X
  • 1974
  • R
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 48 m
  • 1974
  • R
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 48 m

Summary When a casual gambler befriends a professional one, he begins to mirror his life, sending both deeper into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger.

  • 1974
  • R
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 48 m
  • 1974
  • R
  • Columbia Pictures
  • 1 h 48 m

California Split

Metascore Universal Acclaim Based on 15 Critic Reviews
must-see
85
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
7.4
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary When a casual gambler befriends a professional one, he begins to mirror his life, sending both deeper into the sleazy gambling world where the stakes keep getting bigger.

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 15 Critic Reviews
85
87% Positive
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Universal Acclaim Based on 15 Critic Reviews
85
87% Positive
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
California Split has never been heralded as one of the key Altmans. But the few things it does — friendship and disappointment and the drab and desperate thrill of the gambler’s life — it does superbly.
By Alan Scherstuhl FULL REVIEW
100
Because Joseph Walsh's screenplay is funny and Segal and Gould are naturally engaging, we have a good time.
By Roger Ebert FULL REVIEW
90
Robert Altman’s most overlooked gem.
By Nick Schager FULL REVIEW
88
As in all Altman films, winning is losing; and the more Altman reveals, in his oblique, seemingly casual yet brilliantly controlled way, the more we realize that to love characters the way Altman loves his, you have to see them turned completely inside out.
FULL REVIEW
80
A fascinating, vivid movie, not quite comparable to any other movie that I can immediately think of. Nor is it easily categorized.
By Vincent Canby FULL REVIEW
75
A film such as this, which is essentially a series of comic vignettes without a plot, depends upon its performances, and both Gould and Segal are in top form, providing an example of impov at its best.
FULL REVIEW
50
The film is technically and physically handsome, all the more so for being mostly location work, but lacks a cohesive and reinforced sense of story direction.
FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
7.4
100% Positive
5 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 5 User Ratings
7.4
100% Positive
5 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Spelling Goldberg, Reno Associates
Release Date Aug 1, 1974
Duration 1 h 48 m
Rating R
Genres
Tagline California Split ... being the story of two bet-on-anything guys who happily discover something called a "winning streak."
View All Details

Awards

Writers Guild of America, USA
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

Singin' in the Rain

99
Universal Acclaim

Playtime

99
Universal Acclaim

City Lights

99
Universal Acclaim

The Rules of the Game

99
Universal Acclaim

Pinocchio

99
Universal Acclaim

Some Like It Hot

98
Universal Acclaim

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

97
Universal Acclaim

American Graffiti

97
Universal Acclaim

Toy Story

96
Universal Acclaim

The Shop Around the Corner

96
Universal Acclaim

A Hard Day's Night

96
Universal Acclaim

Nashville

96
Universal Acclaim

The Philadelphia Story

96
Universal Acclaim

Ratatouille

96
Universal Acclaim

The Lady Eve

96
Universal Acclaim

Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World

95
Universal Acclaim

La Dolce Vita

95
Universal Acclaim

Inside Out

94
Universal Acclaim

Sideways

94
Universal Acclaim

Meet Me in St. Louis

94
Universal Acclaim

The Apartment

94
Universal Acclaim

Chimes at Midnight

94
Universal Acclaim

Related News

The 15 Worst Movies Based on TV Shows

The 15 Worst Movies Based on TV Shows

Jason Dietz

Hollywood continually attempts to bring TV shows to the big screen--and it often turns out poorly. We look at the 15 absolute worst TV-to-film adaptations so far.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie
2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find a schedule of release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
May 2024 Movie Preview

May 2024 Movie Preview

Keith Kimbell

Get a look at the most notable movies debuting in May, including a Mad Max prequel, a Planet of the Apes sequel, and a promising Ryan Gosling-led action-comedy.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie