Out of Africa

63%

Tomatometer

88 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.

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Critics Consensus

Though lensed with stunning cinematography and featuring a pair of winning performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa suffers from excessive length and glacial pacing.

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Critics Reviews

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Mike McGrady

Newsday

Once again, Streep adds a third dimension to a two-dimensional medium; once again she brings humanity and intelligence to a remarkable portrait that must be added to what has become a gallery of such portraits.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 25, 2023

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Rick Lyman

Philadelphia Inquirer

Sydney Pollack's glorious and stirring Out of Africa is a big-screen epic in the very best sense.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 13, 2021

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David Denby

New York Magazine/Vulture

The beauty of Out of Africa, From the very opening shots, is rhapsodic and illustrative rather than dramatic. This large-scale adaptation of Isak Dinesen's marvelous memoir never catches fire.

Jan 13, 2021

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

A disjointed, lumpen snoozer that improves in its final half but completely whiffs the ending. It's also one of Meryl Streep's least interesting and most perfunctorily Oscar-nominated performances.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 22, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

There are many who consider Out of Africa a weak Best Picture Oscar winner, but I vehemently disagree.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 10, 2023

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

As far as romance goes, Out of Africa runs the full gamut of archetypal themes. While it often induces a yawn, it is gorgeous to look at.

Jun 27, 2023

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Audience Reviews

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Terry M I read the book recently. The movie is just as long and dull as the book was. But Meryl Streep was excellent as usual at least. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review Aileen D The film began with Karen telling her story from her point of view. The screenplay retained some of the poetry of the author’s original writing, and the pace was slow because Karen was savoring all the details of her memories - her story. She was stoic when recounting her story because she could be objective with the passage of time, so her recounting was on the tender side yet passionate. All in all: a fine screenplay and excellent editing.Aileen Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/03/24 Full Review David K It's a beautiful film - photography, soundtrack - with outstanding performances that needed to have a little more get-up-and-go. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful love story that I return to again and again. Redford and Streep are incredible and totally inhabit their characters. Beautifully shot and conceptualized film. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/11/24 Full Review Greg B Redford was terribly miscast. The role was written for an Englishman -- Stewart Granger being the model. Redford stuck to his wooden "acting" style, apparently incapable of summoning a British accent. Otherwise, the movie was too long. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review Lanfranco C The African Bug and the African Loves Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/23/24 Full Review Read all reviews

Out of Africa

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Cast & Crew

Sydney Pollack Director Meryl Streep Karen Christence Dinesen Blixen-Finecke Robert Redford Denys George Finch Hatton Klaus Maria Brandauer Bror Blixen Michael Kitchen Berkeley Cole Malick Bowens Farah

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Out of Africa

Out of Africa: Official Clip - He Was Not Mine