The Great Santini (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1979, The Great Santini is a drama film directed by Lewis John Carlino, running about 115 minutes. “The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.
Who’s in it. The Great Santini stars Robert Duvall as Bull Meechum, Blythe Danner as Lillian Meechum, Michael O'Keefe as Ben Meechum and Lisa Jane Persky as Mary Anne Meechum, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Great Santini has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
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 Great Santini page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Great Santini tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Great Santini (1979)?
- In US, The Great Santini 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 Great Santini worth watching?
- The Great Santini holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Great Santini?
- The Great Santini stars Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Lisa Jane Persky and Julie Anne Haddock.