The Longest Yard

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4:06

The Longest Yard

R

1974

2h 1m

Comedy

Drama

Crime

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

39 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The warden tries to blackmail him into throwing the game, but the convicts have their own ideas and see the game as an opportunity to repay some of the brutality they have endured.

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Critics Consensus

Equal parts tough and funny, and led by a perfectly cast Burt Reynolds, The Longest Yard has an interesting political subtext and an excellent climax -- even if it takes too long to get there.

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Patrick Gibbs

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Apr 2, 2026

It took me some time to appreciate the originality of what comes out as a very black and crazy comedy.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Sep 25, 2023

It's certainly crudely made, however, with Eddie Albert overplaying by even the broadest standards, and Aldrich cutting to him for reaction shots that have all the visual interest of stones hitting one on the head.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Aug 4, 2008

An outstanding action drama, combining the brutish excitement of football competition with the brutalities of contemporary prison life.

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Michael Billington

Birmingham Post

Apr 6, 2026

A brutish, boorish, hairy chested movie of the kind that gives masculinity a bad name.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

May 31, 2023

3.5/4

One of the best and brightest films on Burt's resume.

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Nov 29, 2022

2/5

Part of the problem is its length. At just over two hours, the final act drags like an actual football game playing out in real time.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 11, 2026

The longest yard = a *4* star Movie!

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Matthew L

@Mattog1 Jun 14, 2026

Amazing movie. Burt at his finest

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Jun 8, 2026

Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, as cenas são bacaninhas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é mais ou menos, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são mais ou menos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes.

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Christian K

@ckacar Apr 10, 2026

Has a surprising attention to the details of the rules for an no ejections guards vs prisoners game.

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rex w

@RT11010153 Feb 21, 2026

It's hard to believe that I once thought "The Longest Yard" was entertaining. 50 years later, I see it as one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It is sexist, racist, stupid, poorly written, directed, and acted.

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Gabriel M

@Anonymous12 Jan 31, 2026

The Longest Yard is a surprisingly strong mix of comedy, drama, and sports that holds up better than I expected. Burt Reynolds is excellent here, playing a flawed but charismatic lead, and the prison football concept works really well. The humor feels natural and not forced, and the movie balances laughs with genuinely intense moments. What really makes this film stand out is that it has more substance than Smokey and the Bandit. While Smokey leans mostly on style and light comedy, The Longest Yard actually gives you something to invest in emotionally. The underdog story, the rough prison setting, and the build-up to the final game keep the movie engaging throughout. The football scenes are entertaining and rough around the edges in a way that fits the tone, and the supporting cast adds a lot of personality.

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Burt Reynolds

Paul Crewe

Eddie Albert

Warden Hazen

Ed Lauter

Captain Knauer

Michael Conrad

Nate Scarboro

James Hampton

Caretaker

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Synopsis

An ex-football star doing time is forced by the warden to organize a team of inmates to play against his own line-up of guards. The warden tries to blackmail him into throwing the game, but the convicts have their own ideas and see the game as an opportunity to repay some of the brutality they have endured.

Director: Robert Aldrich
Producer: Albert S. Ruddy
Screenwriter: Tracy Keenan Wynn
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Ruddy Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 1974, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Runtime: 2h 1m

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