Secretariat Secretariat

The Impossible True Story

Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery - with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin - manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

Diane Lane John Malkovich Scott Glenn Dylan Walsh Fred Dalton Thompson Margo Martindale Nelsan Ellis James Cromwell Otto Thorwarth

Walt Disney Pictures

family drama

123 mins   More details at IMDb / TMDb

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  • Lilias

    Review by Lilias ★★

    I mainly watched it for the racing scenes because I'm a big nerd and therefore consider Secretariat to be the coolest athlete ever. But the movie wasn't any good, really.

  • Rebeca Chirinos

    Review by Rebeca Chirinos ★

    If you're easily uplifted by uninspiring clichés or dull nightmares, then you've got a winner here.

    You can safely watch this movie with your entire family, but that's only because it's sterile. It doesn't have anything inappropriate, and it also doesn't have heart. Maybe that's also something inappropriate. Maybe it's better to play it safe by putting a dramatic song in every moment of reflection and by making sure most actors contort their faces into a monstrous mirror of fake emotions.

    There are a few moments of humor and tension that almost seem real, but those moments are quickly lost. They are given little thought, and they're ultimately overshadowed by the superficiality of the story to the point that makes…

  • Dara

    Review by Dara ★★½

    Okay I really need to stop watching saccharine genre films. I think my psyche is starting to warp. Goddammit though I enjoyed this.

  • Carter Baker

    Review by Carter Baker ★★

    ... dialogue is awful.

  • nicksav

    Review by nicksav ★★★

    A formulaic Disney inspirational true story. Diane Lane gives a spirited performance as the Housewife turned racehorse owner but the predictable flourishes hold this film back. Still, this is highly enjoyable if you like this sort of thing.

  • Josh Mockensturm

    Review by Josh Mockensturm ★★★½

    Whenever I watch an "inspirational sports film" I always go into the movie skeptical. It can't be helped. How many movies like Secretariat out there recycle a similar sports story and, despite the fact that they are based on true stories, still utilize the same tired plot points? There are many. So, going into Secretariat, I had my concerns.

    For one thing, this movie is about a horse and not a person. Horse racing isn't exactly at the top of my list of "Must Watch" sporting events. Secondly, perhaps the biggest concern, I knew how the movie was going to end, or rather, how the story ends. My concerns weren't allayed at first. The movie starts as you would expect,…

  • Sean Cosgrove

    Review by Sean Cosgrove ★★★★

    For a film where you know the ending it was very well done and entertaining. I watched this with my wife and we both liked it very much. I was blown away by how much he won by in the last race that was just purely amazing! The acting was strong all around, the writing and direction were good. A very interesting and enjoyable story of one of the best athletes that ever lived!

  • Mike

    Review by Mike ★★★★

    I love this film, like I love Phar Lap. It's not about the film, the script, the actors for me, it's about the horse. I have never seen anything like this. Frankel comes close, but I don't think Frankel would get the distance of The Belmont Stakes, and not in the same manor that Secretariat won it.

    What Secretariat did in the Belmont was astounding, 31 lengths, a record time which still stands 37 years later. Sheer Class!

    As for the film, it's a decent cast and they all do a good job. It's well shot, the music is a little weak, I think it needed something with a little more power like Big Red!

    I enjoy it for the Triple Crown races alone! Stunning horse!

  • scott gibbons

    Review by scott gibbons ★★★

    DEcent true life tale about a famous race horse and the woman that brought it to be, all very movie of the week stuff going on, but has things going for it with a engageing performance from Diane lane