

Starting Over
“Phil Potter would like to straighten out his life...one way, or the other.”
After divorcing his ambitious singer wife, a middle-aged man begins a new relationship with a teacher.
Where to watch Starting Over in United States
Click a service to open Starting Over there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is Starting Over streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Kanopy, Hoopla | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Amazon Video |
| France | — | Sooner, Amazon Video |
| Brazil | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
About Starting Over
Starting Over is a 1979 English-language comedy and romance film directed by Alan J. Pakula. The cast is led by Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh, Candice Bergen. It has a runtime of 1h 45m. Viewers rate it 6.4/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla.
Starting Over was produced by Paramount Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on October 5, 1979, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $10 million, it went on to gross $36 million worldwide.
- Director
- Alan J. Pakula
- Writers
- James L. Brooks
- Release date
- October 5, 1979
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $10 million
- Box office
- $36 million
- Production
- Paramount Pictures
Starting Over cast & crew
Starting Over was directed by Alan J. Pakula and written by James L. Brooks.
The cast features Burt Reynolds as Phil Potter, Jill Clayburgh as Marilyn Holmburg, Candice Bergen as Jessica Potter, Charles Durning as Michael "Mickey" Potter, Frances Sternhagen as Marva Potter, and Austin Pendleton as Paul.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Marvin Hamlisch, cinematography is by Sven Nykvist, and it was produced by James L. Brooks and Alan J. Pakula.
Is Starting Over worth watching?
Starting Over holds an audience score of 6.4/10 from 69 ratings, a solidly received comedy films.
At 1h 45m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy comedy and romance, Starting Over is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Starting Over
In United States, you can stream Starting Over on Kanopy and Hoopla, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
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Cast of Starting Over

Burt Reynolds
Phil Potter

Jill Clayburgh
Marilyn Holmburg

Candice Bergen
Jessica Potter

Charles Durning
Michael "Mickey" Potter

Frances Sternhagen
Marva Potter

Austin Pendleton
Paul

Mary Kay Place
Marie

MacIntyre Dixon
Dan Ryan

Jay O. Sanders
Larry

Charles Kimbrough
Salesman
Richard Whiting
Everett

Alfie Wise
Workshop Member
Starting Over — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Starting Over in United States?
Starting Over is streaming on Kanopy, Hoopla in United States.
▸Is Starting Over on Kanopy?
Yes — Starting Over is currently available on Kanopy in United States.
▸What language is Starting Over in?
Starting Over is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Starting Over?
Starting Over runs 1 hours 45 minutes (105 minutes).
▸What is Starting Over rated?
Starting Over is rated R. It holds a 6.4/10 audience score from 69 ratings.











