SummaryA psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind boy becomes a master pinball player and, subsequently, the object of a religious cult.
Directed By:Ken Russell
Written By:The Who, Ken Russell, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Keith Moon
Tommy
Metascore
Generally Favorable
66
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
70% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
20% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
10% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
90
Russell has created what is surely the loudest, most assaultive movie musical ever made and stretched the genre into a new realm - the phantasmagorical nightmare. [24 Mar 1975, p.24]
83
For all that Tommy bungles or overdoes, it’s still a powerful experience, musically and visually.
User score
Generally Favorable
80% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
20% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Feb 26, 2019
10
To be honest, I am hard pressed to find a bad moment in the entire film. Everyone in it is at their peak and manage to give their very best performances for what is a tremendous, disturbing and hopeful film. I am not a fan of musicals as a general rule but this one stands out as so much more than just a musical. It is a Rock Opera and it is beyond amazing. ****
Oct 18, 2025
9
The narrative of this must have meant something to Pete Townsend; it was the basis of his most audacious album, the barrier-breaking double LP "Tommy." The story can be ignored in Ken Russell's feature film version, but the color and energy of the images cannot be. It offers us a lot to see and, almost as importantly, to discuss. This belongs in the permanent collection for sure.
80
There has never been a movie musical quite like Tommy, a weird, crazy, wonderfully excessive version of The Who's rock opera.
70
Tommy is turning out to be the kind of movie most people probably like more than they care to admit. Modest charm and unpretentiousness are hardly the qualities that I ever thought I would associate with Ken Russell, but there you are, and there Tommy is. [31 Mar 1975, p.68]
70
Mr. Russell's Tommy virtually explodes with excitement on the screen. A lot of it is not quite the profound social commentary it pretends to be, but that's beside the point of the fun.
50
This 1975 film's inventiveness begins to flag about halfway through, but by then it's a relief.
25
Ken Russell applies his rococo outpourings to Pete Townshend's rock opera and botches not only the visuals but the fine score.
Jul 1, 2024
4
I love The Who, but this silly , overlong, tiresome, repetitive, annoying borefest was a major miscalculation, Ken Russell provides some clever visuals, But lots of guest stars are wasted, The standouts are Elton John as the Pinball Wizard, and Ann-Margret, wow, she puts it out there in a committed performance.
Production Company:
- Robert Stigwood Organisation Ltd.
- Hemdale
Release Date:Mar 19, 1975
Duration:1 h 51 m
Rating:PG
Tagline:Now a New Experience in TRI-PHONIC SOUND
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Nominations
Palic Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
