The World According to Garp opened

The World According to Garp Released: July 23, 1982 Studio: Warner Bros. Genre: comedic drama Box Office (numbers in millions): Domestic: 29.71 Worldwide: -- Adjusted for Inflation: Domestic: 126.30 Worldwide: --

Directing: George Roy Hill Screenwriting: Steve Tesich Starring: Robin Williams, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Mary Beth Hurt Review: This comedic drama directed and produced by George Roy Hill and starring Robin Williams was based on the 1978 novel of the same name by John Irving. Jenny Fields (Close, in her film debut) is a feminist who wants a child but not a husband. As a nurse during World War II, she gets herself impregnated by a brain-damaged ball turret gunner Technical Sergeant Garp, resulting in the birth of the movie’s titular character, T.S. Garp (Williams). A grown-up Garp is interested in writing, wrestling, and Helen Holm (Hurt) – the daughter of the wrestling coach. Mom copies her son’s interest in writing and publishes Sexual Suspect, which makes her a feminist icon. Garp publishes his first novel, marries Helen, and becomes a writer and stay-at-home dad to their two sons while Helen becomes a college professor. At his mother’s retreat for women, Garp meets and befriends Roberta Muldoon (Lithgow), a transgender, ex-tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. He also learns about the Ellan James Society, a group of women who cut out their tongues to show solidarity with a young girl who was raped and mutilated. Horrified, Garp writes a book condemning them. Several tragedies ensue for Garp’s family, including a car accident under bizarre circumstances. Garp’s book and his mother’s feminism both make them lightning rods for controversy. Critic Roger Ebert said, “I thought the acting was unconventional and absorbing…I thought the visualization of the events…was fresh and consistently interesting. But when the movie was over…all I could find to ask myself was: What the hell was that all about?” WK As one of my personal favorite movies, that was exactly the point of the movie. It took unconventional characters and had them react to absurd, and at times horrific, events in their lives. Robin Williams injects Garp with a fascinating mix of righteous anger and unexpected comic turns (when he and his wife are house shopping and a small plane crashes into the home they are about to buy, he says, “We’ll take it. What are the odds of that ever happening again?”) Close infuses Jenny’s feminism with naivety and indignation. Lithgow gives astounding warmth to Roberta at a time when it was unheard of to feature a transgender character, much less one that was more than comic relief. Sources: WK Wikipedia

Rating: 3.761 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Accolades: Oscars: Wins: 0 Nominations: 2: Best Supporting Actress (Close), Best Supporting Actor (Lithgow) Lists: First posted 9/25/2026.