When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself?
A man spends a summer day swimming home via all the pools in his quiet suburban neighborhood.
The Swimmer (1968) is a drama film directed by Frank Perry, released on August 9, 1968 with a runtime of 1h 35m. It stars Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Janice Rule and Tony Bickley. Viewers rate it 7.4 out of 10 across 278 ratings.
Watch the official trailer for The Swimmer before you stream it.
Burt Lancaster
as Ned Merrill
Janet Landgard
as Julie Ann Hooper
Janice Rule
as Shirley Abbott
Tony Bickley
as Donald Westerhazy
Marge Champion
as Peggy Forsburgh
Nancy Cushman
as Mrs. Halloran
Bill Fiore
as Howie Hunsacker
Rose Gregorio
as Sylvia Finney
David Garfield
as Ticket Seller
Kim Hunter
as Betty Graham
Charles Drake
as Howard Graham
Bernie Hamilton
as Chauffeur
Directed by Frank Perry, written by Eleanor Perry and John Cheever, produced by Frank Perry and Roger H. Lewis.
Average viewer score of 7.4/10 from 278 ratings.
"Ned" (Burt Lancaster) has been away for a while so his neighbours are a bit surprised to see him, clad only in his trunks, swimming in their pool. After some chat with them, he discovers that barring the odd bit of terrain to cross, he can pretty much swim his way home through the pools of other neighbours/friends/acquaintances - a river and even a public lido... The film now follows him as this rather unique…
Reviewed on June 3, 2023
**_Offbeat parable of self-discovery on the collapse of the “American dream”_** A somewhat confused man in swimming trunks (Burt Lancaster) travels from pool to pool in suburban Connecticut on his way home. Some of the people he comes across are played by Janet Landgard, Janice Rule, Joan Rivers and Diana Muldaur, amongst several others. "The Swimmer" (1968) is a semi-surreal commentary on mid-60’s America and the…
Reviewed on June 16, 2024
Burt Lancaster referred to this film as ""**'Death of a Salesman'** in swimming trunks,"" and that's not a bad characterization. You could also think of it, in many ways, as ""**'American Beauty'** in the late 1960s."" This movie came out nine years after the original **'Twilight Zone'** series aired, and it would have made an interesting episode. As a movie, it lasts a little too long, is fairly melodramatic, and…
Reviewed on April 6, 2026
2023
2018
2008
2015
2019
2002
2024
2025
2015
2003
2007
1995
2010
2015
2013
2025
1987
1987
1989
2024
2005
1994
1999
2003
1971
1999
1954
1919
1980
2024
2004
2007
2000
2001
2006
1999
2003
2008
1967
1986
The Swimmer (1968) is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home. No subscription streaming option is listed right now, so availability may change.
The main cast of The Swimmer (1968) includes Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Janice Rule, Tony Bickley and Marge Champion. The film was directed by Frank Perry. You can see the full cast and crew list, with character names, further up this page.
The Swimmer was released on August 9, 1968 and runs for 1h 35m.
The Swimmer (1968) holds an average rating of 7.4 out of 10 from 278 viewer votes, and is a good pick if you enjoy drama films. Read the viewer reviews on this page to decide for yourself.
Yes. The official The Swimmer trailer is embedded in the trailer section of this page and plays instantly, no download or sign-up required.
