The Swimmer poster

The Swimmer

When you talk about "The Swimmer" will you talk about yourself?

7.3(282)19681h 35m3

A man spends a summer day swimming home via all the pools in his quiet suburban neighborhood.

Share WhatsApp Telegram
Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • upper class
  • midlife crisis
  • connecticut
  • swimming pool
  • neighbor
  • swimmer
  • disillusionment
  • based on short story
  • pool party
  • existential crisis
  • pool-hopping
  • psychological breakdown

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Frank Perry

Produced in

United Kingdom, United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

Still from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The SwimmerStill from The Swimmer

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNew York City, New York15 May 1968
  • United KingdomGB

    • TheatricalLondon30 Oct 1968
    • Theatrical (limited)PGRe-release5 Jul 2006
  • AustraliaAU

    • Theatrical7 Nov 1968
  • AustriaAT

    • Theatrical26 Dec 1968
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical19 May 1969
  • FinlandFI

    • Theatrical9 Aug 1968
  • FranceFR

    • TheatricalTP18 Sept 1968
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1217 Jan 1969
  • Hong KongHK

    • Theatrical18 Dec 1968
  • ItalyIT

    • Theatrical11 Oct 1968
  • JapanJP

    • Theatrical6 Sept 1969
  • MexicoMX

    • Theatrical26 Dec 1969

Frequently asked questions

The Swimmer was released on 9 August 1968.

Audience reviews

3
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    6/3/2023

    7/10

    "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 journe…

  • W

    Wuchak

    6/16/2024

    7/10

    **_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 an…

  • A

    Abstractals

    4/6/2026

    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, a…

Member reviews

Sign in to rate and review. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

Member comments

0

Sign in to post a comment. Browsing stays free and open.

Sign in

More like this