

The Candidate
Bill McKay has a lot going for him...but nothing compared to what's coming.
Bill McKay is a candidate for the U.S. Senate from California. He has no hope of winning, so he is willing to tweak the establishment.
TMDB
6.5/10
200 votes
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Not rated yet
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $1.6M
- Box office
- $2.5M
- Language
- English
- california
- politics
- political campaign
- u.s. senator
- political candidate
Top billed cast











Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- TheatricalPGNew York City, New York29 Jun 1972
GermanyDE
- Theatrical1226 Jan 1973
GreeceGR
- Theatrical133 Dec 1972
IrelandIE
- TheatricalPG11 Aug 1972
ItalyIT
- PremiereVenice Film Festival26 Aug 1972
SpainES
- Theatrical1213 Dec 1972
Frequently asked questions
The Candidate was released on 29 June 1972.
Audience reviews
3- A6/10
Andres Gomez
7/18/2015
The cast is really good and Redford delivers a great performance. The story depicts the trip from an activist in the way to become the politician he was despising from the beginning, showing all the things that is is dropping in the raise to the election. However, the story is a bit rushed and the transfixing is not so evident as it could have been depicted.
- B8/10
Bazzjazz
5/10/2018
The Candidate: This film is a great look into the current administration in the White House. ‘The Candidate’ is a fine example of art imitating life!
- C7/10
CinemaSerf
6/25/2025
“McKay” (Robert Redford) is your stereotypical protest lawyer in California who is drafted in to fight the incumbent Republican “Crocker” (Don Porter) in what would appear to be little more than a box-ticking exercise for the Democrats. He only agrees to run if he is allowed by his election agent “Marvin” (Peter Boyle) to pretty much do and say what he likes throughout the campaign. Before long, that frankness and ca…
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