The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

33% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings

When her accountant absconds with all her money, Hillary Kramer (Barbra Streisand) goes from reigning queen of the perfume business to flat broke. Down to her last few possessions of value, Hillary finds a contract for a boxer known as Eddie "Kid Natural" Scanlon (Ryan O'Neal). He's a completely inept fighter, but Kramer is desperate enough to think he's her ticket back to glory. She aggressively promotes him despite his flaws, and falls in love along the way.

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The Main Event

Critics Reviews

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The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Bob Thomas Associated Press The plot is reminiscent of 1930 s comedies, but Streisand and [producer] Jon Peters have provided a handsome, up-to-date production. Jul 17, 2019 Full Review The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The movie just doesn't have the life, the zaniness, this kind of screwball material demands. Rated: 2/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Augusto Martínez Torres El Pais (Spain) The Main Event tells a dumb and boring story about boxing. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 7, 2019 Full Review The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Forgettable Streisand-O'Neal comedy romance set in boxing ring. Rated: 3/5 Feb 17, 2008 Full Review The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily A good mainstream comedy that's better than its reputation. Rated: 3/5 Sep 21, 2005 Full Review The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall entertaining misfire Rated: 2/5 Aug 26, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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eabate3 It's watchable but not one of her better movies. Watch What's up Doc for the real Streisand / O'Neil chemistry Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal doesn't deliver any knockouts in this flat comedy about a boxer and his owner. Streisand was starting into a film drought. She was always sort of a hit and miss film actress. Her and O'Neal showcase little of the chemistry they showed in "What's Up Doc?" Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member While not her best role, this movie deserves no less than three stars. The comedy is zany and the romance solid. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Female executive goes bankrupt and partners with a former boxer who returns to the ring, this gives her the idea to invest in him and become his manager. It's a decent movie and O'Neal alongside Streisand for the second time, proves to be a good on screen duo. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Guilty favorite. Technically not a great movie, but just fun and good chemistry between O'Neal & Streisand. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member a reuniting of a previously classic screen pairing in the hopes of buffering a plain, mildly humoured script which couldn't be tempered by any director Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Howard Zieff Director Barbra Streisand Hillary Kramer Ryan O'Neal Eddie `'Kid Natural'` Scanlon Paul Sand David Whitman Mayo Percy Patti D'Arbanville Donna
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The Main Event

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Synopsis When her accountant absconds with all her money, Hillary Kramer (Barbra Streisand) goes from reigning queen of the perfume business to flat broke. Down to her last few possessions of value, Hillary finds a contract for a boxer known as Eddie "Kid Natural" Scanlon (Ryan O'Neal). He's a completely inept fighter, but Kramer is desperate enough to think he's her ticket back to glory. She aggressively promotes him despite his flaws, and falls in love along the way.

Director
Howard Zieff

Production Co
First Artists

Rating
PG

Genre
Comedy

Original Language
English

Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 7, 2008

Runtime
1h 52m
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The Main Event | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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