After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.
Where to Watch Being There
- Mister ArnMay 14, 2025There are two things going on in this film, silly humor and deep thinking. So you can laugh at the line, "I like to watch", then contemplate the meaning of the last line "life is a state of mind" as it relates to walking on water. This idea of deeper meaning might also all be part of the joke, enjoy the movie, I did.
- Rowan KrzysiakMarch 23, 2025It's one of the most tonally bizarre films I've ever seen flipping seamlessly between New Hollywood grit and Home Alone schlock. As a result it's both frustrating and intriguing. Ultimately though it's an extremely interesting conversation peice and recommended from that point of view.
- Desmond DaleJanuary 24, 2025The writing is so nuanced and full of layers that unfold like a life mantra hidden in the margins of a comic strip. Peter Sellers is magical, playing a character who appears naive and dumb and yet possesses a youthful optimistic worldview. He seems to have retained a sense of wonder and amazement that most lose in the transition to adulthood. The writing is so tight that at times you can't tell if maybe the character is actually aware of his genius or if he's simply the world's greatest dunce. And it's unafraid to utilize its folklorish character to poke fun at racism, classism and the injustices that come from living in such an oligarchy. And as a result it comes away feeling both sentimental and upbeat and socially aware.
- gmrxboxOctober 15, 2024One of Peter Sellers' last roles, Being There chronicles a simple-minded gardener who, through a series of coincidences and misunderstandings, climbs to the top of the Washington elite. Now, in the wrong hands, this idea could be an absolute disaster. But here, Sellers is able to play it straight at every turn, funny at times, heartfelt at times, weaving the perfect balance (Think of the straight-faced naivety of Steve Martin in The Jerk, and you've got something close).
Being There Trivia
Being There was released on December 19, 1979.
Being There was directed by Hal Ashby.
Being There has a runtime of 2h 10m.
Being There was produced by Andrew Braunsberg, Charles Mulvehill.
After the death of his employer forces him out of the only home he's ever known, a simpleminded, sheltered gardener becomes an unlikely trusted advisor to a powerful tycoon and an insider in Washington politics.
The key characters in Being There are Chance (Peter Sellers), Eve Rand (Shirley MacLaine), Benjamin Rand (Melvyn Douglas).
Being There is rated PG.
Being There is a Comedy, Drama film.
Being There has an audience rating of 9.2 out of 10.
Being There had a budget of $7M.
Being There has made $30.2M at the box office.