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Swing Shift

Play trailer Poster for Swing Shift PG 1984 1h 40m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 41% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
During World War II, a navy wife helps the war effort by taking a job in the local aircraft factory, where she meets a man declared unfit for military service who sweeps her off her feet. When her husband returns on a furlough, things begin to get very complicated. The film includes cameos from singer Belinda Carlisle and cult director Roger Corman.
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Swing Shift

Critics Reviews

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David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture Dec 31, 2019
Swing Shift isn't boring, but nothing in it startles, nothing explodes. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety Jul 24, 2008
Swing Shift tries ... to twist some consequence out of a tawdry adulterous tryst by a couple of self-centered sneaks. But the writing and acting are too flat for the challenge. Go to Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out Feb 9, 2006
Hawn, atypically cast and supported by all-round excellent performances, proves that she can act. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Dec 3, 2019
3/4
...an erratic yet mostly watchable period piece that could've been much better. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Feb 28, 2016
B-
The conventional period romantic drama has good details of the period and some fine dramatic moments, that at least kept it from being a bomb. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 31, 2008
B+
Despite compromises, a result of interference in director Demme's work, this fictional look at a Rosie the Riveter kind of woman displays a nice feminist perspective on WWII and terrific performances from Goldie Hawn and especially Christine Lahti. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Jun 5, 2026 A very fun film set during WW2. Lying,cheating and enough drama for all. Love seeing Hawn and Russell on screen together. Tim Treakle See more thiago S @Thiagostone Jun 1, 2026 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more JME G @jmes2baby Mar 6, 2026 Loved this movie since I first saw it in the early 1980's. Brought a sense of history & curious thought about what was happening in that time era but enjoyed the movie of course!! See more Dan F @Dan_Frazier Oct 4, 2025 The story is a bit of a muddle. The movie is focused on the lives of women factory workers on the homefront during WWII, and touches on the experience of marital infidelity. It felt a little confused and a little superficial to me. I was mainly interested in Holly Hunter, but she is only onscreen for two or three minutes, which was disappointing. See more CodyZamboni Z @CodyZamboni Apr 21, 2025 Charismatic leads, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Christine Lahti are the main attraction. Film works best when it focuses on the WW2 plane factory, The ending falls apart with needless silly soap opera hijinks. Movie features lots of director Demme's regular troop of actors. See more Joel H @786Joel Jan 16, 2024 I expected Swing Shift to be a fun romantic comedy. However, it wasn't that fun. This movie takes itself way too seriously. It also wasn't romantic. I had a difficult time rooting for Kay Walsh (Goldie Hawn) and Lucky Lockhart (Kurt Russell) to be together, because Kay was married to Jack (Ed Harris) and he wasn't a horrible, abusive jerk. In fact, he kind of seemed like a decent guy. I did think Christine Lahti did a good job in her performance, though. And finally, this wasn't a comedy. It's a melodrama, and not a very good one. So you could say that Swing Shift let me down in almost every aspect. See more Read all reviews
Swing Shift

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Cast & Crew

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Jonathan Demme

Director

Goldie Hawn

Kay Walsh

Kurt Russell

Mike `'Lucky'` Lockhart

Christine Lahti

Hazel

Fred Ward

Actor

Holly Hunter

Actor

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Swing Shift

Swing Shift (1984) Swing Shift (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, a navy wife helps the war effort by taking a job in the local aircraft factory, where she meets a man declared unfit for military service who sweeps her off her feet. When her husband returns on a furlough, things begin to get very complicated. The film includes cameos from singer Belinda Carlisle and cult director Roger Corman.
Director
Jonathan Demme
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Bros. Pictures, Hawn/Sylbert Movie Company, Lantana
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 13, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 40m
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