Personal Best

Personal Best is a 1982 American drama film written, produced, and directed by Robert Towne. The movie stars Mariel Hemingway and real-life track star Patrice Donnelly, along with Scott Glenn as the coach of the track team. The film is about the lesbian relationship between two track-and-field teammates whose relationship possibly gets in the way of their performance.

The film was shot in California and Oregon. There were several issues during the production, including a strike by the Screen Actors Guild, a $110 million lawsuit, and the fact that the film was shot in two states.

The film received positive reviews after its release. Both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert placed Personal Best on their lists of the ten best films of 1982. It garnered a 73% approval rating at review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Despite becoming a popular and well-enjoyed film by film critics, the film did not succeed at the box office.