The Old Man & the Gun is a character-focused crime film inspired by David Grann’s 2003 New Yorker story about Forrest Tucker. The studio describes it as “based on the mostly true story” of Tucker; that framing signals a real-life source, not a claim that every scene is documentary evidence.
What is The Old Man & the Gun about?
Robert Redford plays Forrest Tucker, an older bank robber whose escape from San Quentin at age 70 is followed by a string of heists. Casey Affleck plays detective John Hunt, who pursues him, while Sissy Spacek plays a woman who loves Tucker despite his criminal life. The official synopsis puts the heists, the pursuit and that relationship at the center of the story. Searchlight Pictures’ synopsis gives the film’s plot framing.
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David Lowery directed and wrote the screenplay; the studio page also credits David Grann on the screenplay. The listed cast includes Redford, Affleck, Spacek, Danny Glover, Tika Sumpter and Tom Waits. 20th Century Studios lists the film as PG-13, with a 1-hour-32-minute runtime and a September 28, 2018 release date. 20th Century Studios’ film page provides those credits and release details.
Is the film based on a true story?
Yes, it is based on a real person and a nonfiction account, but the studio’s own description is “mostly true,” not “a scene-by-scene record.” The documented source is David Grann’s reporting on Tucker, first published in The New Yorker in 2003. Penguin Random House identifies Grann’s story as the basis for the film adaptation. Penguin Random House’s announcement confirms the publication and adaptation relationship.
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The available source material establishes the film’s inspiration and broad premise, but it does not verify every event or scene as shown onscreen. Treat the film as an adaptation of nonfiction reporting rather than as a documentary or a complete historical chronology.
What book is the film based on?
The film draws on Grann’s story “The Old Man and the Gun,” which appeared in The New Yorker in 2003. The story was later collected in his 2010 book The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness and Obsession. Penguin Random House also announced a movie tie-in edition in 2018.
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| Option | Form and source | What the cited source establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Grann’s source story | Nonfiction reporting by David Grann, first published in The New Yorker in 2003. | Included in the 2010 collection The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness and Obsession. Penguin Random House |
| Film adaptation | Feature film directed and written by David Lowery, with David Grann also credited on the screenplay. | Studio listing includes Blu-ray, DVD and digital formats; availability can vary by territory. 20th Century Studios |
The book collection is the route to Grann’s original reported story; the film is a screen adaptation, with its own cast, performances and storytelling choices. The cited listings establish formats, not current stock, prices, or access in any particular country.
How did the director describe Tucker’s story?
In a National Board of Review Q&A published October 29, 2018, Lowery described Tucker’s life as a recurring cycle of robbery, capture, imprisonment, escape and renewed robbery. He said the film focuses on a period when Tucker had become skilled at the activity that mattered most to him. Lowery summarized that fixation this way: “From the time he was thirteen, all he wanted to do was rob banks.” This is the director’s interpretation of Grann’s account, not independent proof of every detail. Read the National Board of Review Q&A.
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Where can you watch or read it?
20th Century Studios lists Blu-ray, DVD and digital editions of the film, and Penguin Random House identifies the collection containing Grann’s story. These pages confirm formats and the source relationship, but do not establish which streaming service currently carries the film, or whether a particular edition is available in your region. Check local listings for current access.
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