Without Limits

Play trailer

Without Limits

PG-13

1998

1h 57m

Biography

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Before Steve Prefontaine (Billy Crudup) makes it to the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he is an unlikely track star at the University of Oregon. At school, after Steve initially clashes with coach Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland) over his style of front-running -- running the race at maximum speed from beginning to end -- he develops a strong bond with the man. Steve also has a profound effect on a beautiful co-ed named Mary (Monica Potter), who becomes the object of his affection.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

This drama about American track star and hero Steve Prefontaine intelligently looks at the character of this oft mythologized athlete and features a fantastic performance by Donald Sutherland as Prefontaine's trainer.

Read Critics Reviews

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Aug 5, 2008

Whether he would have won at the next Olympics, we'll never know. What we do know is that Towne, a man of ruefully romantic temperament, has found a soulmate in Steve Prefontaine.

Go to Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

Aug 5, 2008

With a very good part for a change, Sutherland invests the imposing Bowerman with a host of subtly expressed attitudes toward his most illustrious charge.

Go to Full Review

Louis B. Parks

Houston Chronicle

Jul 21, 2005

Without Limits wins as a sports film precisely because it's not really about sports or a great victory.

Go to Full Review

Catherine Graham

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Mar 25, 2020

A

Dazzling, violent, star-driven thrill rides are routine. Finding an intelligent, well-written, old-fashioned movie-movie has become an event. Thus, it is a thrill to watch Without Limits.

Go to Full Review

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews

Jul 24, 2011

B

intelligent character study of a mythologized athlete

Go to Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Brag Magazine

Feb 3, 2009

3/5

A brilliantly performed, gut-wrenchingly sad flick

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 7, 2026

Without Limits = a *4* star Movie

See more

william s

@SillyBommers Feb 13, 2025

As a fan of formulaic sports movies, I thought this was going to be right up my alley. But something about it didn't quite land. I know they can't really change the source material drastically, but it did feel like the choice to make his trip to the olympics the midpoint made the whole second half feel like an afterthought. It just didn't exactly work for me. Not the worst movie, but not something anyone needs to go out and see.

See more

Sep 12, 2023

Very bland and drab looking

See more

Jul 13, 2020

One of the most inspirational movies I've ever watched. Watch it quarterly.

See more

steve d

@RT35616104 Jul 6, 2020

Fairly forgettable despite the strong performances.

See more

Oct 25, 2018

excellent sports drama the storytelling is superb and really draws you in a must see if you haven't already

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Robert Towne

Director

Billy Crudup

Steve Prefontaine

Donald Sutherland

Bill Bowerman

Monica Potter

Mary Marckx

Jeremy Sisto

Frank Shorter

Matthew Lillard

Roscoe Devine

Shine

90%

90%

Shine

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Shine

Cinderella Man

80%

91%

Cinderella Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cinderella Man

Beyond the Sea

43%

64%

Beyond the Sea

Watchlist

Lords of Dogtown

55%

81%

Lords of Dogtown

Watchlist

Lean on Me

71%

85%

Lean on Me

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Before Steve Prefontaine (Billy Crudup) makes it to the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he is an unlikely track star at the University of Oregon. At school, after Steve initially clashes with coach Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland) over his style of front-running -- running the race at maximum speed from beginning to end -- he develops a strong bond with the man. Steve also has a profound effect on a beautiful co-ed named Mary (Monica Potter), who becomes the object of his affection.

Director: Robert Towne
Producer: Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner
Screenwriter: Robert Towne, Kenny Moore
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Cruise-Wagner Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 1998, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $777.4K
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, SDDS, Dolby Digital

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings