Being There poster

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Being There

1979 · Movie · 130 min
A

MEANRANK

82/100

Averaged across 11 ratings · 202.3K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 30 September 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

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69–95 out of 100

Mostly agreed

Lowest is Criticker on 69, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 95.

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A simple-minded gardener has lived his entire life isolated inside a wealthy man's estate. When his benefactor dies, he is forced into the outside world for the first time. His simple gardening metaphors are mistaken for profound wisdom by Washington D.C.'s political elite, who project their own ideas onto his blank slate, propelling him to unlikely fame.

Details

Director
Hal Ashby
Based on
Being There by Jerzy Kosiński
Released
19 December 1979
Country
United States
Language
English, Russian, Italian
Runtime
130 min
Rated
PG
Box office
$30.2M
Awards
13 wins, 15 nominations

This title elsewhere

Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers

Chance

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Eve Rand

Melvyn Douglas

Melvyn Douglas

Benjamin Rand

Jack Warden

Jack Warden

President 'Bobby'

Richard Dysart

Richard Dysart

Dr. Robert Allenby

Richard Basehart

Richard Basehart

Vladimir Skrapinov

Ruth Attaway

Ruth Attaway

Louise

David Clennon

David Clennon

Thomas Franklin

Awards & nominations

See all 28 →

4 major awards won · 13 wins from 28 nominations across 13 ceremonies

Academy Awards 1979 Best Supporting Actor Melvyn Douglas Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1979 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Melvyn Douglas Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1979 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Peter Sellers Winner
Writers Guild of America Awards 1979 Best Comedy – Adapted from Another Medium Jerzy Kosinski Winner
Academy Awards 1979 Best Actor Peter Sellers Nominee
Cannes Film Festival 1979 Palme d'Or Hal Ashby Nominee
Golden Globe Awards 1979 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Shirley MacLaine Nominee
Golden Globe Awards 1979 Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominee
Show all 28 awards across 13 ceremonies

Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.