Five Easy Pieces

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Five Easy Pieces

R

1970

1h 36m

Drama

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Andrew Sarris

Village Voice

Nov 18, 2017

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Jul 11, 2025

3/4

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

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 18, 2026

Five Easy Pieces is a classic movie!

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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

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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.

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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)

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic Mar 4, 2026

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

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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.

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Bob Rafelson

Director

Jack Nicholson

Robert Eroica Dupea

Karen Black

Rayette Dipesto

Susan Anspach

Catherine Van Oost

Billy Green Bush

Elton

Fannie Flagg

Stoney

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Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - I'm Fine

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Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - Half a Conversation

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Five Easy Pieces: Official Clip - The Easiest Piece

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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: Criterion Collection, Columbia Pictures
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

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