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What's After the Movie?
Romantic comedy

Paternity (1981): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Paternity (1981) movie poster

Paternity is a 1981 romantic comedy starring Burt Reynolds, Beverly D'Angelo and Lauren Hutton. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $18.8 million worldwide. Critics gave it 45 on Metacritic.

worldwide gross
$18.8M
Metascore
45
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Paternity (1981) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Genres
Comedy , Romance
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Paternity About?

The premise of Paternity without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A charismatic sports executive longing to be a father makes an unusual agreement with a charming surrogate. Hoping to experience parenthood without a romantic relationship, he finds himself navigating unexpected complications and developing a deeper understanding of family and connection. The arrangement leads to humorous situations and heartfelt discoveries as he confronts his own desires and expectations.

Paternity Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • wanting to have a child
  • watching tv
  • mustached man
  • mustached father
  • woman
  • wanting a baby
  • male protagonist
  • baby
  • wine
  • cigarette smoking
  • baseball game
  • baseball
+38 more
  • baby name
  • falafel stand
  • jogging
  • scholarship
  • wedding
  • reverend
  • nurse
  • heir
  • dead fish
  • aquarium
  • housekeeper
  • aspiring musician
  • music lesson
  • trumpet
  • taxi
  • circle line cruise boat new york city
  • boat
  • interview
  • telephone call
  • nun
  • potted plant
  • apartment
  • butcher
  • butcher shop
  • central park manhattan new york city
  • park
  • music school
  • music student
  • singing
  • singing telegram
  • restaurant
  • fatherhood
  • boy
  • little boy
  • basketball
  • trying to get pregnant
  • squirrel
  • forty something
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Cast & crew

Paternity Cast

Burt Reynolds leads the cast, with Beverly D'Angelo and Lauren Hutton.

Ratings

Paternity Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Paternity 45 on Metacritic.

Plot

Paternity Plot Summary

What happens in Paternity from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 1-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Buddy Evans, Burt Reynolds, manages events at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He is a confirmed bachelor who lives with his housekeeper Celia. After coming into contact with several children, Buddy decides that he is ready to be a father and hires a surrogate mother in the hope of having a son.

Full summary

The whole story of Paternity, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Paternity Box Office

Paternity grossed $18.8 million worldwide.

1981 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.8M

US & Canada
$18.8M
Videos

Paternity Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Paternity.

Burt Reynolds in Paternity 1981 TV trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Paternity?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor plays Buddy Evans?

Cars

Cars in Paternity

5 cars on screen, including the 1975 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Estate and the 1973 Dodge Challenger.

All 5 cars
  • 1975 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Estate in Paternity 1975 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Estate Background role
  • 1973 Dodge Challenger in Paternity 1973 Dodge Challenger Background role
  • 1977 Ford LTD II in Paternity 1977 Ford LTD II Background role
  • 1974 Ford Pinto in Paternity 1974 Ford Pinto Background role
Details

Paternity Also Known As

6 alternative titles, including “Un padre fuera de serie” and “Ich brauche einen Erben”.

Also known as
  • Un padre fuera de serie
  • Ich brauche einen Erben
  • Бащинство
  • Paternidade
  • Paternité
  • Отцовство

Seen Paternity?

FAQ

Paternity FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Paternity, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Paternity?

Paternity runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Paternity released?

Paternity was released on October 2, 1981.

Who is in the cast of Paternity?

Paternity stars Burt Reynolds, Beverly D'Angelo and Lauren Hutton, among 9 credited actors.

How much did Paternity make at the box office?

Paternity grossed $18.8 million worldwide.

How is Paternity rated?

Paternity has 45 on Metacritic and 52% on TMDB.

Does Paternity have a post-credit scene?

No. Paternity has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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