Out of Africa (1985): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Out of Africa is a 1985 biographical drama directed by Sydney Pollack, starring Meryl Streep, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Robert Redford. It is partly based on Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. It runs 2 hours 41 minutes and earned $227.5 million worldwide. It won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 10 awards in all. Critics gave it 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 41m (161 min)
- Director
- Sydney Pollack
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- Based on
- Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Out of Africa About?
The premise of Out of Africa without spoilers, adapted from Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A captivating story follows Karen Blixen as she leaves her life in Denmark to establish a coffee plantation in colonial Kenya. There, she experiences the beauty and challenges of the African landscape and finds herself drawn into a complex relationship with hunter Denys. Torn between her marriage and a passionate but unattainable love, Karen grapples with questions of identity, independence, and the allure of a life far removed from her privileged past.
Out of Africa Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- africa
- tribal chief
- kenya
- coffee plantation
- adventurer
- colonial africa
- colonialism
- 1910s
- lion
- based on book
- briton
- tribe
+38 more Show fewer
- told in flashback
- reported killed in airplane crash
- lion attack
- baron baroness
- resupply mission
- danish woman
- asking for a divorce
- scene before opening credits
- pet dog
- scottish deerhound
- female topless nudity
- compass as a gift
- womanizer
- no women allowed
- marital infidelity
- outdoor wedding
- swedish man
- horseback riding
- men's club
- man washes a woman's hair
- husband gives wife syphilis
- train ride
- sex scene
- implied sex
- arsenic
- pet owl
- kikuyu
- reference to wolfgang amadeus mozart
- building a school
- graveside service
- horse show
- horse jumping
- white sand beach
- lovers' quarrel
- begging on bended knees
- wife breaks up with lover
- casket
- man and woman undress each other
Out of Africa Cast
Meryl Streep leads the cast, with Klaus Maria Brandauer and Robert Redford. Directed by Sydney Pollack; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sydney Pollack
Also Starring in Out of Africa
· 6 moreOut of Africa Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Out of Africa 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and 69 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 62% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 69 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB
Out of Africa Plot Summary
What happens in Out of Africa from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) reflects on her life in Africa, she remembers arriving there in 1913 as a wealthy Dane, just on the brink of marrying a prominent Swedish noble. However, an unexpected twist of fate leads to heartbreak when her initial fiancé abandons her. In a bid to find companionship, she proposes to his brother, Baron Bror Blixen (Klaus Maria Brandauer), entering into a marriage of convenience that aims to establish a dairy ranch in Nairobi, British East Africa, with Karen providing the necessary financial support. Their plan is to formalize the union once she joins him a few months later.
Full summary
The whole story of Out of Africa, scene by scene
Out of Africa Box Office
Out of Africa grossed $227.5 million worldwide. $87.1 million came from the US and Canada and $140.4 million (62%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$227.5M
- US & Canada
- $87.1M
- International
- $140.4M
Out of Africa Awards & Nominations
Out of Africa won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Art Direction, and 10 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1986, with 7 wins from 11 nominations.
10 wins25 nominations4 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1987 3 wins · 7 nominations- Won Best Adapted Screenplay
- Won Best Cinematography
- Won Best Sound
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Klaus Maria Brandauer
- Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
-
Oscars 1986 7 wins · 11 nominations- Won Art Direction
- Won Best Picture
- Won Cinematography
- Won Directing – Sydney Pollack
- Won Music (Original Score)
-
Golden Globes 1986 6 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Sydney Pollack
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Original Score – John Barry
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Meryl Streep
- Nominated Best Screenplay
-
DGA Awards 1986 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film – Sydney Pollack
Out of Africa Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.
- Clip Robert Redford and Meryl Streep Soar Over Kenya
- Clip Robert Redford and Meryl Streep Own a Coffee Farm in Kenya
- Clip Karen Fights the Lioness
How Well Do You Know Out of Africa?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character reminiscing about her time in Africa?
Cars in Out of Africa
9 cars on screen, including the Durant and the 1922 Hupmobile Model R.
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Durant Important role -
1922 Hupmobile Model R Important role -
1923 International Harvester Important role -
Ford Model T Minor role
Out of Africa Also Known As
36 alternative titles, including “非洲之旅” and “愛と哀しみの果て”.
- Also known as
-
- 非洲之旅
- 愛と哀しみの果て
- Mitt Afrika
- 아웃 오브 아프리카
- Mit Afrika
- Out Of Africa - Souvenirs D'Afrique
- Pożegnanie z Afryką
- Spomienky na Afriku
- Memorias de África
- Entre Dois Amores
- 愛と哀しみの果て：1985
- Отвъд Африка
+24 more Show fewer
- Jenseits von Afrika
- Távol Afrikától
- África Minha
- La mia Africa
- Minun Afrikkani
- Benim Afrikam
- Из Африки
- 走出非洲
- Моја Африка
- Vzpomínky na Afriku
- Πέρα Από Την Αφρική
- זכרונות מאפריקה
- Afară din Africa
- 遠離非洲
- З Африки
- Извън Африка
- Spomienky z Afriky
- África mía
- خارج از آفریقا
- Mano Afrika
- Souvenirs d'Afrique, აფრიკიდან
- Memòries de l’Àfrica
- รักที่ริมขอบฟ้า
- Moja Afrika
Seen Out of Africa?
Movies Like Out of Africa
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Karen Blixen: Out of This World, I Dreamed of Africa and Karen.
Out of Africa FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of Out of Africa, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Out of Africa?
Out of Africa runs 2 hours 41 minutes (161 minutes).
When was Out of Africa released?
Out of Africa was released on December 20, 1985.
Who directed Out of Africa?
Out of Africa was directed by Sydney Pollack.
More films by Sydney Pollack Who is in the cast of Out of Africa?
Out of Africa stars Meryl Streep, Klaus Maria Brandauer and Robert Redford, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Out of Africa make at the box office?
Out of Africa grossed $227.5 million worldwide ($87.1 million domestic, $140.4 million international).
How is Out of Africa rated?
Out of Africa has 62% on Rotten Tomatoes, 69 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.
Is Out of Africa based on a book?
Yes. Out of Africa is partly adapted from Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen.
What awards did Out of Africa win?
Out of Africa won 10 awards from 25 nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay at the BAFTA 1987.
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