Being There (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1979, Being There is a comedy and drama film directed by Hal Ashby, running about 130 minutes. “Getting there is half the fun; being there is all of it!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
Who’s in it. Being There stars Peter Sellers as Chance, Shirley MacLaine as Eve Rand, Melvyn Douglas as Benjamin Rand and Jack Warden as President 'Bobby', among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Being There has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $30.2M at the box office.
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 Being There page.
If you liked it. Fans of Being There tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Being There (1979)?
- In US, Being There 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 Being There worth watching?
- Being There holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Being There?
- Being There stars Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine, Melvyn Douglas, Jack Warden and Richard Dysart.
- When was Being There released?
- Being There was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 130 minutes.