Academy Award for Best Picture

1980

Ordinary People

Release date

September 19, 1980

Starring

Donald Sutherland

Mary Tyler Moore

Timothy Hutton

Judd Hirsch

Elizabeth McGovern

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film that marked the directorial debut of Robert Redford. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton.

The story concerns the disintegration of an upper-middle class family in Lake Forest, Illinois, following the death of one of their sons in a boating accident. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent was based upon the 1976 novel Ordinary People by Judith Guest.

The film was a critical and commercial success, winning four Oscars, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.