The World's Greatest Athlete (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1973, The World's Greatest Athlete is a comedy and family film directed by Robert Scheerer, running about 106 minutes. “From the JUNGLE to the GYM...He's the Greatest!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Stuck with a feeble sports department, college coach Sam Archer (John Amos) faces the ax unless he can reverse the school's athletic fortunes. An African vacation with his assistant (Tim Conway) answers Archer's prayers when he spots the athletically gifted Nanu (Jan-Michael Vincent). Sam counts on Nanu's remarkable abilities to put the team back on the winning track. This upbeat farce boasts an impressive cast of comedians.
Who’s in it. The World's Greatest Athlete stars Jan-Michael Vincent as Nanu, Tim Conway as Milo Jackson, John Amos as Coach Sam Archer and Roscoe Lee Browne as Gazenga, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, The World's Greatest Athlete has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The World's Greatest Athlete page.
If you liked it. Fans of The World's Greatest Athlete tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The World's Greatest Athlete (1973)?
- In US, The World's Greatest Athlete is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The World's Greatest Athlete worth watching?
- The World's Greatest Athlete holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and family. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The World's Greatest Athlete?
- The World's Greatest Athlete stars Jan-Michael Vincent, Tim Conway, John Amos, Roscoe Lee Browne and Dayle Haddon.
- When was The World's Greatest Athlete released?
- The World's Greatest Athlete was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 106 minutes.