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Year One
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Terms of Endearment

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 2 votes
Read user comments
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Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by:
James L. Brooks
Larry McMurtry (novel)
Directed by: James L. Brooks
Release Date:
Theatrical: November 23, 1983
DVD: April 10, 2001
Running Time: 132 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: PG
Starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels, and John Lithgow
Following the mother-daughter relationship of Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) who doesn't like it when her daughter Emma (Winger) marries Flap (Daniels).
Also On Metacritic
FILM: As Good As It Gets Broadcast News Spanglish
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
This is a wonderful film. There isn't a thing that I would change.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott
Terms of Endearment is the rare commercial picture that sets audiences to laughing hysterically and crying unashamedly, sometimes within consecutive seconds, and then shoos them out of the theatre in contented emotional exhaustion. [23 Nov 1983]
Time Richard Schickel
No film since Preston Sturges was a pup has so shrewdly appreciated the way the eccentric plays hide-and-seek with the respectable in the ordinary American landscape; no comedy since Annie Hall or Manhattan has so intelligently observed not just the way people live now but what's going on in the back of their minds; and finally, and in full knowledge that one may be doing the marketing department's job for them, it is the best movie of the year.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Jay Carr
It rates a resounding yes because it doesn't insult our emotional intelligence. [23 Nov 1983]
TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)
Lopsided comedy turned tearjerker, saved by excellent performances.
Read Full Review >Variety Staff (Not Credited)
Teaming of Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson at their best makes Terms of Endearment an enormously enjoyable offering for Christmas, adding bite and sparkle when sentiment and seamlessness threatens to sink other parts of the picture.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Janet Maslin
Terms of Endearment is a funny, touching, beautifully acted film that covers more territory than it can easily manage.
Read Full Review >Empire Staff (Not Credited)
James L. Brooks's clever and witty cry-a-long which has as many guys pretending not to cry, as women unashamedly sobbing.
Read Full Review >Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
There's not enough substance to support the sentiment of this longish comedy-drama.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Dave Kehr
The dual-track plot, with constant cutting between mother and daughter, seems less an attempt to establish meaningful parallels between the two stories than the nervous twitches of a compulsive channel changer.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 2 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
