The Swimmer (1968): cast, story & where to watch
1968 · Film · ★ 7.3
Released in 1968, The Swimmer is a drama film directed by Frank Perry, running about 95 minutes. “When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself?” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Well-off ad man Ned Merrill is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb. Ned suddenly decides that he'd like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned's journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures.
Who’s in it. The Swimmer stars Burt Lancaster as Ned Merrill, Janet Landgard as Julie Ann Hooper, Kim Hunter as Betty Graham and Janice Rule as Shirley Abbott, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, The Swimmer has been warmly received by 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 Swimmer page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Swimmer tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Swimmer (1968)?
- In US, The Swimmer 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 Swimmer worth watching?
- The Swimmer holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Swimmer?
- The Swimmer stars Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Kim Hunter, Janice Rule and Tony Bickley.
- When was The Swimmer released?
- The Swimmer was released in 1968, with a runtime of about 95 minutes.