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A Perfect World

  • 19931993
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
80K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,675
1,047
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, and T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World (1993)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
92 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Thriller

A kidnapped boy strikes up a friendship with his captor, an escaped convict on the run from the law, while the search for him continues.A kidnapped boy strikes up a friendship with his captor, an escaped convict on the run from the law, while the search for him continues.A kidnapped boy strikes up a friendship with his captor, an escaped convict on the run from the law, while the search for him continues.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
80K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,675
1,047
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • John Lee Hancock
  • Stars
    • Kevin Costner
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Laura Dern
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clint Eastwood
  • Writer
    • John Lee Hancock
  • Stars
    • Kevin Costner
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Laura Dern
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 174User reviews
    • 65Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    A Perfect World
    Trailer 0:31
    A Perfect World

    Photos92

    Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World (1993)
    Clint Eastwood and Laura Dern in A Perfect World (1993)
    Clint Eastwood and Laura Dern in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner and T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner and T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood, and T.J. Lowther in A Perfect World (1993)
    Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World (1993)
    Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World (1993)
    Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood in A Perfect World (1993)
    A Perfect World (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Costner
    Kevin Costner
    • Robert 'Butch' Haynesas Robert 'Butch' Haynes
    Clint Eastwood
    Clint Eastwood
    • Chief Red Garnettas Chief Red Garnett
    Laura Dern
    Laura Dern
    • Sally Gerberas Sally Gerber
    T.J. Lowther
    T.J. Lowther
    • Phillip Perryas Phillip Perry
    Keith Szarabajka
    Keith Szarabajka
    • Terry James Pughas Terry James Pugh
    Leo Burmester
    Leo Burmester
    • Assistant Chief Tom Adleras Assistant Chief Tom Adler
    Paul Hewitt
    Paul Hewitt
    • Dick Suttleas Dick Suttle
    Bradley Whitford
    Bradley Whitford
    • Agent Bobby Leeas Agent Bobby Lee
    Ray McKinnon
    Ray McKinnon
    • Bradleyas Bradley
    Jennifer Griffin
    Jennifer Griffin
    • Gladys Perryas Gladys Perry
    Leslie Flowers
    • Naomi Perryas Naomi Perry
    Belinda Flowers
    • Ruth Perryas Ruth Perry
    Darryl Cox
    Darryl Cox
    • Mr. Hughesas Mr. Hughes
    Jay Whiteaker
    • Billy Grieve - Supermanas Billy Grieve - Superman
    Taylor Suzanna McBride
    • Tinkerbellas Tinkerbell
    Christopher Reagan Ammons
    • Dancing Skeletonas Dancing Skeleton
    Mark Voges
    • Larry Billings - Prison Officialas Larry Billings - Prison Official
    Vernon Grote
    • Prison Guardas Prison Guard
    • Director
      • Clint Eastwood
    • Writer
      • John Lee Hancock
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After escaping from a Huntsville prison, convict Robert "Butch" Haynes (Kevin Costner) and his partner Terry Pugh (Keith Szarabajka) kidnap a young boy, Phillip Perry (T.J. Lowther), and flee across Texas. As they travel together, Butch and Phillip discover common bonds and suffer the abuses of the outside "Perfect World". In pursuit is Texas Ranger "Red" Garnett (Clint Eastwood) and Criminologist Sally Gerber (Laura Dern). —James Yu <jamestyu@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu>
    • escaped convict
    • anti hero
    • police officer
    • criminal
    • police
    • 171 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Clint Eastwood was not originally going to act in the movie. Kevin Costner talked him into it.
    • Goofs
      The child in the film, the son of a devout Jehovah's Witness, says "I'm going to go to hell for this," after stealing a Halloween costume. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the concept of hell.
    • Quotes

      Terry Pugh: [after tearing up phone book upon failing to find his cousin] Must've moved. Probably couldn't have heard him anyway; this goddamn ear's still bleedin'. You ever try that shit again...

      Butch Haynes: [sternly] What?

      Terry Pugh: [puzzled] ... What?

      Butch Haynes: You were in the middle of threatenin' me.

      Terry Pugh: [holds up a revolver] Ain't a threat - it's a fact.

      Butch Haynes: Here, kid - take the wheel.

      [Phillip holds the wheel to steer as Butch turns to face Pugh in the back seat]

      Butch Haynes: In two seconds, I'm gonna break your nose. That's a threat.

      [Butch punches Pugh in the nose, then picks up the gun as Terry moans]

      Butch Haynes: ...And that's a fact.

      Terry Pugh: I'm gonna kill you for that.

      Butch Haynes: And that's a threat. Begin to understand the difference?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Addams Family Values/The Snapper/Dangerous Game/The Saint of Fort Washington/Like Water for Chocolate (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Ida Red
      Traditional

      Arranged by Bob Wills

      Performed by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

      Courtesy of Bill Mack Productions

    User reviews174

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Costner at the height of his powers.Touching and heartfelt
    Being a sucker for any decent road movie, i was always predestined to enjoy this one. The surprising thing is that it's taken all of nineteen years to get round to it. I've always found Kevin Costner to be a likable screen presence and it's here, at the height of his stardom, with top billing that he's on great form. Costner plays Robert 'Butch' Haynes, an escaped convict who due to a botched robbery ends up kidnapping 'Buzz' , a young boy (T.J Lowther) with whom he forms an unlikely mutual bond. Although there's an inherent darkness to proceedings, there's also much sweetness. They form the kind of father and son friendship that as the film unfolds, we realise Haynes never had making it easier to feel sympathetic toward him amid the crime spree. Later in the film, that same sympathy is tested as it's revealed how emotionally damaged Haynes is. To the boy, the whole thing is an exciting adventure as it's highlighted early on that his religious background has kept him somewhat excluded. Haynes on the other hand seems to treat the escapade as therapy for the upbringing he never had. He constantly gives the boy choices and at no point does it feel like a dangerous hostage situation. As with all the better Clint Eastwood directed films, it's stylistically unfussy with emphasis on building a strong relationship between audience and character. Eastwood himself is a great presence in the film, playing a law man trying to keep a steady head, and shares some excellent screen time with Laura Dern. The screenplay also deserves a nod as it serves up some fun interplay dialogue and observations. Some very minor flaws push the limits of credibility, one in particular involving Buzz behind the wheel of a car and some expert last minute breaking, but they give way to what is a heartfelt and touching experience.
    helpful•24
    5
    • axlrhodes
    • Jul 22, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 24, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Un mundo perfecto
    • Filming locations
      • Martindale, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Malpaso Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,130,999
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $8,075,582
      • Nov 28, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $135,130,999
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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