On Golden Pond poster

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On Golden Pond

1981 · Movie · 109 min
A

MEANRANK

81/100

Averaged across 5 ratings · 73.8K votes

Every rating

Platform pages last read 7 October 2026. IMDb’s figure comes from IMDb’s own data file, which we re-read about once a month.

75–91 out of 100

Everyone agrees

Lowest is Letterboxd on 75, highest is Rotten Tomatoes critics on 91. Critics average 91, everyone else 79.

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For Norman and Ethel Thayer, this summer on golden pond is filled with conflict and resolution. When their daughter Chelsea arrives, the family is forced to renew the bonds of love and overcome the generational friction that has existed for years.

Details

Director
Mark Rydell
Based on
a work by Ernest Thompson
Released
4 December 1981
Country
United States
Language
English
Runtime
109 min
Rated
PG
Budget
$15.0M
Box office
$119.3M
Awards
13 wins, 20 nominations

This title elsewhere

Cast

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Hepburn

Ethel Thayer

Henry Fonda

Henry Fonda

Norman Thayer Jr.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda

Chelsea Thayer Wayne

Doug McKeon

Doug McKeon

Billy Ray

Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman

Bill Ray

William Lanteau

William Lanteau

Charlie Martin

Christopher Rydell

Christopher Rydell

Sumner Todd

Troy Garity

Troy Garity

Young Boy on Jetty (uncredited)

Awards & nominations

See all 33 →

7 major awards won · 13 wins from 33 nominations across 12 ceremonies

Academy Awards 1981 Best Actor Henry Fonda Winner
Academy Awards 1981 Best Actress Katharine Hepburn Winner
Academy Awards 1981 Best Adapted Screenplay Ernest Thompson Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1981 Best Screenplay Ernest Thompson Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1981 Best Motion Picture - Drama Winner
Golden Globe Awards 1981 Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama Henry Fonda Winner
Writers Guild of America Awards 1981 Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium Ernest Thompson Winner
Academy Awards 1981 Best Picture Bruce Gilbert Nominee
Show all 33 awards across 12 ceremonies