Is The Great Gatsby Worth Watching?
Answer: Yes, The Great Gatsby is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 144 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to general audiences.
The Great Gatsby Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 1974, The Great Gatsby emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Romance domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Nick Carraway, a young Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, the nouveau riche Jay Gatsby. Unlike standard genre fare, The Great Gatsby attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Great Gatsby features a noteworthy lineup led by Robert Redford . Supported by the likes of Mia Farrow and Bruce Dern , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Great Gatsby (1974) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.3/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Great Gatsby Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Great Gatsby is a Drama, Romance film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The Great Gatsby Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Great Gatsby concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Great Gatsby reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Great Gatsby?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
The Great Gatsby Box Office Collection
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $6.5M |
| Worldwide Gross | $26.5M |
| Trade Verdict | FINANCIAL DISAPPOINTMENT |
The Great Gatsby Budget
The estimated production budget for The Great Gatsby is $6.5M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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Full Cast & Crew of The Great Gatsby
- Robert Redford – Jay Gatsby
- Mia Farrow – Daisy Buchanan
- Bruce Dern – Tom Buchanan
- Karen Black – Myrtle Wilson
- Scott Wilson – George Wilson
Top Highlights
Robert RedfordJay Gatsby
Mia FarrowDaisy Buchanan
Bruce DernTom Buchanan
Karen BlackMyrtle Wilson
Scott WilsonGeorge Wilson
Sam WaterstonNick Carraway
Lois ChilesJordan Baker
Howard Da SilvaMeyer Wolfsheim
Roberts BlossomMr. Gatz
Edward HerrmannKlipspringer
Where to Watch The Great Gatsby Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
The Great Gatsby is rated PG. Parents should be aware that it contains romantic content. It is generally suitable for all ages.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.3/10, and global collection metrics, The Great Gatsby stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1974 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Great Gatsby movie hit or flop?
The Great Gatsby has received mixed reviews with a 6.3/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Great Gatsby worth watching?
The Great Gatsby is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Romance movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Great Gatsby online?
The Great Gatsby may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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How The Great Gatsby Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Great Gatsby
"Nick" (Sam Waterston) lives in a cottage on the edge of the estate owned by the enigmatic "Gatsby" (Robert Redford) and is fascinated by the man. He has old money wealth and regularly hosts lavish parties for strangers whom her barely knows and to which he rarely bothers to go. "Nick" is unexpectedly invited to one such party and then to meet the man himself who isn't quite what he was expecting. This is the start of an unusual friendship that introduces him to a life of shallow profligacy, duplicity and some fairly ghastly individuals. "Gatsby" has taken a shine to "Daisy" (Mia Farrow) who is married to the rather brutish "Tom" (Bruce Dorn) and much of the rest of this lengthy period melodrama follows the intricacies of the new relationship between these two men, and of the latter man's increasingly dubious lifestyle that isn't quite playing out as "Nick" anticipated. Now this adaptation is an almost literal one of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel - and that might have worked were we in a theatre. We are not, though, and what we are presented with here is a wordy and frankly rather sterile and plodding character study. Too much reliance is placed on the aesthetic elements - the costumes, sets, lavishness of the parties; indeed the imagery is gorgeous. It's supposed to be a love story, but the purported relationship between Redford and Farrow just doesn't resonate. I never really understood why she was so acclaimed in the first place - her performances were always rather hit or miss. The narration from Waterston also becomes a little too flat and the contrasting existences of the fabulously wealthy and the subsistence poor is hardly developed at all. My star of the film is Karen Black's "Myrtle" - possibly the only persona here that exudes anything like a sense of personality as she juggles her marriage and her affair. This is a nasty story about selfish and thoughtless people, but this iteration simply fails to capture that emotion, or - indeed - any other emotion either. Lots and lots of style, but it's lacking soul.
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
