Little Big Man

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Little Big Man

PG-13

1970

2h 30m

Western

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Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

79 Reviews

87%

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10,000+ Ratings

When a curious oral historian (William Hickey) turns up to hear the life story of 121-year-old Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman), he can scarcely believe his ears. Crabb tells of having been rescued and raised by the Cheyenne, of working as a snake-oil salesman, as a gunslinger, and as a mule skinner under Gen. Custer (Richard Mulligan). As if those weren't astonishing enough, he also claims to be the only white survivor of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn.

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Critics Consensus

An ambitious tall tale that boldly meshes farce with historical tragedy, Little Big Man is both an amusing comedic showcase and a persuasive political statement.

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Stefan Kanfer

TIME Magazine

Nov 10, 2023

The '70s has its first great epic. Blood brother to the 1903 one-reeler, The Great Train Robbery, Little Big Man is the new western to begin all westerns.

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Pauline Kael

The New Yorker

Nov 10, 2023

You wind up disappointed, wishing you'd liked it better. It goes wrong in a subtle way -- the wrongness seeping into your bones, so that when the movie is over, you don't really feel like talking about it.

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David Denby

The Atlantic

Nov 10, 2023

Leaving aside the question of Penn's altering the tone of the movie according to who is being slaughtered, I question the artistic and political ethics of building up the desire for revenge in the audience.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 6, 2025

4/4

One of the great films of the 1970s.

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Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

Jan 17, 2024

Adapted from an epic novel into an equally epic film, this is a Hoffman vehicle that sees the actor gallop through endless guises like an extended audition tape.

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Ben Wood

Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Nov 10, 2023

What makes this message picture succeed is its comedy, which Hoffman and the fine supporting cast handle so well. Penn makes us laugh instead of cry, even though blood runs like water.

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Pekka L

@RT95858005 6 days ago

Little Big Man (1970) is a truly unforgettable Western masterpiece! Dustin Hoffman delivers an outstanding performance as Jack Crabb. What makes this film particularly powerful is its portrayal of Native American life, culture, and the tragic fate of Indigenous peoples during the westward expansion of the United States. The portrayal of General George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 adds historical depth to the story, even though the film deliberately combines satire with fiction. A magnificent film that masterfully brings together humor, humanity, and the tragedy of history. An absolute masterpiece – 100/100 points!

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 19, 2026

I own this movie on DVD thus my 4.5 star Rating!

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Moe A

@MrMoe74 Sep 5, 2026

I saw it when I was a kid and loved it - I need to see it again tho

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Max M

@Househuntermax Aug 6, 2026

I like the concept and what they’re trying to do here. But I’ve never been much of a Dustin Hoffman fan so this overly long movie wasn’t for me.

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Alec B

@Alec97 Apr 15, 2026

One of Hollywood's transitional Westerners, made when one view of manifest destiny was shifting to another (or really several others). As a result this movie doesn't feel like it was made to fulfill any mandates or sensibilities. I've known a number of old men who talk exactly the way the voice over narration here sounds, so it feels honest to me even if the picaresque plot often seems ridiculous.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Aug 31, 2025

An alternative Western but one of the very best of its genre. Hoffman is outstanding. The comedy is light but beautifully timed. It’s such a fun drama that you can’t help but stay engaged throughout. A fantastic film that ages well. Watched on DVD.

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Arthur Penn

Director

Dustin Hoffman

Jack Crabb

Faye Dunaway

Mrs. Pendrake

Chief Dan George

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Martin Balsam

Mr. Merriweather

Richard Mulligan

Gen. George Armstrong Custer

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Synopsis

When a curious oral historian (William Hickey) turns up to hear the life story of 121-year-old Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman), he can scarcely believe his ears. Crabb tells of having been rescued and raised by the Cheyenne, of working as a snake-oil salesman, as a gunslinger, and as a mule skinner under Gen. Custer (Richard Mulligan). As if those weren't astonishing enough, he also claims to be the only white survivor of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Director: Arthur Penn
Producer: Stuart Millar
Screenwriter: Calder Willingham
Production Co: Cinema Center Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Intense Battle Sequences)
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 14, 1970, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 4, 2019
Runtime: 2h 30m

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