The Last Picture Show

Two high school seniors in a dying Texas town try to figure out what comes next as graduation looms. Sonny Crawford, restless and impulsive, carries a risky secret with the coach's wife, while his friend Duane Jackson moves through life with easy confidence and a plan to leave behind the place he knows. The town seems to weather away, its shuttered storefronts and empty streets mirroring the characters' growing impatience. Duane imagines a future beyond the town, perhaps in the army, while Sonny eyes opportunities that might pull him away from familiar ground. As friendships strain and possibilities fade, the two wrestle with whether any path can truly lead away from this decaying heart of Texas and maybe something beyond.

Directed by Peter Bogdanovich, The Last Picture Show adapts Larry McMurtry's novel for the screen. Released in 1971, the film helped launch Bogdanovich as a figure of the New Hollywood era and established the tone for serious small town dramas.

Box office: The film earned about 29.1 million worldwide against a tight 1.3 million budget, a rare success for a drama of its scale. The strong return underscored audience appetite for intimate, character driven storytelling in the landscape of cinema.

Oscars and critical honors followed the release. Cloris Leachman won Best Supporting Actress for her performance, a breakthrough moment for Bogdanovich and the cast. The film was widely recognized for its direction, screenplay, and ensemble work, cementing its place in the canon of early 70s prestige dramas and enduring influence.

Critics praised the film for its crisp direction and frank portrayal of adolescence in a decaying town. The story centers on yearning and moral ambiguity, showing how dreams collide with limits imposed by place and tradition. It itself became a touchstone for intimate, observational drama. Its influence endures in cinema.