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Driven by an unwavering dream, Rudy Señek, despite his small stature and physical limitations, relentlessly pursues a spot on a college football team. Facing constant skepticism and numerous obstacles, he perseveres through rigorous training and determination to prove that heart and dedication can overcome any disadvantage. His journey inspires those around him and demonstrates the power of believing in oneself.

Driven by an unwavering dream, Rudy Señek, despite his small stature and physical limitations, relentlessly pursues a spot on a college football team. Facing constant skepticism and numerous obstacles, he perseveres through rigorous training and determination to prove that heart and dedication can overcome any disadvantage. His journey inspires those around him and demonstrates the power of believing in oneself.

Does Rudy have end credit scenes?

No!

Rudy does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Rudy

Explore the complete cast of Rudy, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Rudy

See how Rudy is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Rudy stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

71

Metascore

7.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

7.5 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

74

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Rudy Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Rudy with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Rudy Movie Quiz: Test your knowledge on the inspiring story of Rudy Ruettiger and his journey to play football for Notre Dame.

What is Rudy's full name?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Rudy

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Read the complete plot summary of Rudy, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Daniel Eugene “Rudy” Ruettiger, portrayed by Sean Astin, grows up in Joliet, Illinois with a deep-seated dream of playing college football at the prestigious University of Notre Dame. Despite finding some success on his high school team, Joliet Catholic, Rudy faces significant obstacles, including poor grades, financial constraints, and a lack of the physical prowess typically required for a major intercollegiate football program.

After taking up work at a local steel mill, where his father, Daniel Sr., also toils and nurtures a love for Notre Dame, Rudy’s plans seem to shift toward a life of stability. However, a tragic incident involving the death of his best friend Pete in a mill explosion sparks a renewed commitment in Rudy to pursue his ambitions. Fueled by grief and determination, he sets his sights on attending Notre Dame and joining the Fighting Irish.

Rudy makes his way to South Bend, Indiana, with aspirations of enrollment, but his applications are unsuccessful. With support from a local priest, he manages to gain admission to Holy Cross College, a junior college nearby, with hopes of transferring to Notre Dame after boosting his grades. In an effort to immerse himself in the world of Notre Dame football, Rudy volunteers to assist Fortune, the stadium groundskeeper, even going so far as to sneak into the office at night to sleep on a cot, as he is without a home.

Though initially indifferent, Fortune begins to admire Rudy’s perseverance and eventually makes him feel welcome by granting him a key to the office. Rudy learns a shocking revelation about himself when he befriends D-Bob, a graduate student who offers tutoring in exchange for help in dating. D-Bob discovers that Rudy has dyslexia, but with new strategies, Rudy begins to excel academically.

As Christmas approaches, Rudy revisits his family, who begrudgingly acknowledge his improvements, but he faces mockery for his football ambitions and even loses his fiancée to a brother. Despite multiple setbacks, Rudy is thrilled when he is finally accepted to Notre Dame during his final semester eligible for transfer. The joyous news is shared with his family, and they announce it to his father’s co-workers over the mill’s loudspeaker.

Once at Notre Dame, Rudy works hard and earns the chance to practice with the football team, despite being a non-scholarship player. Coach Ara Parseghian acknowledges Rudy’s extraordinary drive, which does not go unnoticed by the scholarship players, who begin to resent him for outshining them. Rudy pushes through the challenges, gaining the right to suit up for one home game in his senior year under the coach’s encouragement.

However, with Coach Parseghian’s departure after the 1974 season, new coach Dan Devine refuses to include Rudy on the active roster. Disheartened, Rudy quits the team upon realizing he won’t play in the upcoming game. A pivotal moment arises when Fortune, now a pivotal mentor, intervenes, reminding Rudy that the only person he needs to prove anything to is himself. This conversation reignites Rudy’s spirit, prompting him to return to the team.

In a display of camaraderie, team captain Roland Steele and his fellow seniors protest for Rudy to be allowed to dress for the final game against Georgia Tech, even offering their jerseys. In response, Coach Devine permits Rudy to suit up.

As the game unfolds with Notre Dame leading 27-3, the moment of truth arises. Despite a last-minute push from his teammates, Rudy is not initially called to play. However, as cheers for “Rudy!” erupt from the crowd, the team overrides Devine’s strategy, providing Rudy with the chance he long desired. In a heartwarming climax, Rudy steps onto the field for the final play, manages to sack the Georgia Tech quarterback, and is celebrated as he is hoisted onto his teammates’ shoulders, a triumphant symbol of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Rudy

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Rudy. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Trailer #1

Modern Trailer

Sean Astin: RUDY is the Epitome of the American Dream

Cars Featured in Rudy

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Explore all cars featured in Rudy, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Buick

1965

Skylark

Buick

1956

Super

Chevrolet

1980

B-60

Chevrolet

1966

Chevelle

Cushman

unknown

Dodge

1973

Dart Swinger

Ford

1972

LTD

Ford

NAA

GMC

PD 4106

GMC

PD 4108

Rudy Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


motivationamerican football playermontageapplause1970sencouragementunderdogsports teamaspirationambitionamerican footballbased on true storytitle spoken by charactercharacter name in titledyslexiasteel millamerican football practiceuniversity studentchanting someone's namedeath of best friendfootball stadiumfootball tryoutchurchpriestbreakupsadnessweeping manfrustration1960sdisappointmentdiscouragementcollege studentgroundskeepercollege footballnotre dame fighting irishfootball moviebrother brother relationshiplearning disabilitybest friendworking classnotre dame universityone word titlefather son relationshipfamily relationshipsdeath of friendbare chested malesteelworkercatholic churchcatholic schoolboyfriend girlfriend relationship

Rudy Other Names and Titles

Explore the various alternative titles, translations, and other names used for Rudy across different regions and languages. Understand how the film is marketed and recognized worldwide.


Bourák Touchdown - Sein Ziel ist der Sieg Rudy repte a la glòria Rudy. Reto a la gloria Mindent a győzelemért! Rudy - il successo di un sogno Es gibt keine Grenzen Touchdown ルディ/涙のウイニング・ラン 追梦赤子心 Rudy reto a la gloria 루디 이야기 豪情好傢伙 Руди รูดี้ สู้สุดใจ ไขว่คว้าฝัน Руді

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Browse a curated list of movies similar in genre, tone, characters, or story structure. Discover new titles like the one you're watching, perfect for fans of related plots, vibes, or cinematic styles.


Other Names for Rudy

Explore the alternate titles, translations, and working names for Rudy. Learn how the film is known in different regions, languages, and releases, and discover the variations that reflect its cultural reach and marketing choices.


Bourák Touchdown - Sein Ziel ist der Sieg Rudy repte a la glòria Rudy. Reto a la gloria Mindent a győzelemért! Rudy - il successo di un sogno Es gibt keine Grenzen Touchdown ルディ/涙のウイニング・ラン 追梦赤子心 Rudy reto a la gloria 루디 이야기 豪情好傢伙 Руди รูดี้ สู้สุดใจ ไขว่คว้าฝัน Руді

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