Overview
A charming tale of love and wealth, where true happiness may come from unexpected places.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- boozy
- warm
- lazy sunday
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Dudley Moore's boozy charm, energetic cast chemistry, and consistently jovial humor in this romantic coming-of-age comedy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur's fortune depends on marrying Susan, while his relationship with Linda offers love outside his family's social expectations.
Arthur begins as an aimless alcoholic heir and is pushed toward making an independent choice about love, money, and identity.
Hobson's sharp guidance and loyalty counter Arthur's drunken impulsiveness and help shape his emotional growth.
Arthur's comic drunkenness, lavish inheritance, and family demands generate the film's distinctive humor.
Films like Arthur, and why
The Goodbye Girl
boozy romantic comedy centered on an immature wealthy protagonist whose love life challenges social expectations
Pretty Woman
warm, witty romantic comedy pairing an unconventional man with a woman outside his privileged social world
The Jerk
character-driven comedy about wealth, class performance, and a disreputable but charming male lead
Tootsie
romantic comedy balancing broad humor with emotional maturation and class tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Steve Gordon
- Release Date
- 1981-07-17
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (486)
Cast
- Dudley Moore
- Liza Minnelli
- John Gielgud
- Geraldine Fitzgerald
- Jill Eikenberry
- Stephen Elliott
- Ted Ross
- Barney Martin
- Thomas Barbour
- Anne DeSalvo
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Arthur about?
- A wealthy, alcoholic heir risks his inheritance to pursue genuine love and become his own person.
- What is Arthur like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Arthur as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Arthur violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Arthur.
- What did critics think of Arthur?
- Critics broadly praised Dudley Moore's boozy charm, energetic cast chemistry, and consistently jovial humor in this romantic coming-of-age comedy.
- Which films are like Arthur?
- Films with a similar feel include The Goodbye Girl, Pretty Woman, The Jerk, and Tootsie.
- How long is Arthur?
- Arthur runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Arthur?
- In United States, Arthur is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
