An Unmarried Woman

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An Unmarried Woman

R

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2h 5m

Drama

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90%

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29 Reviews

72%

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1,000+ Ratings

An attractive and well-to-do New Yorker, Erica Benton (Jill Clayburgh), finds her comfortable existence upended when her husband, Martin (Michael Murphy), ends their marriage and takes up with a younger woman. Hurt and angered by her husband's betrayal, Erica slowly begins to reevaluate her life and explore her newfound freedom. Eventually, she starts a relationship with an English artist named Saul (Alan Bates), but is wary of repeating past mistakes.

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Critics Consensus

Jill Clayburgh is wondrous as a woman who loses her marriage -- only to find herself -- in this acutely observed and lived-in portrait of New York City life.

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Simran Hans

New Statesman

10/07/2020

Clayburgh is luminous as Erica, wounded and stumbling, yet somehow graceful.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

07/08/2019

An Unmarried Woman explores the emotional turmoil of an abandoned wife with rare wit and perception.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

06/15/2018

4/4

Clayburgh takes chances in this movie. She's out on an emotional limb. She's letting us see and experience things that many actresses simply couldn't reveal.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Apr 6

5/5

‘…complete with an uplifting Bill Conti score, An Unmarried Woman is a Rocky story for women…a ground-breaking film about a woman’s search to find herself…’

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Chase Burns

The Stranger (Seattle, WA)

01/20/2022

Clayburgh is dazzlingly frank. She carries a poker face when around the film's men. All her largest emotions are kept for herself. It's thrilling. I miss her.

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Jill Nicholls

Spare Rib

09/22/2021

It's just another of those films made by a man with women in mind.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Jun 1

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Alan W.

@rwebber111 Dec 23

One of the best 70s film. A joy to watch Clayburgh.

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alan g

@agenser 05/26/2025

Michael Murphy playing his usual cowardly, reprehensible self. Jill Clayborn is ok. Alan Bates playing his usual cad role. Predictable.

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barbara l

@RT85800394 04/01/2023

Love this movie. Wish I could see it again. Very realistic honest account of a woman who loses her marriage and finds herself again.

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Isla E

@RT30662685 02/25/2023

An Unmarried Woman should have been unseen by my tender eyes. However I have to say it was a really good movie even for a child under 11.

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07/15/2022

In 2022 this film seems a tad dated. However, being a "70s person," I feel it captures the era in an almost time capsule-like approach. The setting, the music, and the "women vs. status quo" storyline are very realistic for 1978. Personally, I think Jill Clayburgh deserved the Oscar for Best Actress.

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Paul Mazursky

Director

Jill Clayburgh

Erica

Alan Bates

Saul

Michael Murphy

Martin

Cliff Gorman

Charlie

Patricia Quinn

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Synopsis

An attractive and well-to-do New Yorker, Erica Benton (Jill Clayburgh), finds her comfortable existence upended when her husband, Martin (Michael Murphy), ends their marriage and takes up with a younger woman. Hurt and angered by her husband's betrayal, Erica slowly begins to reevaluate her life and explore her newfound freedom. Eventually, she starts a relationship with an English artist named Saul (Alan Bates), but is wary of repeating past mistakes.

Director: Paul Mazursky
Producer: Paul Mazursky, Anthony Ray
Screenwriter: Paul Mazursky
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 5, 1978, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m