The Great Santini
1979, English. Directed by Lewis John Carlino.
The bravest thing he would ever do was let his family love him.
As he approaches manhood, Ben Meechum struggles to win the approval of his demanding alpha male father, an aggressively competitive, but frustrated marine pilot.
- Runtime
- 1h 55m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.8/10 from 78 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Great Santini
The Great Santini isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free or rent it or buy it online.
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Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 11 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Lewis John CarlinoDirector
- Robert DuvallBull Meechum
- Blythe DannerLillian Meechum
- Michael O'KeefeBen Meechum
- Lisa Jane PerskyMary Anne Meechum
- Julie Anne HaddockKaren Meechum
- Brian AndrewsMatthew Meechum
- Stan ShawToomer Smalls
- Theresa MerrittArrabella Smalls
- David KeithRed Petus
- Paul ManteeCol. Virgil Hedgepath
- Michael StrongCol. Varney
- Bennett LissCpl. Atcherly
Details
- Released
- 26 October 1979
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Lewis John Carlino
- Budget
- $4M
- Box office
- $4.7M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What The Great Santini is based on
The Great Santini is based on The Great Santini, a 1976 novel by Pat Conroy, published by Random House.
Novel · 1976
The Great Santini
By Pat Conroy
Published by Random House
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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The Great Santini: quick answers
Is The Great Santini worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.8/10 from 78 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Great Santini?
The Great Santini runs 115 minutes (1h 55m).
Does The Great Santini have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Great Santini. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Great Santini parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Great Santini is rated PG in India. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
Which OTT platform is The Great Santini on?
The Great Santini isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can watch it free or rent it or buy it online. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Great Santini?
If you liked The Great Santini, try Dad, Of Mice and Men, East of Eden.
Who directed The Great Santini?
The Great Santini (1979) was directed by Lewis John Carlino and stars Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe.
What is The Great Santini based on?
The Great Santini is based on The Great Santini, a 1976 novel by Pat Conroy, published by Random House.