Overview
A young woman's journey from small-town life to country music stardom unfolds with heart and grit.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- warm
- wistful
- cathartic
- music film night
- classic biopic viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a thoughtfully crafted and emotionally affecting country music biopic elevated by Sissy Spacek’s acclaimed performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Loretta Lynn’s life is traced from rural poverty and early marriage through her emergence as a country music superstar.
Loretta’s songwriting and singing gradually transform her prospects despite domestic responsibilities and poverty.
Honky-tonks, fairs, Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry, and figures such as Patsy Cline anchor the cultural world.
Loretta’s relationship with Patsy Cline is a notable part of her movement into country music prominence.
Films like Coal Miner's Daughter, and why
Ray
music biopic centered on an artist’s rise from hardship to professional acclaim, with strong lead performance
Walk the Line
warm, character-driven musical biography depicting ambition, family pressures, and public success
Judy
acclaimed singer-centered biopic combining working-class origins, emotional resilience, and performance sequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Apted
- Release Date
- 1980-03-07
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (291)
Cast
- Sissy Spacek
- Tommy Lee Jones
- Levon Helm
- Beverly D'Angelo
- William Sanderson
- Phyllis Boyens
- Bill Anderson Jr.
- Foister Dickerson
- Malla McCown
- Pamela McCown
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Coal Miner's Daughter about?
- A poor Kentucky mother discovers a powerful singing voice and fights through domestic strain, regional hardship, and industry pressure to become country music royalty.
- What is Coal Miner's Daughter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Coal Miner's Daughter as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Coal Miner's Daughter violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Coal Miner's Daughter as mild.
- What did critics think of Coal Miner's Daughter?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a thoughtfully crafted and emotionally affecting country music biopic elevated by Sissy Spacek’s acclaimed performance.
- Which films are like Coal Miner's Daughter?
- Films with a similar feel include Ray, Walk the Line, and Judy.
- How long is Coal Miner's Daughter?
- Coal Miner's Daughter runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Coal Miner's Daughter?
- In United States, Coal Miner's Daughter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
