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Popeye

Play trailer Poster for Popeye PG 1980 1h 54m Kids & Family Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Looking for the father (Ray Walston) who deserted him as a baby, a sailor named Popeye (Robin Williams) journeys to the port town of Sweethaven. Popeye befriends an assortment of eccentrics and falls in love with Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall), who already has a suitor, the bully Bluto (Paul L. Smith). Popeye also discovers an abandoned baby, Swee'Pea, whom he raises as his own. But when the spurned Bluto kidnaps Olive and the child, Popeye takes action, with the help of his magic spinach.
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Critics Consensus

Altman's take on the iconic cartoon is messy and wildly uneven, but its robust humor and manic charm are hard to resist.

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Critics Reviews

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Patrick Gibbs Daily Telegraph (UK) Jun 17, 2022
Despite the evidently affectionate reproductions, as it were, by Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall as Popeye and his girl, Olive Oyl, and some loyal support, I don't think this comes off at all; but then, I have no fond memory of the originals. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian Jun 17, 2022
Popeye may be uneven and at times wilful, like many Altman films. But it is still very much the enjoyable fable it should be. Go to Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Jun 17, 2022
One succumbs to a state of glazed indifference. The fault is not in the performances by Williams and Duvall, but rather, I suspect, in Altman's refusal to allow any movie star to violate the one-dimensional texture he's created. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jul 15, 2025
3/5
…given the talent involved, Popeye is a true fiasco, a stupendous set of mercurial talents unable to connect with celebrated material….there’s brilliant sight gags, and some knowing humour, but the central casting, while looking good, simply doesn’t work… Go to Full Review John Brosnan Starburst Jul 26, 2022
Altman's naturalism and the unreal subject matter that makes Popeye so interesting and unusual... a genuinely original atmosphere. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Everett T @RT41780084 Aug 14, 2026 Good movie do like captins See more Melissa M @Lisey Jun 30, 2026 It's a shame the only awards this movie won was the stinker awards. The costume designer as well as the casting director deserved at least a sag award. This live action movie is one of the best adaptations of a cartoon. No one could have played the part of Popeye better than Robin Williams. Shelley Duvall is awesomely cast. she looks like olive oil come to life. This film has all the classic Popeye characters. Never has a film been so perfectly cast. Several songs in the film were performed by Robin Williams & Shelley Duvall. Williams performed the songs I am Popeye the sailor Man & Sweet pea's lullaby. He danced in the film but somebody else was in charge of the choreography. Popeye was Robin Williams first starring role in a feature movie. A fun fact. Robin Williams fake forearms for the Popeye costume we're not ready when the film began. So an earlier parts of the film he wears a long sleeved raincoat to hide his normal size arms. See more Matthew H. @prairiebuddha82 Apr 13, 2026 Super underrated. Very quirky all the way through. Plays better today than when it was first released (although I can't say that with complete authority seeing as I wasn't actually there).The film was the unfortunate victim of self indulgence of all those involved. The drugs on the set were legendary. The delays were costly. All this combined with a string of low budget duds Altman helmed immediately prior led to his being iced out of the industry for a time. Anyway, this film is great, it gets better with each viewing. See more Wirt S. @littleJackPopcorner Jan 3, 2026 The good parts are fascinatingly weird. The rest … not so much. See more Annie V @Annie265 Oct 23, 2025 this movie is so lame so bored and shelley Duval so annoyed as olive oil See more Vincent S. @Vin_E_At_The_Movies Sep 29, 2025 A childhood favorite and the most perfect film creation of a comic book or cartoon series. See more Read all reviews
Popeye

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Altman

Director

Robin Williams

Popeye

Shelley Duvall

Olive Oyl

Paul L. Smith

Bluto

Ray Walston

Poopdeck Pappy

Paul Dooley

Wimpy

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Popeye

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Popeye

Popeye (1980) Popeye (1980) Popeye (1980) Popeye (1980) Popeye (1980) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Looking for the father (Ray Walston) who deserted him as a baby, a sailor named Popeye (Robin Williams) journeys to the port town of Sweethaven. Popeye befriends an assortment of eccentrics and falls in love with Olive Oyl (Shelley Duvall), who already has a suitor, the bully Bluto (Paul L. Smith). Popeye also discovers an abandoned baby, Swee'Pea, whom he raises as his own. But when the spurned Bluto kidnaps Olive and the child, Popeye takes action, with the help of his magic spinach.
Director
Robert Altman
Producer
Robert Evans
Screenwriter
Jules Feiffer
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 12, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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