Being There (1979)
Kernel Score: 85% · 1,107 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Comedy, Drama
Released: 1979-12-19
Runtime: 130 minutes
Where to watch Being There
- Stream: TCM
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A simple-minded gardener named Chance has spent all his life in the Washington D.C. house of an old man. When the man dies, Chance is put out on the street with no knowledge of the world except what he has learned from television.
Being There parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that this gentle satire follows a simple-minded gardener navigating the outside world after a lifetime of isolation.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Being There
If you liked Being There, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Benny & Joon (1993) — 79%
- Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011) — 76%
- All the President's Men (1976) — 85%
- Official Secrets (2019) — 83%
- Forrest Gump (1994) — 97%
- The Upside (2019) — 81%
- Barfi! (2012) — 86%
- My Brother Chases Dinosaurs (2019) — 77%
Director
Hal Ashby
Cast
- Peter Sellers as Chance
- Shirley MacLaine as Eve Rand
- Melvyn Douglas as Benjamin Rand
- Jack Warden as President 'Bobby'
- Richard Dysart as Dr. Robert Allenby
- Richard Basehart as Vladimir Skrapinov
- Ruth Attaway as Louise
- David Clennon as Thomas Franklin
- Fran Brill as Sally Hayes
- Denise DuBarry as Johanna Franklin
Being There FAQ
Is Being There good?
Being There has an 85% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,107 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Being There?
In the US you can stream Being There on TCM and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Being There OK for kids?
Being There is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that this gentle satire follows a simple-minded gardener navigating the outside world after a lifetime of isolation.
What movies are like Being There?
If you liked Being There, try Benny & Joon, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, All the President's Men and Official Secrets.