Downhill Racer
A fiercely competitive skier turns Olympic ambition into a revealing test of narcissism, identity, and the price of winning.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- austere
- stylish
- sports movie night
- classic cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an exceptionally compelling and visually beautiful sports drama that uses ski racing to examine narcissism, competition, and emotional isolation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
David Chappellet is presented as both a competitive event and an unstable personality, with his selfhood inseparable from skiing.
David exploits a teammate's injury, rejects team obligations, and pursues Olympic success through narcissistic self-interest.
The downhill sequences plunge viewers into the physical speed of racing while contrasting it with the less glamorous pressures surrounding elite sport.
David's fiendish striving is clear, while the film deliberately withholds a stable explanation of who he is beyond the athlete and the persona.
Films like Downhill Racer, and why
The Wrestler
psychological sports drama centered on obsessive ambition, competitive identity, and the costs of individual achievement
Foxcatcher
intense athlete-centered drama where personal drive conflicts with teamwork and institutional expectations
The Red Shoes
stylish, morally complicated portrait of elite competition, narcissism, and performance under pressure
Breaking Away
grounded sports drama balancing visceral competition with intimate character study and emotional isolation
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Ritchie
- Release Date
- 1969-11-06
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (115)
Cast
- Robert Redford
- Gene Hackman
- Camilla Sparv
- Karl Michael Vogler
- Jim McMullan
- Kathleen Crowley
- Dabney Coleman
- Kenneth Kirk
- Oren Stevens
- Jerry Dexter
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- 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 Downhill Racer about?
- A fiercely competitive skier turns Olympic ambition into a revealing test of narcissism, identity, and the price of winning.
- What is Downhill Racer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Downhill Racer as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Downhill Racer violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Downhill Racer as mild.
- What did critics think of Downhill Racer?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an exceptionally compelling and visually beautiful sports drama that uses ski racing to examine narcissism, competition, and emotional isolation.
- Which films are like Downhill Racer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wrestler, Foxcatcher, The Red Shoes, and Breaking Away.
- How long is Downhill Racer?
- Downhill Racer runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Downhill Racer?
- In United States, Downhill Racer streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
