Five Easy Pieces

Play trailer

Five Easy Pieces

R

1970

1h 36m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Rejecting his cultured upper-class background as a classical pianist, Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson) opts for a blue-collar existence, working in a California oil field and spending time with his waitress girlfriend, Rayette (Karen Black). But when Robert discovers that his father is gravely ill, he wants to reunite with his estranged family in the state of Washington. He and Rayette take a road trip that brings the two paths of his life to an uncomfortable intersection.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

An important touchstone of the New Hollywood era, Five Easy Pieces is a haunting portrait of alienation that features one of Jack Nicholson's greatest performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Edward Guthmann

San Francisco Chronicle

Mar 4, 2019

4/4

If the function of art is to help an audience feel less alone, then Five Easy Pieces succeeds beautifully.

Go to Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Village Voice

Nov 18, 2017

A very modern film. Elliptical, absurdist, harshly humorous, convulsively lyrical.

Go to Full Review

Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Jul 1, 2015

5/5

Director Bob Rafelson attempts something unusual here, making a film that's subtle about its meaning without ever ranging into the pretentiously oblique or merely ambiguous.

Go to Full Review

Michael Calleri

Niagara Gazette

May 16, 2026

The exceptional film is not merely about the family you discover after you leave home. It is also about the family you left behind. Life has a way of connecting them to each other. The extraordinary "Five Easy Pieces" shows us why this is important.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 8, 2025

3.5/4

A new kind of picture even for its era. Jack Nicholson's performance still stands as one of his greatest.

Go to Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Jul 11, 2025

3/4

... wants us to feel complicated about Bobby, but only to a certain degree.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 18, 2026

Five Easy Pieces is a classic movie!

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone Jun 13, 2026

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Atilla T

@Treviewd1nce Apr 14, 2026

I think one of the worst things is to have a life that revolves around you and that goes for everyone.

See more

Kyle M

@RT77296778 Mar 25, 2026

A Jack Nicholson vehicle thematically coasting on independence and belonging with exemplary boosting performance, amid polished realism per attempted resonance, above unconvincing chemistry and dullish attributions. (B)

See more

Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Mar 4, 2026

This is a great character study movie, but if you want plot their really isn't one.

See more

Luca D

@JoeCamel7 Jan 31, 2026

Not a ton of plot or backstory. But otherwise has great acting and characters. Mostly just a loose character study and some decent music and scriptwriting. Jack Nicholson stole the show. Would probably watch again but nothing groundbreaking. Can get kind of monotonous and boring at some points. Ahead of it's time for 1970 though.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Bob Rafelson

Director

Jack Nicholson

Robert Eroica Dupea

Karen Black

Rayette Dipesto

Susan Anspach

Catherine Van Oost

Billy Green Bush

Elton

Fannie Flagg

Stoney

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - Hold the Chicken

1:39

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - No Inner Feeling

1:55

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - You Pompous Celibate!

2:01

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - Betty & Twinky

1:26

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - I'm Fine

2:12

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - Half a Conversation

2:11

Now Playing

Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - The Easiest Piece

2:11

Now Playing

View more videos

Easy Rider

84%

82%

Easy Rider

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Easy Rider

The King of Marvin Gardens

71%

58%

The King of Marvin Gardens

Watchlist

In Cold Blood

75%

88%

In Cold Blood

Watchlist

Hardcore

80%

67%

Hardcore

Watchlist

St. Elmo's Fire

44%

67%

St. Elmo's Fire

Watchlist

TRAILER

for St. Elmo's Fire

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Sebastian Stan’s Five Favorite Films

Now Streaming: Joe, The Muppet Movie, and More

Digital Multiplex: This Is the End, The Croods, and More

View more photos

Synopsis

Rejecting his cultured upper-class background as a classical pianist, Robert Dupea (Jack Nicholson) opts for a blue-collar existence, working in a California oil field and spending time with his waitress girlfriend, Rayette (Karen Black). But when Robert discovers that his father is gravely ill, he wants to reunite with his estranged family in the state of Washington. He and Rayette take a road trip that brings the two paths of his life to an uncomfortable intersection.

Director: Bob Rafelson
Producer: Richard Wechsler, Bob Rafelson
Screenwriter: Carole Eastman, Bob Rafelson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, Criterion Collection
Production Co: BBS Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 12, 1970, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 36m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings