Walter Brooke , Alice Ghostley , Elisabeth Fraser , Marion Lorne , Buck Henry , Eddra Gale , Harry Holcombe , Jonathan Hole , John Neilson , Richard Dreyfuss , Mike Farrell

"One word: plastics." "Are you here for an affair?" These lines and others became cultural touchstones, as 1960s youth rebellion seeped into the California upper middle-class in Mike Nichols' landmark... read more read more... hit. Mentally adrift the summer after graduating from college, suburbanite Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) would rather float in his parents' pool than follow adult advice about his future. But the exhortation of family friend Mr. Robinson (Murray Hamilton) to seize every possible opportunity inspires Ben to accept an offer of sex from icily feline Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). The affair and the pool are all well and good until Ben is pushed to go out with the Robinsons' daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) and he falls in love with her. Mrs. Robinson sabotages the relationship and an understandably disgusted Elaine runs back to college. Determined not to let Elaine get away, Ben follows her to school and then disrupts her family-sanctioned wedding. None too happy about her pre-determined destiny, Elaine flees with Ben -- but to what? Directing his second feature film after Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Nichols matched the story's satire of suffocating middle-class shallowness with an anti-Hollywood style influenced by the then-voguish French New Wave. Using odd angles, jittery editing, and evocative widescreen photography, Nichols welded a hip New Wave style and a generation-gap theme to a fairly traditional screwball comedy script by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham from Charles Webb's novel. Adding to the European art film sensibility, the movie offers an unsettling and ambiguous ending with no firm closure. And rather than Robert Redford, Nichols opted for a less glamorous unknown for the pivotal role of Ben, turning Hoffman into a star and opening the door for unconventional leading men throughout the 1970s. With a pop-song score written by Paul Simon and performed by Simon & Garfunkel bolstering its contemporary appeal, The Graduate opened to rave reviews in December 1967 and surpassed all commercial expectations. It became the top-grossing film of 1968 and was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Actor, and Actress, with Nichols winning Best Director. Together with Bonnie and Clyde, it stands as one of the most influential films of the late '60s, as its mordant dissection of the generation gap helped lead the way to the youth-oriented Hollywood artistic "renaissance" of the early '70s. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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90% liked it

155,797 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

48 critics

PG, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Mike Nichols, Mike Nichol, Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Wilson, Katharine Ross, Murray Hamilton, Norman Fell, Richard Dreyfuss, William Daniels

Release Date: December 21, 1967

Keywords: funny

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DVD Release Date: June 19, 2001

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Stats: 7,971 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,971)

  • fb733768972
    May 10, 2012
    fb733768972
    The film moves at a very fast pace and the performances feel so real that you forget you are watching a movie sometimes. After Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) graduates from college, he is trying to find himself as one of his parents friends (Mrs. Robinson) try to seduce him into havin... read moreg sex with her. She becomes very convincing, so they sneak around. While this goes on, his parents really want him to marry her daughter. Everything spirals out of control here and the film unfolds. I loved watching this movie, but there was a little too much "sexuality," instead of development in the story. Still, it is a great film all around with fantastic writing, great motivations, and a superb cast. "The Graduate" is worth it's hype!
  • fb1576983399
    April 16, 2012
    fb1576983399
    The overall synopsis isn't too interesting, but the way it's delivered is. Dustin Hoffman carries this movie with his quirky take on a "drifting" graduate student who decides to spice up his life. The directing, cinematography and screenplay are all great as well.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    April 8, 2012
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    This is Benjamin. He's a little worried about his future.

    Excellent Film! "The Graduate" was a classic movie that spoke for an entire generation. Dustin Hoffman really acted splendid and the plot is just so good combine with 60's music by Simon and Garfunkel. Mike Nichols won in... read more that year 1968 a Best Director Oscar and well deserved! Go see it!

    Benjamin Braddock returns home to California after successfully completing college. He gets a hero's welcome from his parents but Ben isn't quite sure what to do with the rest of his life. He is soon seduced by Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father's partner, who methodically pursues the inexperienced young man. Soon, they are meeting regularly in hotel rooms. Warned by her to stay away from her daughter Elaine, his father goads him into taking her out on a date. He finds he quite likes Elaine but when she learns he's been having an affair with her own mother, she'll have nothing to do with him. He's smitten however and pursues her
  • Chiefilms
    March 10, 2012
    Chiefilms
    Hoffman is hungry.
  • fb791220692
    November 11, 2011
    fb791220692
    While I can't possibly buy what happens between Hoffman and Ross' characters in the second half of the film (the result of that implausibility being an ending which felt lazy to me as a result), Hoffman's amazing performance coupled with direction more inventive and evocative tha... read moren the majority of film's made today makes this worthy of its classic status.
  • jamers2011
    November 11, 2011
    jamers2011
    Excellent, excellent, excellent. This brilliant film launched the career of one of Hollywood's greatest actors, Dustin Hoffman. After a few short moments, it's easy to tell why. His performance as Benjamin Braddock is flawless, to say the least. Alongside Hoffman is Anne Bancroft... read more, who also gives a stunning, memorable performance as Mrs. Robinson. Katharine Ross also is convincing as Elaine Robinson.

    The best way to describe The Graduate is just that it's so memorable. Every scene is so unique and so different. The scuba-diving scene, Hoffman with the cross at the church, the final bus scene. It's just a joy to watch...

    The great sountrack by Simon and Garfunkel is also quite nice.

    Basically, if you haven't seen this film, see it. It's wonderful and I cannot recommend it enough.
  • fb1216165431
    November 2, 2011
    fb1216165431
    Visually and aurally iconic, The Graduate is a landmark feature that perfectly encapsulated a confused disposition, tempted and eventually succumbed to seduction presented in enigmatic humor and appealing hilarity. Charismatic, The Graduate is a proud demonstration of powerful pe... read morerformances, cinematic techniques, and essential messages.
  • fb712836066
    October 25, 2011
    fb712836066
    This 1967 Dustin Hoffman film has so many memorable lines, scenes, and sights that it makes you wonder why it couldn't have been succeeded with further films. It's quirkiness and resemblances to the modern romantic comedy genre put off some new reviewers but they miss that the f... read moreilm illuminates the struggles of young adult life and the search of meaning, which to Benjamin Braddock means true love. Cheap Sex, aimless wandering, academic and athletic success, and so forth didn't make him happy. Elaine did. And even still, one can see that Benjamin is STILL uncertain as to his life's direction in the final famous scene, as Hoffman's smile suddenly and slowly morphs into a wince. This film is so subtle in its meanings, and so pointed in its humor and depiction of young adult life, one can't help but enjoy it and I recommend it to anyone and to all.
  • ythelastman89
    June 13, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I've been incredibly harsh on The Graduate over the years and cynical about its overbearing popularity. The thing is, I wasn't alive when the movie came out and it's hard sometimes to see movies in the context of their release. It's easy at this point in time to say that this mov... read moreie is dated, but I think that was part of the idea. The Graduate is a complete time capsule movie; it was made to be revolutionary and shocking for the audience that was being exposed to it. Now it still has great aesthetics today, but back in 1967 it must've been amazing. After seeing it multiple times now, I think I've finally managed to appreciate everything it's trying to do and what it wants to say. Maybe I just didn't want to like it due to the fact that there are conflicting morals I have with some of the characters, but that shouldn't be a detriment to the pleasure you get from watching a movie. The fact is, The Graduate is just about as good as you're going to get when it comes to a coming of age storyline. Everything from the performances to the direction feels incredibly natural and has enough realism in it to make anyone recognize similarities to their life (well, if you're a white suburbanite). Dustin Hoffman really is flawless here and completely embodies his nervous and unsure character. I think Ben is a character that I familiarize with in a way that scares me. He does and says things that I probably have and feels thing I know I feel. Anne Bancroft is obviously great here too and does an extremely convincing job as a seductress and will make anyone watching it completely vulnerable to her teasing and mind games. Someone that doesn't get much recognition for her role at all is Katherine Ross; she gives such a sympathetic performance and really makes you fall in love with her for all the right reasons. Mike Nichols is by far the best director of relationship issues. Coming off of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?, it's easy to see why he knows the ins and outs of portraying a realistic and effective couple on screen. The way he positions the characters and frames everything is just perfect. This presents the world as it was at one point and still is in a lot of ways. Not only has this been influential to film, but just in terms of storytelling and concepts of relationships and life in general.
  • fb619846742
    June 8, 2011
    fb619846742
    A well-made if over-rated story concerning a recent college graduate (Dustin Hoffman), unsure about what he wants to do with his life, who becomes entangled in an affair with a seductive housewife (Anne Bancroft) who just so happens to have a gorgeous daughter that catches his ey... read moree as well. I still don't quite understand why this film is considered a "classic", it's a fine movie, but it has a number of flaws. The ending is just utterly ridiculous, and the writing really does not do a good enough job realistically developing the relationship between Hoffman's character and Katherine Ross's. With that said, it boasts one of the finest soundtracks in the history of cinema, as well as an outstanding lead performance from the always dependable Hoffman. I just wish the ending didn't get so melodramatic and the writing was beefed up a little bit in order to completely convince me that the daughter still felt something for Hoffman's after everything he had done, that was the one big thing I just didn't end up buying.

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Critic Reviews

March 29, 2011
TIME Magazine

The screenplay, which begins as genuine comedy, soon degenerates into spurious melodrama. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Makes you feel a little tearful and choked-up while it is making you laugh yourself raw.

A.D. Murphy
February 13, 2001
A.D. Murphy, Variety

A delightful, satirical comedy-drama. Full Review

Robin Dougherty
January 1, 2000
Robin Dougherty, Salon.com

A simple romantic comedy whose "countercultural" message, insofar as it has one, is decidedly retrograde. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is a good topical movie whose time has passed Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

Few movies have communicated with such dark hilarity all the anxiety and flamboyant misery of youthful sexual initiation

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

What I don't enjoy is the cruelty, the glib mindlessness, and the insulated, pampered narcissism that makes the whole thing possible. Full Review

Keith Uhlich
April 10, 2012
Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York

It's consistently fleet and funny, even as it probes the heady abandon and looming hangover that typified the decade of discontent. Full Review

Budd Wilkins
April 10, 2012
Budd Wilkins, Slant Magazine

Mike Nichols and veteran cinematographer Robert Surtees threw out the DGA playbook for The Graduate. Full Review

David Gurney
January 1, 2011
David Gurney, Common Sense Media

Influential coming-of-age sex comedy. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Mrs. Robinson: Just because you happen to be inadequate.
    • Benjamin Braddock: Inadequate!
    • Mrs. Robinson: Well I guess I...
    • Benjamin Braddock: DON'T MOVE!
    • Benjamin Braddock: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?
    • Mr. Maguire: Ben.
    • Benjamin Braddock: Will you excuse me? [turning around] Mr. Maguire.
    • Mr. Maguire: [shaking his head and smiling] Ben.
    • Benjamin Braddock: Mr. Maguire.
    • Hotel Clerk: Are you here for an affair, sir?
    • Mr. Maguire: I want to say one word to you, Benjamin. Just one word.
    • Benjamin Braddock: Yes, sir.
    • Mr. Maguire: Are you listening?
    • Benjamin Braddock: Yes, I am.
    • Mr. Maguire: Plastics.
    • Benjamin Braddock: I think you're the most attractive of all my parents' friends. I mean that, I find you desirable.
Submit a Fact | View All

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The Graduate Trivia

  • Simon and Garfunkel did the soundtrack for this film including songs such as: Mrs Robinson The Sound Of Silence Scarborough Fair  Answer »
  • Name this 1967 movie starring Dustin Hoffman & Anne Bancroft,with the line, Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me,aren't you?  Answer »
  • In what movie did Simon and Garfunkel provide the soundtrack?  Answer »
  • The song "Mrs Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel, can be heard in which film?  Answer »
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